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The Greatest Generation (of Networkers) - WSJ.com - The Diigo Meta page

online.wsj.com/...4746304574505643153518708.html - Cached - Annotated View

Will Richardson's personal annotations on this page

willrich
Willrich bookmarked on 2009-11-05 shifts parent_book texting education network_literacy

"Because so many people in their teens and early 20s are in this constant whir of socializing—accessible to each other every minute of the day via cellphone, instant messaging and social-networking Web sites—there are a host of new questions that need to be addressed in schools, in the workplace and at home. Chief among them: How much work can "hyper-socializing" students or employees really accomplish if they are holding multiple conversations with friends via text-messaging, or are obsessively checking Facebook? "

  • Because so many people in their teens and early 20s are in this constant whir of socializing—accessible to each other every minute of the day via cellphone, instant messaging and social-networking Web sites—there are a host of new questions that need to be addressed in schools, in the workplace and at home. Chief among them: How much work can "hyper-socializing" students or employees really accomplish if they are holding multiple conversations with friends via text-messaging, or are obsessively checking Facebook?


    Some argue they can accomplish a great deal: This generation has a gift for multitasking, and because they've integrated technology into their lives, their ability to remain connected to each other will serve them and their employers well. Others contend that these hyper-socializers are serial time-wasters, that the bonds between them are shallow, and that their face-to-face interpersonal skills are poor.

  • "The unspoken attitude is, 'I don't need you. I have the Internet,'" says P.M. Forni, the 58-year-old director of the Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, which studies politeness and manners. "The Net provides an opportunity to play hide-and-seek, to say and not say, to be truthful and to pretend. There is a lot of communication going on that is futile and trivial."


    That's far too harsh an assessment, says Ben Bajarin, 32, a technology analyst at Creative Strategies, a consulting firm in Campbell, Calif. He argues that because young people are so adept at multimedia socializing, their social skills are actually strengthened. They're good at "managing conversations" and getting to the pithy essence of an issue, he says, which will help them in the workplace.

  • He argues that because young people are so adept at multimedia socializing, their social skills are actually strengthened. They're good at "managing conversations" and getting to the pithy essence of an issue, he says, which will help them in the workplace.
    • willrich
      Willrich on 2009-11-05
      Social networking teaching skills kids need? What a concept.
  • Educators are also being asked by parents, students and educational strategists to reconsider their rules. In past generations, students got in trouble for passing notes in class. Now students are adept at texting with their phones still in their pockets, says 40-year-old Mr. Gallagher, the vice principal, "and they're able to communicate with someone one floor down and three rows over. Students are just fundamentally different today. They will take suspensions rather than give up their phones."
  • More schools are now allowing students to use their cellphones between classes, or even as a learning tool in the classroom. Some teachers are having students text their friends during classes to share feedback on what's being taught. The mantra among educators who try to be enlightened: It's no longer about attention span. It's about attention scope—being able to concentrate on many things at once.

This link has been bookmarked by 8 people . It was first bookmarked on 04 Nov 2009, by randy gould.

  • 14 Dec 09
    baldy7
    Tony Baldasaro

    "A 17-year-old boy, caught sending text messages in class, was recently sent to the vice principal's office at Millwood High School in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    The vice principal, Steve Gallagher, told the boy he needed to focus on the teacher, not his cellphone. The boy listened politely and nodded, and that's when Mr. Gallagher noticed the student's fingers moving on his lap. "

    technology education generation texting networkers social

    • The Net provides an opportunity to play hide-and-seek, to say and not say, to be truthful and to pretend. There is a lot of communication going on that is futile and trivial."
      • Tony Baldasaro

        Tony Baldasaro on 2009-12-14

        Only if we don't teach them how powerful the web can be. I agree, that left to alone, there is the potential for the web to become futile and trivial, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to harness it.

    • They will take suspensions rather than give up their phones."
      • Tony Baldasaro

        Tony Baldasaro on 2009-12-14

        That is an indication of how much they value the opportunity to connect.

  • 28 Nov 09
    nalalina
    Nala Lina

    "He argues that because young people are so adept at multimedia socializing, their social skills are actually strengthened. They're good at "managing conversations" and getting to the pithy essence of an issue, he says, which will help them in the workplace."

    texting social networking

  • 11 Nov 09
    mitchgroup
    Doug Mitchell

    This article states the very interesting current status of today's younger workers and up and comers. It's not good enough to sit around and complain that you can't "reach this voting block" and disregard it. Imagine if someone said that about you...you 50+ year old! It won't be long before the youngest generations are the majority of the voting block. When they decide to engage (BHO), it's pretty much their game. Learn don't shut down. Engage...don't shout. Enjoy what this generation brings to the table as it's obviously very different than what even we (me) Gen X'ers brought not so long ago.

    ORS text messaging youth millennials simultaneous conversation texting generation

  • 05 Nov 09
    willrich
    Will Richardson

    "Because so many people in their teens and early 20s are in this constant whir of socializing—accessible to each other every minute of the day via cellphone, instant messaging and social-networking Web sites—there are a host of new questions that need to be addressed in schools, in the workplace and at home. Chief among them: How much work can "hyper-socializing" students or employees really accomplish if they are holding multiple conversations with friends via text-messaging, or are obsessively checking Facebook? "

    shifts parent_book texting education network_literacy

    • Because so many people in their teens and early 20s are in this constant whir of socializing—accessible to each other every minute of the day via cellphone, instant messaging and social-networking Web sites—there are a host of new questions that need to be addressed in schools, in the workplace and at home. Chief among them: How much work can "hyper-socializing" students or employees really accomplish if they are holding multiple conversations with friends via text-messaging, or are obsessively checking Facebook?


      Some argue they can accomplish a great deal: This generation has a gift for multitasking, and because they've integrated technology into their lives, their ability to remain connected to each other will serve them and their employers well. Others contend that these hyper-socializers are serial time-wasters, that the bonds between them are shallow, and that their face-to-face interpersonal skills are poor.

    • "The unspoken attitude is, 'I don't need you. I have the Internet,'" says P.M. Forni, the 58-year-old director of the Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, which studies politeness and manners. "The Net provides an opportunity to play hide-and-seek, to say and not say, to be truthful and to pretend. There is a lot of communication going on that is futile and trivial."


      That's far too harsh an assessment, says Ben Bajarin, 32, a technology analyst at Creative Strategies, a consulting firm in Campbell, Calif. He argues that because young people are so adept at multimedia socializing, their social skills are actually strengthened. They're good at "managing conversations" and getting to the pithy essence of an issue, he says, which will help them in the workplace.

    • 3 more annotations...
  • montuori
    montuori
  • 04 Nov 09
    hanschr
    hans hvistendahl

    generation social

  • manuinfsj
    Manu Madhok

    Article on the strengths of this texting generation.

    texting networking

  • mrgouldmrgould
    randy gould

    social media texting education

    • This generation has a gift for multitasking
      • randy gould

        randy gould on 2009-11-04

        Does the research support this? Is multi-tasking something that can actually be done well. Or could multitasking be more a constant shifting of priorities from one task to another and back again until the tasks are completed?

      • David Bill

        David Bill on 2009-11-06

        Research has proven that multitasking is not effective. Yet we still find it highly addictive.

    • They're good at "managing conversations" and getting to the pithy essence of an
      issue, he says, which will help them in the workplace.
    • 4 more annotations...