Spotlight on Digital Media And Learning

Bers on civics: moving from designing curriculum to supporting experience

How do we leverage youth’s interest in new technologies by developing technology-based educational programs to promote civic engagement?

Michael X. Delli Carpini’s Definitions of Key Terms

One of the difficulties in discussing the impact of digital media on civic and political engagement is a lack of clarity on what we mean by these terms. So let me suggest some simple (simplistic?) definitions…

This Week’s Theme: Civic Engagement

We’ll be spotlighting voices drawn from the online dialogs on Civic Engagement conducted earlier this month as part of the MacArthur Series.

Bennett - Civic Engagement: Environments that Help Young People Go Public

How can digital media environments and communication skills bring young people to public life?

How are young people using digital media in surprising ways?

“What surprises you about young people’s use of digital media?”  In the MacArthur open forums, we asked teachers to post their answers to this question.  Here’s a quick sampling of their responses.

Justine Cassell: disparity between girls’ use and career choices

Why doesn’t girls’ use of digital media result in girls believing they are good at the use of digital media?

Christian Sandvig: Is A&R the new R&D?

Young programmers may be the new rock stars, if digital media allow anyone to make their own software and content.  Is it true that the next big thing on the Internet can be “scouted” and “harvested,” rather than “developed”?

Steve Anderson: Future of Digital Education Panel

How is higher education evolving to accommodate digital technologies in the classroom, changing sensibilities among students and new forms of knowledge, learning and expression? A panel discussion in Second Life takes on these questions in order to think about the future of digital education.

Justine Cassell: Disempowering Girls as Users of Technology

Girls’ use of technology threatens the established social order.  That’s the real reason behind the fear of girls using social networking sites.

Ellen Seiter: Why Santa Brings Playstation, instead of a PC

There is a gaping home technology divide in this country.  And Santa knows that one Christmas present can’t fix it, no matter how generous.

This week’s theme: innovative uses and unexpected outcomes

Once upon a time not so long ago, one of the largest, most active groups of innovators in technological communications weren’t scientists or corporations but everyday citizens and amateur system operators.

Tara McPherson: How Literate Are You?

Traditional notions of literacy focus on reading and writing, but, in a digital era, full literacy means competency in a range of media.  While media literacy isnÌt a new concept, the term has traditionally focused on interpreting mainstream media messages.  ThatÌs a good first step, but we need to push toward a multimedia literacy that includes creating media.  We also need to develop curriculum to support such a definition.

Kate Wittenberg: Shifting from Publisher Authority to Participation

The vast amount of information now available can be either a benefit or an obstacle to effective learning.  Already, online social networks use a different system for credibility than the academic world.

Woolsey:  Credibility Does Persist Online, but Needs New Tools

Most suggest that credibility dissolves in the digital domain.  I think the opposite is true.  Traditional lineages persist, and we can respond to concerns by limiting access or further developing the net.