Knowledge vs information

For questions or discussion over the March 22 presentation. Possibilities: Did the presentation make you think about anything you hadn't thought about before? What is its significance now that we live in a "knowledge society" or, as some put it, the "information age"? Is there a difference between "knowledge" and "information"?

Karen:
Did the presentation make you think about anything you hadn't thought about before? The day after the presentation, I realized that there were connections to what we've been discussing about curriculum theory in class. The true journalism is losing it's "boots to the ground" style of reporting and the authentic, researched news is losing out to paparazzi-style news and quick bits. Reporters and sources are being questioned and what they report or what information they give is being- or not-critiqued. I feel curriculum theory has taken the same route, as we've discussed, where other disciplines have taken over what theorists have long researched and it seems as though there are several "overnight theorists" with interests in curriculum areas like classroom management, diversity issues, technology and formats for curriculum. Even companies for curriculum formats and training seem to be more well-known than the theorists themselves. In both cases, I hope this will change for future success in each area.What is its significance now that we live in a "knowledge society" or "information age"? Is there a difference between "knowledge" and "information"? I feel like information is all around and is difficult to organize and sift thorugh now with the Internet and quick news running across the bottom of the TV screen or at the end of an hour on the radio. Even elevators and digital billboards offer information. Knowledge is different in that what information we take in and keep, we then try to use it, apply it and evaluate it. After all of that, I then think it is knowledge. Anyone can repeat information, but not all are knowledgeable. In the NewsWars presentation, I noticed the desire, from the panel, to see true knowledgeable reporting applied to news outlets as opposed to the following of sources to quick print. I really enjoyed the lady in NY and, of course, our local experts.

Wei:
Karen raised a good question of the significance about "knowledge society" or "information age." It's not only a question for the present, but also a question for the future.
First, I'd like to share my point of view on the difference between knowledge and information. Having been working with media for many years, I see information as a set of data that answers questions of "who," "where," "when," and "what." However, knowledge refers to application of information as it more likely answers questions of "how" and "why." For instance, Wei Ma, a former TV reporter from a communist country, was not surprised at all by the information of government manipulating the media because he has certain knowledge of why and how it happens. Politicians always want to control the media because they have the knowledge that information can be filtered and disseminated by the power of mass media and then effectively influence the public opinion, which is also a kind of knowledge, in a directed or channelled way.
From a taxonomic perspective, knowledge holds a higher standing than information. Information carries knowledge and knowledge processes information. I used to see a monument in Alberquerque, New Mexico, saying "in memory of the heroes who bravely fought the savages." I read similar information when I visited the historical Alamo in San Antonio, Texas yesterday. These information, obviously, delivered biased and racist knowledge. However, it is not as clear when the political and corporate value get involved. It raised a sharp question for "knowledge society" and "information age" -- if information is manipulated by politicians and industrial monopolies, even in this democratic system of the United States, can we still say we live in a "knowledge society?" When the knowledge of the privileged is becoming hegemonic and information becoming their tools and propaganda, "knowledge society" is "moribund." Tragically, the public are not even aware of that. And for those who are, it seems there's not much they can do to change the status quo. Well, we can still say we live in an "information age," which only means people will snack on with a sea of information produced by media, in particular, those who own them. And unfortunately, that's the nutrition for generations to come.
As "teaching is essentially social, moral, and political," it's high time for us to rethink how education and curriculum can serve as a critical role in constructing a real free and democratic "knowledge society." If the illness of today's "knowledge society" is that "we do not have too much intellect and too little soul, but too little intellect in matters of soul," it is educators and media's responsibility to work things out before the information age leads us towards a more chaotic future.