Considering how our world is changing and Michael Wesch’s idea of the new culture of participation, it is clear that technology has transformed our learning and interaction. We are no longer just passive observers, but active contributors to the online world. The emergence of the internet and social media has allowed everyone to have a voice and to be connected. But are we genuinely engaged? In my own humble opinion- I don’t think we are. Screen time and smart phones have taken so much valuable time of personal interaction and conversations. While it’s true that with these technologies, everything seems to be more accessible and convenient; in some ways, it has also moved people away from being as intentional as they probably would like to be.
Our relationships have changed because of the Δ in content + Δ in tools as mentioned by Dr. Katia Hildebrandt. Some relationship changes are geared towards encouraging and empowering others, which is really inspiring. However, we cannot ignore the fact that some people fall victim to it- considering cyberbullying for instance. The image by Alt Ledes shows that people from probably the 1950’s were occupied reading the newspaper. We can easily say that well, it’s not much of a difference of how we roll in today’s digital world. But as I was closely examining the picture, I realized that these are older guys probably over the age of 30, whose frontal cortex has fully developed. Capable of making sound decisions for themselves, and brain cells are not consumed by online gaming and social media. We need to consider that the most distracted generation are Gen Z and the Generation Alpha whose brains are not yet fully developed, and yet it’s already being damaged. No matter the scenario is, it comes down to being present and enjoying the moment.
Image by Marta Sher on Getty Images
Translating this to our future classrooms!
Knowing the statistics above and Wesch’s emphasis on the role of technology in fostering a sense of community and spreading joy, educators can encourage the culture of participation where student agency and autonomy in learning are highlighted. Group facilitated projects can be done using Canva where each student has a slide or two that they can manipulate and that would showcase their self-interest and creativity. Rethinking how we do school in today’s digital era can be challenging and exciting at the same time. The new culture of participation challenges everyone to be positive influencers in this digital era. According to Wesch’s, You Tube videos are meant for less than 100 viewers, yet they are so powerful that it creates new forms of expressions, identity, and community. Take for example Numa Numa craze that spread across Europe and when it hit Japan- they incorporated something that is familiar to their culture, which is animation! I would say that this kind of online involvement continues to evolve as people are discovering ways of making it the norm as it fits them. It fascinates me how a simple photo or video can be such a great deal. Influencers took center stage in 2015, and still continues to this very day. Why? Because they captured themselves on video or photo trying something out, got it out online, and now people follow them because they got really interested with their posts.
Online Empowerment in Shaping Tomorrow
Now is the time for schools to play a crucial role in educating students about internet safety and responsible online behavior. It’s about understanding the impact of our actions online—deciding which posts to support and which to avoid, and being mindful of how these posts shape our perceptions and influence others. Before hitting ‘post’ or ‘comment’, we should ask ourselves important questions like: What message are we sending? How are we inspiring and transforming others through our online presence? These considerations are essential for fostering a positive online community. Balancing the challenges of our new digital technology with the possibilities that it offers can be simple as:
- Learn about technology and digital tools to judge if online information is trustworthy, and keep learning because technology changes fast.
- Be fair and respectful when interacting online to do the right thing.
- Collaborate with others when using technology.
- Take breaks from screens, go outside for fresh air, and spend intentional face-to-face time with friends.
- Be kind online and watch out for harmful content.
Hi Avery,
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your thoughts! It’s fascinating how a title can connect us through shared interests. I actually didn’t know about the movie ‘Beyond the Blackboard,’ but your description has definitely awaken my interest! I’ll definitely add it to my watch list now and hopefully get to it once this term is done. Thanks for sharing that!
Hello Rowena, one thing that caught my eye about this post was the title. As it is the title of one of my favourite movies, it is such an inspiring movie! Now taking a look at your post technology offers incredible opportunities for connection and empowerment, but also presents challenges, as I had also talked about in my blog post. Balancing screen time with real-life interactions is very important.