Thoughts on the article “Confronting the challenges of participatory culture”
July 20th, 2010 • LIBR559M
I found the article “Confronting the challenges of participatory culture” by Henry Jenkins super interesting. I don’t know that the teens used as examples here would have been able to contribute to such an extent without the social media they are using. To read about what they have accomplished really made a strong impact on me. I tend to worry that social media will bring people further apart, but there is clear and strong evidence that it’s doing quite the opposite. I was also surprised by the stats that say half of all teens have created media content (way more productive than what I was doing as a teenager which was sitting in front of the tv for hours on end) and that girls ages 15-17 are more likely than boys their age to be involved with social media. I do think I had the stereotype in my head that it is young white dudes sitting in front of their computers who are the users of social media.
I also found Jenkins argument compelling about the skills and knowledge that teens are learning through using social media versus what they’re learning at school. I don’t know that the school system as it’s set up now can keep up with social media in any real way. Both my parents are teachers, and they’re busy enough preparing lessons, let alone trying on top of that to learn about social media so they can teach it. Besides, it seems to me part of the beauty that’s going on with social media and teens is that they’re self taught. They’re learning out of pure interest, not out of any kind of obligation, and maybe that’s why they’re loving it so much. Teaching it in school might take the joy out of it, especially if it’s being taught by someone who doesn’t have the same passion for social media as the kids do. It’s almost as if the involvement teens are having with social media is coming from an organic place – it seems to be very natural. They’re doing it because they like it. And they are learning a new and alternative way to run a society. Instead of having an authoritative power structure in place that we all are forced to follow or get thrown in jail, they have affinity spaces in which they are encouraged and encouraging of others to share and teach their skills and interests – everyone can be an expert and at the same time be learning from their peers. On paper, this sounds like utopia to me!
3 Responses (Add Your Comment)
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Jenkins’ work is top notch. I always find that even when I disagree with something he says, if it doesn’t ring quite right, that he gets me to think about the impact of media in the lives of young people. I find he makes many compelling points in this paper, and from the sounds of it, you agree.
Cristina,
You’ve raised a good point about the state of education. Teachers customarily have professional development days or less formal information sessions about new technologies in their school. But more of the bigger school boards are now appointing emerging technologies staff to come to classrooms directly to help smooth the integration of technology. I wish I could give an example, but people in my educational technology course talk about this as if it is becoming prevalent. Universities certainly have those kind of staff! It really is impossible to expect teachers to keep up with all of these things!
I don’t necessarily think that teachers need to be teaching social media so much as going to where the students expectations for learning are.