Journal 9-Geeking Out

John K. Waters, "The Kids Are All Right," T.H.E. Journal, 3/1/2009, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24104

This week I read "The Kids are All Right" by John Waters. This article is a bout a study done by the MacArthur Foundation called "Kids' Informal Learning With Digital Media: An Ethnographic Investigation of Innovative Knowledge Cultures." Basically it researched how kids are using the internet and for what purposes. The article was very reassuring in that it places importance on all interactions students have with technology, whether it be academic or not. The study created 3 categories of how students use the computer. The first is "hanging out" which is the equivalent of checking email, and brief online visits. The 2nd is "messing around" which is slightly more in-depth perusal. I like that the researchers describe this phase as when you ask a student what they are doing and they say "nothing." The final phase is "geeking out", which is when a student is intensely doing something online. The article is nice because it finds the value in any way a student uses a computer, whether it be MySpace or an academic pursuit, the bottom line is that they are learning something.

In what way could Facebook be beneficial to student learning?:
While on Facebook a student uses many applications that are great skills to posses. Uploading pictures and videos add a great visual component to reports and presentations, and this is basic everyday stuff on Facebook. Also, a student on Facebook may join a group that has some interest for them and research and communication skills are necessary to be a good contributor.

How can a teacher get her students to geek out in class?
If a teacher makes the course content interesting, new, and relatable, and allows her students to incorporate current events and personal interests, she may be able to peak there attention so that they find an assignment worthy of "geeking out" over. For example, a history teacher may ask the class to create a present day interpretation of Lewis and Clarks Expedition. Students could use Google maps to map the journey, Expedia to book lodging along the way, iTunes to create a mix for the roadtrip, and information from Weather.com and national park websites for places of interest and possible hazards for the trip.