Enlightened by this....
A topic that I found “Enlightening” was the literary
debate and the participatory culture aspects. Reading the two articles made me
looks left and right of the technological spectrum. However, after a few days
of thinking about it, I have come to a conclusion. Participatory culture is the
new wave of technological education, and it isn’t going anywhere soon. Also,
the way it’s describes by Jenkins in his article “Confronting the challenges of
participatory culture: Media Education for the 21st Century,” is
widely informative. Then, looking back at Motoko Rich’s article “Literacy
Debate- R U Really Ready,” I found certain similarities.
The two are similar because the 4 keys mentioned in
Jenkins “Affiliation, Expressions, Collaborative problem- solving, and
Circulation, “are the building blocks of learning participatory culture. Those
keys are also new ways students of communicating, being creative, growing
socially, and contributing to society. Moving along, students were interviewed in
Motoko’s article and were cited saying that the “Internet is just easier, and
that it’s to the point.” (Rich, 2008) Comparing the two article, it seems
student are more aware of the “Expressions, and Collaborative problem- solving”
aspects of Jenkins participatory culture theories. Students are more into researching WiKIpedia
than looking for primary source account. Which Jenkins mentions as one of the
three core problems that students are facing in this participatory culture they
are involve in.
Some errors in participatory culture is something
Jenkins mentioned, “Participation Gap.” The Participation Gap is damaging,
because its affects are kind of unknown. Students after spending their time on
the internet are coming away with vast knowledge that they don’t know where to
apply it. That’s why the introduction of Jenkins ideas of new skills needs to
be address to the guidance of these students lives; the teachers and parents.
If the influential people in the students’ life were more aware of the skill necessary
to be successful in the participatory culture realm, then the gap can diminish.
However, there isn’t anyone to blame but time; time meaning that the rotation
will complete its route once this generation learns this new media literacy and
applies it to their children and students.
Some key skills that need to be put into practice
are more workshops that allow teachers to develop online communities, and ways
to let their new age student outlet. How can we as teacher be prepared? If we
ourselves are confused on how to connect with this new found culture. Just look
at Motoko’s debate from the students’ side. All of the students were eager to
let out some sort of idea, creativity, and a way for someone to help them. When
one of the students stated in Rich’s article “They go through a lot of details
that aren’t really needed; online just gives you what you need, nothing more or
less.” (Rich, 2008) This quote speak volumes to me because it says that
comprehension is overrated and the new student is relying on collaborative
problem- solving to achieve his research assignment. The problem I am having
along with others is that the internet isn’t always right and its tearing down
all the skills that were taught at a young age.
In conclusion, our culture is declining because we (traditionalist)
are on our way out and we aren’t letting go. The “New Age” of technology is here
and we all need to learn it to advance our students needs..
