Weekly Reading #9

Weekly Reading #9

1. How do educators in youth media programs differ from the orientation of classroom teachers in terms of preparing students for using digital media for work related purposes?
Educators in the "traditional" classroom sense are geared more toward general and remedial education. They use technology as a tool for research. Educators in youth media programs structure their focus on a broader range of excercises. They recognize that media programs provide opportunity for social learning and has immediate feedback from peers.
2. With some important exceptions, how are lower income youth marginalized from using digital media in ways that might provide them with economic empowerment?

Lower income youth are marginalized from using digital media. They may lack access at home. This puts them at a disadvantage to students who have the opportunity to expand upon their media engagement at home. However, these lower income youthes can benefit them in other ways. They learn to adapt. They do not take technology for granted.
3. In 2005 the CEO of IBM announced that if we wanted know what business leadership looks like in the 21 century look at what is going on in MMORPG's. After reading Box 7.4 does this make sense? Are you impressed by the levels of commitment and collaboration it takes players to be successful in these games? Do you have new respect for gamers?

I feel as though I began using chat room at the invent of the Internet. Ok, perhaps not that long, but I have been using chat rooms since 1994. The level of commitment and collaboration as described in Box 7.4 does not come as a surprise to me. My husband (who I met online...although we were  the same college) is an avid gamer. I have watched as he and his friends have strategized to defeat many "Bosses" or capture enemy territory. Although I complain about the time spent in these battles, I do have a respect for the commitent and collaboration it takes.

4. How do school need to change to become learning environments that cultivate the same kind of enthusiasm and commitment from young people like NeoPets did for Eddie? How can digital media play a role in the creation of these kinds of environments?
Digital media is a great place to creative learning environments. Students can immerse themselves into activities that they understand and enjoy. Through online collaboration, schools could change to become learning environments that cultivate enthusiasm and commitment. Students flock to what they are interested in. When interested, they often "forget" that they are learning. Digital media offers various outlets to capture student interest.