I really wished that I could have
joined them at Berkeley for that glass of wine at the end. I felt like I’d
earned it.
Yes, yes, I know. Jenkins is always
worth it and the viewing and listening this week was very interesting. (But
that was a long podcast.) I want to comment on multi-tasking, the need for a
common language that media literacy education can provide, the greater good of
new media literacy and gaming as an important skill.
Multi-Tasking
The ‘history’ capture at the top of
this blog illustrates what Jenkins was saying about needing to understand
multi-tasking and learn how to ‘manage attention’, something I would emphasize
on his list of social literacy skills (Jenkins, n.d.). However, I would argue
that ‘managed-attention’ might be a more instructive label for the skill he is
describing. Multi-tasking has taken on a pejorative value-laden tone that
attracts a ‘just say no’ reaction, rather than encouraging us to learn to
manage our attention.
Common Language and Approach
Some children learn to read on their
own, yet we don’t assume all children will. Nor should we assume that because
children are using the tools of participatory culture, they are aware of the
implications of the tools. As Jenkins pointed out about the PBS documentary on
youth and media, we lack the language to describe our experiences online (PBS,
n.d.). We also don’t necessarily understand the tools without a context for the
tool – is it a place to create a community like Facebook, a broadcast
medium like Twitter, or somewhere to post our art like YouTube?
The need for common definitions and
approaches was illustrated for me this week as I sat in on a debriefing about a
world scale natural disaster. The person who had headed up the response was a
former army officer and he described how other key people were also
ex-military. Afterwards, I asked an international expert in emergency
management why the military experience was so powerful. His immediate reply
was, “They all define things the same way.”
So the people with a military
background understood what the other was saying and the command structure. As a
result, they were able to take action quickly without further discussion.
Having a common language, tools and culture provides a powerful platform for effectiveness.
This bolsters the argument for deliberate instruction in social literacy.
Digital Natives versus Immigrants
So, what about digital natives
versus immigrants? Jenkins does a good job of illustrating the metaphor’s
strengths and shortcomings. The digital immigrant metaphor seems particularly
useful when looking at the skills immigrants have which they can pass on to
others. Children of immigrants sometimes describe what sticklers their parents
were for proper grammar – because English was a second language, their parents
were more aware of the rules than native speakers. We digital immigrants may
have much to teach children about what Jenkins calls the ‘complex interplay
between old and new media’ because we have to work harder at learning the new
tools. His description of the role parents can play in ‘watching their kids’
backs’ versus banning social media is also insightful.
As an aside, there’s important
research into the value of bilingualism in delaying dementia (Craig, Bialystol
& Freedman, 2010). Perhaps we digital immigrants will also get an added
immunity for all the pain we go through learning new tools. One can hope.
Knowledge Diplomacy, Gaming and a
Better Future
Governor General David Johnston has
written an op-ed in the Globe and Mail giving his views about the challenges
facing the world and why learning and sharing information – what he calls
knowledge diplomacy - is so important (Johnston, n.d.). What he says
underscores the tenets of this master's program - the importance and role of
communication in the era of the Internet, as well as this week’s topic of
participatory culture. Johnston points out the need for
trans-disciplinary, interconnected approaches and how ideas are improved when
shared and tested through action.
This has historically been discussed
as knowledge diplomacy, which is defined by the Asia Pacific Institute as
"combining the skills acquired through education and experience with
diplomacy as an intermediation mechanism to peacefully solve issues and address
common topics of interest between countries" (Asia Pacific Foundation
of Canada, n.d.). It has its roots in efforts to look at knowledge management
in diplomatic endeavors (Knowledge and Diplomacy, n.d., pp. 10 –
11).
Jane McGonigal talks about the need
to create a better future as well, in particular the role of gaming in solving
the world’s problems. She’s an impassioned ambassador for gaming skills and how
they engage people in problem solving, collaboration, ‘blissful productivity’ –
her way of describing the pleasure people get in participating in a game, and
the hunt for ‘epic meaning’ – the all encompassing sense of accomplishment
gamers feel when they solve a problem (McGonigal, n.d.). Check out her TedTalk;
anyone with a teenager on the couch will feel infinitely better for having
watched. If you’re interested, also check out Jason Marquis’ blog on the use of
her theories in post-secondary education.
Conclusion
Digital literacy is critical. These
are skills that students need to learn, as do their parents and teachers. They
are important not only for ensuring that we all are able to enjoy what Jenkins
calls “a complex interplay between old and new media”, but to ensure that we
build the better future as envisioned by Johnston and McGonigal.
By the way, a shout out to
Glenn Kubish for his dialogue with Henry Jenkins, which Jenkins posted on his
blog this week (Jenkins, 2012). This illustrates the power of ‘throwing
things out in the world’ and collective intelligence. Well done.
Craik F.I.,
Bialystok E. & Freedman M. 2010. Delaying the onset of Alzheimer disease:
bilingualism as a form of cognitive reserve.. Neurology, 75 (19),
1726-1729.
Confessions of an Aca-Fan: The official
weblog of Henry Jenkins. C Is For Convergence: How the Cookie Monster Reformed
Canadian Health Care. (2012, February 29). Retrieved from http://henryjenkins.org/2012/02/c_is_for_convergence_how_the_c.html
Digital Nation | FRONTLINE | PBS.
(n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2012, from
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view/
Henry_Jenkins_UCiSchool_06Feb2008.mp3.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/audio/download/10409/Henry_Jenkins_UCiSchool_06Feb2008.mp3
Johnston,
D. (n.d.). The diplomacy of knowledge - The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 2,
2012, from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/the-diplomacy-of-knowledge/article2341017/
Knowledge_and_Diplomacy.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://ati.usacademy.info/Books/Knowledge_and_Diplomacy.pdf
McGonigal,
J. (n.d.). Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world | Video on TED.com.
Retrieved March 2, 2012, from
http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html
