Participation: Key opp for our kids

The nature of interactivity is changing – in fact, our children are changing it. They moved beyond interacting with computers, games, and information on the Web to interacting with *each other*, as enabled by the Web, Net-connected devices, and media. And now they're moving past mere social interaction and individual self-expression to collaborative production and social action, online and offline. I've used various terms to describe this fascinating development here and in our book, MySpace Unraveled: instead of "social networking," a more accurate "creative networking," "social producing," or "collective self-expression." This development isn't about technology, though, it's about culture - "participatory culture" - suggests MIT Prof. Henry Jenkins and his co-authors in the first paper of the MacArthur Foundation's just-launched $50 million Digital Media & Learning research program. Participatory cultures involve being a part of online communities, producing digital media, problem-solving collaboratively, and shaping the public discussion (via blogs, podcasts, etc.). And access to these is becoming key to young people's ability to succeed, the authors write. Pls click to my newsletter's feature this week for more.