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Entries for April 2008
Mobile Filmmaking
[SUMMARY—Studio in your pocket.]
(WORLD) Previously featured MobileJamFest has a great interview with its founder Craig Goodwill on the virtues of mobile filmaking and the sessions they run to educate young people to use the amazing tools they have in their pocket:
It's like having a video camera attached to your hand. It allows us to capture the really special, creative moments that happen in our lives. It allows us to capture sad and depressing things that need to be discovered. Now, if youth see someone throwing a container out the window of a car, they have a tool that allows them to make a statement about it. They have a tool that allows them to speak the truth. They can follow whatever cause they feel like pursuing. It's very empowering.
Still think your mobile phone can't do films? Tell that to Spike Lee…
Related posts: MediaSnackers Podcast #39
Filed by DK on April 30 2008 | READ IT »
Preparing for the Future
[SUMMARY—New report.]
(GBR) Our friends over at NESTA at the end of last month released their report on some research into young people and their attitudes/thoughts on entering the workplace and the future.
You can check out the full press release here, watch the videos of the event and/or read the Preparing for the Future essays.
Great to hear after our training session with NESTA they are getting some welcome feedback from blogging more.
Related posts: NESTA Future Innovators Training : Part Two
Filed by DK on April 29 2008 | READ IT »
Beijing Youth Voices
[SUMMARY—From behind the great (fire)wall.]
(CHI) Beijing Youth Voices is a new blog written by six Chinese young people. Taken from their intro:
We are all high school students in Beijing, with a range of interests, talents, and personalities—like teenagers around the world. For the next few months, we will be posting bi-weekly blogs, giving you a peek into our lives and life in China.
The project is supported by Adobe Youth Voice and What Kids Can Do—an illustration of how social media can open up opportunities to connect and explore other cultures and societies.
Filed by DK on April 28 2008 | READ IT »
CompTIA Keynote
[SUMMARY—Big speaking gig.]
(GBR) Honoured to be opening the 5th Annual E2C Event in Brimingham today (organised by CompTIA) with a keynote talk about "the learner, the 21st century curriculum, the technology & you."
We are caught in the middle of a storm, and the old way of doing things will be swept away. This is the future—DK's method of delivery, interaction with the audience and quality of content is as good as I have seen for some time. We will certainly be working with DK again; to stay in touch with developments, we have to!
Matthew Poyiadgi, Vice President, CompTIA
Filed by DK on April 25 2008 | READ IT »
RezEd Launched
[SUMMARY—Virtual hub for virtual learners.]
(WORLD) RezEd is an online community for learning in the virtual worlds.
Hosted on the Ning platform, RezEd is more than just a repository of information, news, podcasts and video but also a social network—so, if you're any kind of youth focussed organisation get over there, join up and start participating in this new community which will enable you to understand and explore all virtual platforms and their application in learning.
As you can see from the podcast below, MediaSnackers is hosting and producing the RezEd podcast series.
Related posts: 17 Out Of 1010
Filed by DK on April 23 2008 | READ IT »
Rezed Podcast#1 / MediaSnackers Podcast#107
[SUMMARY—The hub for learning and virtual worlds podcast series.]
(WORLD) This is the first RezEd podcast, produced by MediaSnackers with Global Kids.
Larry Johnson is is Chief Executive Officer of the New Media Consortium (NMC), an international consortium of more than 200 world-class universities, colleges, museums, research centers, and technology companies dedicated to using new technologies to inspire, energize, stimulate, and support learning and creative expression. He is an acknowledged expert on the effective application of new media in many contexts, and has worked extensively to build common ground among museums and universities across North America and in more than a dozen other countries.
0.00—0.09 intros
0.21—2.05 Rik at Global Kids discusses what RezEd is all about
2.06—3.23 Shawna outlining what will be featured and opportunities to be involved
3.24—4.36 Barry and Amira discuss the news of interest starting with April 1st Congretional Hearing on Virtual Worlds
5.50—6.28 next steps
6.29—8.47 upcoming events for the RezEd community
8.48—9.01 any news or events can be submitted here
9.04—9.16 podcast interview with Larry Johnson (intro)
9.17—11.02 an overview on the 1st congress hearing
11.03—14.29 summary of Larrys statement
14.30—17.05 profound opportunities
17.06—20.22 the reaction from the Congress
20.23—23.01 the Horizon Reports
23.02—25.15 future trends featured in the Horizon Report
25.16—26.10 the future for the New Media Consortium (NMC)
26.11—26.43 outro
Want to suggest someone or put your virtual hand-up to be interviewed? Then get in touch here or send me an audio message by clicking the icon opposite.
Subscribe directly to these podcasts through iTunes by clicking on the icon opposite (download iTunes for free here).
Not using iTunes? Then just copy / paste this feed and drop it into your podcast aggregating software.
Related posts: RezEd Launched and 17 Out Of 1010
Check out our other podcasts here.
Filed by DK on April 22 2008 | READ IT »
Wiltshire Youth Services Staff Conference
[SUMMARY—Speaking gig.]
(GBR) Speaking today at Wiltshires Youth Services Staff Conference.
Thank you for an insightful gig during our staff conference, on some of the possibilities for social media and web technolgy. It was educational for our understanding and will help frame the development of practice in this important strand of our work with young people.
Mark Hobbs-Shoulder, Quality & Development, Wiltshire Youth Development Service
Filed by DK on April 22 2008 | READ IT »
Grand Theft Childhoods
[SUMMARY—Sensible research and responses.]
(WORLD) $1.5millions two year research project funded by the US Dept. of Justice exploring if there is a link between video games and youth violence—there is NONE.
Can't see the book or research cited in the Safer Children in a Digital World…
Safer Children in a Digital World and Is The Internet Bad For Kids?
Via threebillion
Filed by DK on April 21 2008 | READ IT »
Dylan's Couch Get A Webby
[SUMMARY—Woo hoo.]
(USA) The Webby Awards are a big deal. Like the Oscars for online productions.
It's great to hear our friend Dylan (from Dylan's Couch fame) received an Official Honoree in both the Viral and Comedy—Long form or Series categories—woo hoos and well done to Dylan and all involved in the project (full press release here).
Related posts: MediaSnackers Podcast#56 and Dylan's Couch Gets Featured…
Filed by DK on April 17 2008 | READ IT »
London Mayoral Elections
[SUMMARY—Politicans on YouTube.]
(GBR) Politics is quickly becoming my forte on MediaSnackers. The London Mayoral elections are taking place in a few weeks and the campaigns are becoming unavoidable. They've got all the press channels crammed, a photo session here, an interview slot there. Something new has cropped up though. BBC London News has joined up with YouTube to create an open forum for the public. By uploading videos of us asking questions to the candidates and hoping they'll select your video to show on the news, we're now able to pose questions to the candidates about the issues that matter to us.
Right, lets get down to the long and short of it. Previously, I've been less than flattering about integrating politicians and new-fangled technology but I'm going to hold my hands up now when I say I may have been a bit sweeping with my statements. Apart from my dislike for certain politicians, I need to get over my party-bias and focus on what they are striving to do by mingling with YouTube. Initially, I congratulate whoever came up with this idea. It's reaching out to another market. Exploring unknown territory. However, I can see problems emerging with this concept already.
Looking at the YouTube channel there are, at time of writing, 108 comments. Most of them unconstructive and most of them hugely offensive. Free-to-edit websites come along with the threat of causing offence or publishing something unproductive. Should YouTube censor certain comments? It has deleted some comments but a large number of them still remain. I have a problem with this for a few reasons. One of these is that people have the right to freedom of speech yada yada yada, "where has democracy gone if we’re being censored" blah blah blah. But actually, the main problem I have with this is that the whole concept is about uploading videos and questioning the policies of the candidates. Wouldn't it be a lot more useful to concentrate on creating a decent video with a provoking question rather than spurting out propaganda and racial slurs?
A point which has been highlighted by some participants is that only three parties are being represented. "How is this democracy if only a selection of policies are under interrogation?" etc. Perhaps YouTube/BBC London News are realising that there is only room for three parties in the mayoral race. It's certainly unfair to voice the opinions of the 'most popular' candidates as Britain works under a democratic system, however, is the venture failing to accept that people do actually vote for the other seven parties? Where is the political equality in that?
I do not want to criticise this down to the ground as the website has plenty of interesting questions (though most are from the 'video vans' scouring around London) and the concept in theory is great. It gives people an opportunity that would normally be inaccessible. However, what are the chances of your question being picked? And what are the chances of the answer being vague? Perhaps I should stop being so pessimistic… Best of luck to all the candidates.
Related post: UK Politics
Filed by DK on April 16 2008 | READ IT »
Our New Trainers
[SUMMARY—Introductions.]
(GBR) Fresh from the fantastic recruitment day last month (which we think was the first ever to be covered live on Flickr and Twitter), it's with great pleasure and much virtual applause to introduce the new members of the MediaSnackers family:
Hello! I'm Bobbie.
I have worked as an educator in various fields for 6 years—music, ESOL/EFL and now social media. I have project managed several community workshops and assisted in various commercial and local council youth music projects.
I love it when the people I work with are able to realise their true potential—and leave beaming with toothy smiles!
I am very excited to work for da Snackerz and hope to kick many a butt (not participants mind you) with fun social media sessions.
I'm Guy, based in the south of England—so far, I've been working on stuff at the junction between the internet and speaking, listening, advising, and making.
I'm a trainer for MediaSnackers which means I get to help all sorts of folk use social media and web technologies to communicate and collaborate more effectively with young people.
Woo, and indeed yay!
Bobbie and Guy will now be shadowing and supporting a couple of our forthcoming sessions as they embellish our current operations with their own style and knowledge.
Related posts: MediaSnackers Recruitment Day : Part Two
Filed by DK on April 15 2008 | READ IT »
oneyouthworkbloggercampaign.com
[SUMMARY—A launch scuppered and a first inspired.]
(GBR) As announced in our last email digest, we were getting ready to launch our One Youth Work Blogger Campaign this month—aiming to inspire the first UK-based statutory youth work blogger…
We've been busy putting together a short inspiring and provocative video complimented by a host of links, examples and "how-tos" (plus we were going to throw in a half price training sweetener for the first to take up the challenge).
Little did we know a previous speaking gig had already done the job…
Hilary Mason is Senior Manager for West Sussex Youth Service AND the first ever uk-based statutory youth worker blogging (podcast to come).
Take a minute to think about that…
Whatever sector or industry you are in imagine being the first person to be blogging (please pop over to her blog and leave an encouraging comment or two).
I've been challenging every youth service audience I get in front of with this for nearly a year now and knew if just one started more would follow leading to the sharing of good practice, open dialogue and reflective practice plus a more transparent face for a sector which usually doesn't get the credit it deserves.
And to prove the point, a few days behind Hilary is Dave Petrie, Youth Worker for Essex County Youth Services (who again MediaSnackers are doing some work with) with his blog.
NB: Wonder if this will get featured anywhere in the mainstream media…?
Related posts: How To Become A Leader, Wanted: Youth Work Bloggers and Youth Work(ers) Challenged.
Filed by DK on April 13 2008 | READ IT »
Make Your Mark: Part Four
[SUMMARY—Film review.]
Related posts: Make Your Mark Part One, Part Two and Part Three.
Filed by DK on April 12 2008 | READ IT »
Make Your Mark: Part Three
[SUMMARY—Two dayer.]
(GBR) We're in London for the next couple of days delivering our two day youth professionals training course to the staff at Make Your Mark again.
Related posts: Make Your Mark Part One and Part Two
Filed by DK on April 10 2008 | READ IT »
University of Glamorgan
[SUMMARY—Back to back speaking gigs.]
(GBR) The first speaking gig I can walk to and our first MediaSnackers session in Wales.
I'm keynoting a blended learning session today at the University of Glamorgan for educators in the region—focussing on young people, new media and technology.
DK provided the keynote speech for one of our blended learning in schools seminars. The audience comprised teachers from a number of local schools and to say that they were blown away is an understatement. DK engaged the audience immediately with an entertaining, yet challenging presentation about young people's attitudes to technology. The discussion that followed was lively and thought-provoking… and the time far too short. We'll definitely be inviting DK back for a follow-up session.
Catherine Naamani, Senior Lecturer in Blended Learning, University of Glamorgan
Filed by DK on April 9 2008 | READ IT »
Halton Youth Voice Awards
[SUMMARY—First of two speaking gigs this week.]
(GBR) Up North at Stobart Stadium Halton and the local youth services Youth Voice Awards—celebrating children and young peoples contribution to the design and delivery of services for them and the support of the staff that enable them to do so.
I'm delivering two talks (as they have two different parts to the event) on the changes in youth through social media and technology.
We asked DK from MediaSnackers to speak to children, young people, senior officers, and elected members at our VOICE Awards ceremony in April 2008. The topic was the future of participation and the VOICE of children and young people through the internet. His two presentations unfolded the link between participation and the social media networking activity of young people with clarity, was pacey, and kept the audience of 700 people aged 8 to 68 engaged and thoughtful throughout. Thanks DK.
Dave Williams, Head of Halton Youth Service
Filed by DK on April 8 2008 | READ IT »
The MediaSnackers Meme #9
[SUMMARY—Keeping track of the growing MediaSnackers Meme.]
(WORLD) We probably weren't the first to apply the 'snacking' metaphor to media, although there seems to be a growing adoption in terms of describing the new youth-media landscape—we thought it would be good to keep an eye on the growing MediaSnacking meme:
I think there will always be a form of "dine in" networking, where we want the ambience and look and feel of that network for the mood it evokes. Same as going to the cinema perhaps—sure we can watch the movie at home, but the cinema meets OTHER needs. Aggregators meet the "take out" needs—quick catch up, fast food/media snacking.
Talking about aggregating social networking sites.
In today's widely cast media landscape, where "media snackers" graze on blogs and search results and news sites and other content that meets their specific interests, advertising needs to be less accidental and more intent based and heavily targeted. As media expands, consumers will hone the media they ingest with greater care, and advertising needs to do the same to reach people.
Discussing the next phase of advertising and marketing.
In most cases if you do get people to your Web 1.0 site they have no real reason to stay. You are offering content with no substance, you are offering general content when people are looking for specific content and answers, you are offering old style communication, you are not paying attention to the new age of Media Snackers.
Thinking differently about competing for eyeballs online.
Media consumers, in growing numbers, are embracing the notion of "media snacking". Hundreds of millions of audio and video devices like iPhones, iPods, Zunes, PSP, Smart Phones, and Laptops are now in the marketplace empowering consumers with the ability to listen and view content when they want, where they want and how they want.
Why radio stations need a new digital strategy of operations.
The world is media snacking, getting their information in short bursts from cell phones, podcasts and RSS feeds. We decided that the physician, who really does have precious few minutes a day, is the perfect audience for short, succinct educational streaming videos. Our goal is to provide an engaging, interesting way for doctors to learn that quickly gets to the point.
The reasons behind launching an online Doctors Channel.
The MediaSnackers Meme #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 & #8
Filed by DK on April 6 2008 | READ IT »
Safer Children in a Digital World
[SUMMARY—My luke warm response.]
(GBR) The UK governments report into children's gaming and internet use was launched last week. I wanted to wait to hear/read the views of other people and media groups before offering my own here.
For those who don't know, the report positions itself as thus:
A comprehensive package of measures to help children and young people make the most of the internet and video games, while protecting them from harmful and inappropriate material.
For those who work with social media the recommendations are not surprising. Here's a flavour (check out the Executive Summary for more):
• The creation of a new UK Council for Child Internet Safety, established by and reporting to the Prime Minister, and including representation from across Government, industry, children's charities and other key stakeholders including children, young people and parent panels.
• Setting in place sustainable education and initiatives in children's services and education to improve the skills of children and their parents around e-safety.
• Challenging industry to take greater responsibility in supporting families through: establishing transparent and independently monitored codes of practice on areas such as user generated content; improving access to parental control software and safe search features; and better regulation of online advertising.
• Reforming the classification system for rating video games with one set of symbols on the front of all boxes which are the same as those for film.
• Kick starting a comprehensive public information and awareness campaign on child internet safety across Government and industry, which includes an authoritative 'one stop shop' on child internet safety.
All things which makes sense and as already argued by Ewan McIntosh here stuff which allows educators to make a better case for educating parents on introducing new media and technologies into shools.
Focussing on the generational divide divide is a great start—illustrated by our calls for Education Not Legislation, our button theory and the fact 75% of all our training is with adults not young people—'how' this will work and the tone by which it is presented/delivered will be interesting to watch (how about enabling cross-generational educational programmes where young people 'teach' adults about social media like this project—a free idea for you guys).
For me there are three areas the report fails to tackle:
• children vs young people—very different demographics in terms of their internet/technology use and expectations. There is a danger of trying to develop strategies which cater for both groups here;
• internet or playing video games—surely these are two very different activities but in the report they are often 'lumped' together;
• social networking regulation—any plans to regulate these online spaces will be near impossible to enforce let alone coordinate (due to the amount of platforms plus their international approaches—check this out).
For me, this line from the executive summary gives me hope:
…we need to move from a discussion about the media 'causing' harm to one which focuses on children and young people, what they bring to technology and how we can use our understanding of how they develop to empower them to manage risks and make the digital world safer.
It's about creating a culture of understanding rather than a movement of curtailment.
MediaSnackers welcomes the report and debate but fears the mainstream media and organisations plus institutions will use it as leverage to curtail social media use by young people rather than explore its many opportunities.
NB: for future reports regarding the internet and social media please, please, please move away from text based reports and maybe take a note of how Ofcom realeased its latest report (check out how they have used video and interactive elements to present their findings).
Related post: Is The Internet Bad For Kids?
Filed by DK on April 5 2008 | READ IT »
Talk It Up Conference
[SUMMARY—2nd speaking gig this week.]
(GBR) This time I'm down south in Woking at the Participation Works South East conference entitled 'Talk It Up'.
I'm honoured to be opening the conference as keynote speaker plus I will be taking two workshops exploring some digital platforms and tools for the delegates to take away and play with.
Filed by DK on April 3 2008 | READ IT »
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