Week 9 Reading 6809

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?

Youth media program educators’ main responsibility is to teach students how to use various technologies primarily in their everyday lives to prepare them for life outside of the classroom.  A classroom teacher’s primary responsibility is to teach the content for a specific grade and subject mandated by the state. Using technology in the classroom is on the back-burner for some if not most classroom educators. 

2. With some important exceptions, how are lower income youth marginalized from using digital media in ways that might provide them with economic empowerment?

Our economy and is generated and maintained by the use of digital media.  Corporations rely on technology to run their businesses more effectively and efficiently and require their employees to be able to use these technologies.  Students that are from lower income families can not afford these technologies and therefore are not as familiar with how to use them compared to students who come from high income families that have easy access to these technologies.  Should these students be handicapped because of their parents’ income?  All students should learn to use technology in the classroom where it is free to all.    

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?

This completely makes since.  Sometimes more than one person is needed to get the job done.  I was surprised that at one point in the game 36 players were needed to kill Tiamat the dragon.  I have a new respect for the people that play Final Fantasy XI.  They are dedicated to what they enjoy doing, which is a great trait to have. 

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?

I believe all students need to understand the time=money state of mind.  Students love playing interactive games such as neo pets and learn crucial life skills without knowing it.  These learning environments could start out with social interaction in the classroom but then evolve into personal environments.