Media Convergence from the Perspective of an

Educator

Naila Hamdy, PhDDepartment of Journalism and Mass CommunicationThe American University in Cairo, EgyptNovember, 2010

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

Egyptian Youth are involved in what is being referred to as the participatory cultures.

Egyptians are online, connected on Facebook, Tweeting, Mashing, Digging and Sharing. Watching, broadcasting, You tubing and Flickering, commenting and posting.

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

Who can access this global culture?

Anyone with an internet connection and a mobile phone. It has low barriers to creative expression, civic engagement and political participation.

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

Affiliations: formal and informal memberships, in online communities.

Expressions: Producing creative forms.Collaborative Problem Solving: Formal

and informal teamsCirculations: Shaping the flow of mediaGlobal Interaction: circulated, shared,

moved, archived, annotated, commented on, mashed, repurposed, consumed and re-circulated, globally.

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

So why should educators and/or policy makers care?

Because our youth are already engaged.

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

What can educators do?

Teach skills needed for full participation.

Teach new media literacy.

Socialize them into ethical standards.

Student Tweeting

Student Photo Gallery

Student Blogging

Student Facebook Group

Student Web Page

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

Skills Needed:

Show them how to become media creators.

Give them the confidence to join the culture.

Let them become empowered.

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

Media literacy:

Enable them to analyze, evaluate create and disseminate messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres and forms by thinking critically.

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

Ethics:

Teach skills needed to negotiate between conflicting opinions and values of diverse internet communities.

Teach them to recognize that the choices they make as participants can have impact on others.

 

Members of the Participatory Culture

Media Convergence from the Perspective of an Educator

Conclusion:Educators and policy makers need to work together to educate our youth helping them become full and ethical participants of this new global culture.