Suzanna Stinnett wrote about radical acts that transform culture in her book, "Little Shifts." Her next book is about Web 55.0 - the emerging influence of Boomers online. She writes about brain power, innovation and new paradigms of online communication at her Web site, www.GreatAdaptations.org.
While doing some research about the virtual community called "Second Life," I came across this mandate on the blog of a 20-something. Not sure who actually gets the attribution, but here it is:
"21st Century education must address not only the needs, but also knowledge, skills, and attitudes which 21st century learners of all ages already bring to their educational experiences."
This is one loaded bullet. It comes at an interesting time for me, as my family is welcoming its brand new member, Jack, who was born June 1st. (Congratulations Mom and Dad!) By the time Jack is participating in his education, what form of communication will be commonplace in his schools?
The bullet above applies just as pointedly to media and publishing. As we mess around with our learning curves, social networking, and online consumption, our brand new arrivals enter a world packaged for unlimited, no-boundaries communicating.
Meanwhile, that virtual community I mentioned is being followed by such entities as the U.S. Congress, nonprofits, and demographic researchers. It is so challenging for me to digest that I've decided to set aside a special place to tell you about my own exploration of it. You'll see that weekly in my "Virtual Thursdays" posts.
But let's let Jack have a First Life Today, I'm full of questions, pondering Jack's world. If you've had a recent arrival in your family, tell me, how does it change your perspective? Are you getting that lurching feeling as you adjust to the world-from-his-eyes? Maybe it's a good exercise, like a fiction writer playing with point-of-view.
Whatever we may fancy about our newest generation, I think it's in the ball park to say they have vastly more potential for intelligence than we've ever encountered. That quote up top brought me back to my definition of "hacker." Check it out over at the Great Adaptations glossary.
And tell me what your grandkids have prompted you to do. Or stop doing.
I'll be back in a couple of days. Right now I'm boarding the teensy netherworld of a small plane, on my way to see Jack. Look up and wave at me if you're on I-80.
Now and then I teach an introductory course for online communication. One of the things I try to make clear to people who are baffled by all the social media, software, terminology, and general mystery of online activity is this: Tech innovators never... Read More Topics:
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Part of my task as the Boomers Examiner is to talk about how technology accomplishes things Boomers want to see done. There’s no leaving Google out of this equation. I consider the founders and advisers of Google to be visionary people. They tend... Read More Topics:
adaptation ,
Google Android Dream
This post is part of the Glossary Series, a 100-day conversation designed to develop and clarify the language we use to describe online communication. As Year 2008 comes to a close, the emerging Glossary of Online Communication will be published along... Read More Topics:
glossary
The Winner: Book Passage, at the San Francisco Ferry BuildingThere’s no point trying to pigeonhole the billowing demographic called baby boomers. But perhaps there are a few things that do describe those of us who did not grow up with computers.One... Read More Topics:
baby boomer
New TiVo software turns Windows PC into TiVo TVIs this a good thing? The kit will cost $199 including a remote and a TV tuner that plugs into the PC. The interface looks just like the one on a television equipped with a TiVo box. It goes on sale... Read More Topics:
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This post is part of the Glossary Series, a 100-day conversation designed to develop and clarify the language we use to describe online communication. As Year 2008 comes to a close, the emerging Glossary of Online Communication will be published along... Read More Topics:
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boomers ,
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The Watchamacallit?Boomers may adopt the Dream phone using Google’s open source Android software stack, but we have to know what it’s called first. Some call it the G1, or even the T-Mobile G1. Others will call it the Dream. And the more... Read More Topics:
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This post is part of the Glossary Series, a 100-day conversation designed to develop and clarify the language we use to describe online communication. As Year 2008 comes to a close, the emerging Glossary of Online Communication will be published along... Read More Topics:
online communication ,
conversation ,
glossary