From the monthly archives: November 2008

how do you define literacy

on November 24, 2008 · No Comments

Now, how do you define “media literacy?” The definition, and our associated opinions, no doubt vary widely, based on our own experiences, knowledge and prejudices: Specifically what kind of literacy is being measured? Let’s see the effect on SAT reading and writing scores. Let’s see book sales data demographically. On the one hand, I believe [...]

Now, how do you define “media literacy?”

The definition, and our associated opinions, no doubt vary widely, based on our own experiences, knowledge and prejudices:

Specifically what kind of literacy is being measured? Let’s see the effect on SAT reading and writing scores. Let’s see book sales data demographically.

On the one hand, I believe distractions were always an issue, and the internet has shifted, rather than created them. But on the other, to say it is a benefit, well let’s just see who the sponsors of this study were. It may be a little bit like the medical studies spouting the benefits of chocolate that were found to be funded by Hershey’s and the like.

— Dennis L, New York City (courtesy of NYT community comments)

There is a major disconnect occurring between those who understand the value of the web, media literacy and the future of technology; and those who don’t. This is clearly depicted by the comments made in response to the recent NYT article, Teenagers’ Internet Socializing Not a Bad Thing.

For those of us who are informed, we have a responsibility to aid in the guidance of youth as they navigate the array of skills they are accumulating, but who’s going  to guide the adults?

And better yet, how? Media literacy curriculum for parents is dramatically different then media literacy for kids, and education for scholars and corporations are other potentially independent categories. In order to cultivate understanding we must encourage this ever-increasing group of digital natives to think critically and participate mindfully, but that only gets us halfway there; we need to equally allocate literacy among a much broader, and feasibly more challenging, group of constituents.

For more of the community comments, click here.

 

space: public v. private

on November 21, 2008 · 1 Comment

How do you define [your] space – public v. private,  physical v. virtual? This is something that I’m continually pondering as I reassess my involvement in various physical and virtual communities. There is only so much time in a day, and I strive to ensure that my participation is intentional and focused. There are public [...]

How do you define [your] space – public v. private,  physical v. virtual? This is something that I’m continually pondering as I reassess my involvement in various physical and virtual communities. There is only so much time in a day, and I strive to ensure that my participation is intentional and focused. There are public and private components to both physical and virtual arenas, but it is sometimes easier to define public and private spaces within the physical world as opposed to virtual ones, or at least for me.

Take Facebook, in some ways it is very easy to control how I navigate within this space – I control who I friend, which requests I accept and the options that are selected for the account. However, I am aware of my responsibility as a participant and am mindful of how I want to be perceived within the space. Though it should be noted that I am slightly more aware of my online rights and responsibilities then most.

Like the physical divvying of space, the virtual definition of space should ultimately be left in the hands of the participant, but this is not always the case, as certain sites predefine or default these decisions. Ultimately the question that remains is, how do you make the case for, and  enhance, digital literacy to ensure folks are not only educated, but empowered to control their virtual participation with the same thoughtfulness that they impart on their physical  lives each and everyday?

 

texting like it’s going out of style, is it

on November 20, 2008 · No Comments

At dinner this past weekend, a comment was made about text messaging: it’s going away. I was quick to guff at the statement. My rebuttal was equally quick and overly confidant: it’s not going anywhere, but then I interjected one caveat – the role it presently plays within our personal, professional, physical and virtual lives [...]

At dinner this past weekend, a comment was made about text messaging: it’s going away. I was quick to guff at the statement. My rebuttal was equally quick and overly confidant: it’s not going anywhere, but then I interjected one caveat – the role it presently plays within our personal, professional, physical and virtual lives will no doubt change.

Like many technologies and behaviors, the act of texting has quickly integrated into our society, for better or for worse. For the better, I am able to text someone in a pinch to offer a specific bit of information without an hour long conversation. For the worse, cell phone and text related accidents are up as folks fail to recognize the dangers of texting and driving.

But I’m convinced that this is only the start, the role it plays in our lives will undoubtedly change, and we may never even realize it. It will morph as not only technologies change, but people change. Its purpose will stem beyond simple, instantaneous communication. There will, as there has already been, an increased intentionally, as well as the construction of boundaries.

Boundaries is a much larger discussion, but for now, I personally am starting to switch to an almost retaliatory state. I don’t always want to be pinged by political campaigns and multiple Twitter accounts. I want content when I want it, not always when someone else wants me to have it. Who’s in control, and what role do they want this mobility driven, or taken, content to play?

Again, this is a much larger debate, but for now text messaging will not go away, it will change, and we will see it redefined as technologies, people and whole societies, and subcultures, change. The question then that remains is do you prepare for that change, drive it or ignore it?

 

the secret: tribal faire for bloggers

on November 14, 2008 · No Comments

In each case, the function of the blog is to be a standard bearer, the north star that tribe members can point to as a place to meet or for ideas to circle around. The blog isn’t about the writer, it’s about the readers. The key takeaway is this: once you realize that your job [...]

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In each case, the function of the blog is to be a standard bearer, the north star that tribe members can point to as a place to meet or for ideas to circle around. The blog isn’t about the writer, it’s about the readers.

The key takeaway is this: once you realize that your job is to find and connect and lead a tribe, to give them something to talk about and a place to go, it’s a lot easier to write a blog that works (Courtesy of Seth’s Blog, “The number one secret of the great blogs“).

Seth Godin pinpointed something I’ve been grappling with over the past few weeks: an inability to blog and an insecurity with identifying, and owning, the role I want – leader, participant or follower? My points of interest are many, and increasing rapidly, but my focus, expertise and passion is yet to  be determined. Thus why blogging of recent has been an unfortunate challenge and chore – despite a constant craving to write, share and explore numerous ideas.

Seth has given me something to mull over – and mull I will as I wrap up a redeeming post in process. Seth, if you do read this, let me know if you’re ever in need of an inquisitive, hardworking and fun intern, researcher or organizer.

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