Young People, New Media and Education: Participation and Possibilities

Abstract

The image of young people as techsavyy 'digital natives' at ease in the digital world in sharp contrast to older generations has become almost something of a clich鬠and characterises much public discourse around 'young people today'. However, in practice there is a wide diversity of interest, knowledge, access and opportunities amongst young people themselves, and amongst older generations. Yet is also the case that technological innovation, globalisation and new media have profoundly changed the current landscape, with implications at a number of levels. In Education, there is a keen awareness of the need to respond to what Kress describes as 'the changed communications landscape of the present day', to young people's experience of living in this world, and the ways in which their involvement in digital culture and technology may shape their approach to learning in school. While schools explore the potential of Web2 sites and technologies, and a range of digital cultural forms for formal teaching and learning, online commercial and public interest campaigns such as the Dumb Ways to Die effectively capitalise on the potential of new media to promote powerful informal learning and appropriation in telling and effective ways.