Information ethics

本文論述我們現今生活在一個新世紀，大環境首次出現一個資訊與知識的流通幾乎是零成本的數位時代。然而，資訊的取得和使用卻漸形困難，這主要是歸因於整個資訊產品與服務商品化的國際趨勢，以及伴隨而來愈來愈嚴苛的智慧財產權制度。這個發展將人們隔絕於重要資訊之外也從而剝奪了一項基本人權—資訊取得權。在本文中並論及經濟因素的重要性之於智慧財產權已遠大於道德與社會的因素，這使得智慧財產權系統中既有的雙重本質失衡，而有利於所有權/獨家的論據；以及在這個趨勢下對於資訊原創者、原住民族以及發展中國家的影響。

It is argued that we are living in an new era where the digital environment for the first time allows the creation of an information commons. The information and knowledge can be distributed to the largest number of people at nearly zero cost. However, access to and use of information has become increasingly difficult. This is mainly due to the international trend to commodify information products and services and the accompanied strengthening of intellectual property rights. This leads to the exclusion of people from accessing essential information, thereby denying them a fundamental human right – the right of accessing to information. In this puper shows that the economic argument on justifying intellectual property has become more important than the moral and social factors. This has brought an imbalance in the dual nature of intellectual property systems, favouring the ownership/exclusion argument. It is demonstrated how this shift has impacted on the original creators of information, indigenous peoples and developing countries.

臺灣地區自民國84年開放網際網路服務後，至今已達到二百萬人上網的記錄，而今年三百萬人上網目標預計也將提前達成。根據國內外數次網路的調查顯示，兩性上網人數有明顯的差距。雖然女性上網人數逐年成長，但仍不及男性上網的人數。由於網路對促進言論自由與民主具相當的影響力，因此兩性間參與網路的情況，勢必影響社會參與、權利分享，及言論自由等民主社會應有的權利義務關係。當今所謂的網際網路民主化即指網際網路不受使用者之性別、宗教、種族、階級，與黨派之不同的情況下，提供一個公平使用管道與相同使用權利的環境。本研究擬從男女兩性網路使用的人數、上網時間、使用動機，及對網路規範態度予以比較與探討。

Since the Taiwan Network was initiated in 1995, the number of net users is growing very fast. There were two million net users in 1998 and there will be approximately three million in 1999. However, according to several Internet investigations, the number of male users and female users is dramatically unequal. Although the number of female users is increasing constantly, the rate of increase of female users is still much lower than males' Democracy in computer-mediated communications, such as Internet or cyberspace, must offer access and communication equally and without status constraints. This study, which is based on an online network investigation done in 1986, compares differences between male and female users in terms of status, motivation, information needs, and network ethics.

本文主要探討大學生「資訊素養與倫理」通識教育課程的理念、主題、教學策略與執行成效。首先闡述設計此課程之理念，包括以往相關課程多著重在電腦／網路科技的理解與應用，缺少情意面向的教學，以及學生缺乏洞察網路帶來可能的正負面影響部分。其次說明資訊素養與倫理課程各主題之內涵：資訊素養、資訊識讀、資訊社會、資訊倫理及網路安全與行為。再則提出可行的教學設計策略，包含問題導向學習法、案例教學法、教學媒體設計原則、教學活動與評量設計原則等，以期能達到最大的教學成效。最後佐以實際授課成效（包括完全網路及面對面課程），提出反省討論，作為日後修改與執行課程之參考。

This paper explores the rational, issues and instructional strategies for developing and implementing an Information Literacy and Ethics curriculum for Taiwan college students. The paper first questions why it is infact this curriculum is needed and identifies the lack of an effective learning domain in the existing computer/network curricula. Secondly, important topics for the curriculum content are outlined which include information literacy, information use and verification, information society, information ethics, and Internet safety and behaviors. Thirdly, possible instructional design strategies for the curriculum are discussed, including problem-based learning, case-based instruction, media design principles, course activities design, and evaluation approaches.Finally, the effectiveness of fully online and face-to-face courses is examined.