Well, it hasn't taken long for my technological shortcomings to manifest. I was unable to access several of the vlogs on our module list due to not having the latest Flash player. However, attempts to download the latest version have met with uniform failure. Thus far, all I've succeeded in doing is altering my computer setting so that I get an annoying pop-up asking me if I want to allow ActiveX controls every time the page changes.
In happy news, I was at least able to watch Danah Boyd's presentation on My Friends, My Space. Overall, I found it insightful...though I have a hard time buying the argument that teens have no access to traditional mixed-aged publics. In my experience, most older people are quite excited to have young folks show interest in their groups--be they civic, cultural, religious, et al. The problem is finding that rarest of needles in the haystack: a teenager who doesn't view anyone above the age of 28 as a walking incarnation of Death. It seems to me the problem of cross-generational community is less that young people are not welcomed and more that they are simply not interested. Wrinkles just aren't cool.
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Sometimes it seems like technology is always changing and so you have to update something. Is it a matter of money or is it really a better technology is the question I often wonder?
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about teenagers not being interested in older people. Trust me getting older is not fun! I try to not be preachy nor judgement when working with my younger students. I try to get them to talk about themselves rather than giving them the "olden times" stories. I think it has to be a give and take situation. They may be young but they also have value insights.