Rise of the Technology Class
These conversations are between students from Ecuador, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Spain and the US who see technology serving a higher purpose: A counter-culture to their predecessors. This is evidence of a new type of generative class who apply technology to their creativity with art, music, science and involvement within the community. Their activity is transparent and active to our evolving civility. These multinational students are socially conscious storytellers. The Moderator of this conversation, Michael Davis is an Executive MBA graduate of Steinbeis University Germany, The Berlin School of Creative Leadership.Author Archive
Rise Of The Technology Class
You’ve landed on Rise of the Technology Class community. The student authors here used this site from 2008-2010 as a guide to track their interests in technology and social media. Take a look around, scroll down the blog. Each student is featured based on their home country.
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by Michael – A message of hope
YOUTH LEADERS – ACTIVISTS AT HOPENHAGEN
A message of hope: This is Irena Ward’s video, 13 years old from Sydney, Australia. Her message of hope and belief for the future regarding the outcomes of the Cop15 conference.
ETHICAL CONTRIBUTORS
Rachel Butler
by Michael- a new name, ‘Ethical Contributors’
Ethical Contributors.
Ethical Contributors…young people who are participating on this blog. “Rise of the Technology Class,’ was the thesis statement for my MBA in Germany at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. It served well to highlight why young people ARE NOT actually a technology class who adore technology as marketers believe, but rather a generation who is integrated with devices as appliances. Some exceptions noted, but their behavior proves otherwise. For them, technology creates a bridge to conversations that previous generations did not connect to.
Technology is often transparent and expected, leaving everyone a ‘creative’ or ‘technology’ class of people. From the posts on this site, it became evident that devices and technology did not create compelling stories, but rather improved a quality of life. Our young students in Mexico want to be online more, but don’t have access to the internet. In Tokyo modern payment methods are common via mobile at retail. In India, there is still a thriving newspaper business. And in the UK and US, young people do talk about technology, but speak much more about themselves.
One blogger, Ryan, wants to turn back time to the era of Sean Connery as James Bond, mid 1960s. No phones, no computer, twitter, facebook or match.com. James was cool and fine on his own with a glass of Smirnoff.
Another blogger, Cristo, asks what happens to our passwords when we die? He wants his family to find his life stored in googlemail. My favorite post is by Veena, who contemplates the complexity of how technology has taken the humanity and personal 
interaction out of war. Perhaps she has found a philosophical challenge that our society has become to distant from the pain that war causes. Not sure if the Armed Forces on the ground in Afghanistan feel the same way, but her point is well taken. Most modern wars are drone and push-button destruction.
Not money or time is the killer of innovation, but rather FEAR. The young people on this site are brave, thoughtful and fearless to talk about how their contribution to
global conversation is based on imagination. Not the technology that enables it.
10 Commandments of “The Instant Age”
A student that will participate on this blog next semester sent this to us. A quick guide to respect followers, fans and friends as some convert to customers. Many of the students already have flourishing online businesses. Interesting…
10 commandments to pass on when deciding on social media strategy by Bill Boorman
- Before you do anything determine that you have products or services you can sell on-line. Without something to sell, it will be nothing but a distraction.
- Set up “destination points.” All your time invested in areas like twitter need to be leading somewhere as a point of reference. I recommend a linked in profile completed to 100% and a web site or community to draw customers in.
- Blog every week somewhere. I favour a mix of your own blog and guest blogging in your market place. This way you not only reach your own followers but the followers of others, some of whom will choose to follow you also.
- Comment often particularly on your clients blogs. Not just “I thought that was great!” add something to the discussion and include your contact details. The more often you comment, the more followers you will attract.
- Followers doesn’t equal customers. There are 4 types of followers: 1)Your target market 2)Influencers who won’t or can’t buy from you but will spread your message 3)Your competitors that are keeping an eye 4)Collectors who are motivated by building giant lists of no relevance (more ego than value in my view.) Identify the first two and concentrate your conversations with these groups.
- Put a person on the end. People communicate (engage) not robots. In the instant society you need an instant answer or a question as well as original responses. Would you rather talk to a receptionist or an automated response when you call a supplier? The same applies in SM.
- Be prepared to help others. Get to know what your followers do and introduce them when a need arises, as well as offering your own help where you can. This builds reputation, and in turn engagement.
- Blend your message. You need to include video, audio and written word to communicate your message. Followers will have their own preference, give them their own choice.
- Have a personal conversation as soon as possible. Look to have personal contact at every opportunity moving from e-mail to face mail. Conversation personalizes the relationship and enables you to connect.
- Review your strategy, measure the time you’re spending against the return you want. Without review you will get lost. Don’t expect a quick return; it takes about 6 months before you will notice real wins. The investment is worth it as long as you followed step 1!
Rise of the Technology Class. A recap.
We are keeping these posts relevant to tweens as we witness the evolution of a highly intelligent young generation. There are no subject filters here. There are basic rules of engagement and the posts generally unedited, except for non-english speaking students who use Google to translate. Filtering basic educational information away from young people is widely debated.
How will this generation (12-17 roughly) move through the next decade? As committed to ethical behavior as the current generation is demonstrating? Are young voters currently passively speaking out or confident to speak up? The difference is between active or passive. Is access just a utility? I think not. It’s enabled empowered truth, a voice that didn’t have opportunity for audience just a decade or so ago? For the young people who question why their passion for truth is being discounted, this blog offers just another voice to them. They are fully aware (with school and parental oversight) that Rise of the Technology Class is also collecting their words as data.
time-young-voters
Academic leaders are committed to understanding how the interactive engagement changes the lives of families, young people and those who are educating students while away from home.
Henry Jenkins, formally of MIT, now USC, is the “Marshall Mcluhan” of modern communication. Marshall would be proud to see Henry’s work today. The debate continues.
Henry Jenkins, filtering not helping learning ecology
Short video clip is :30.
Professor Henry Jenkins of USC, on filtering not helping learning ecology.
Insight why schools often cut themselves off from the learning ecology. Students don’t have access.
The longer interview is at:
Michael – “Iran, the cell phone revolution”
As the world watches and listens to historic change in Iran, I wonder if the protesters really know how far their media has traveled. Their access to the internet is blocked. Only a few foreign journalists have been allowed to stay and reporting is limited. The images of young people banded together for a common cause are quite compelling.
For some of the authors on this blog, this is the first massive movement of activism you have noticed with global impact.
“You” emerged more than a few years ago as the hero for Time Magazine’s person of the year. (2006) Citizen journalism or “participatory journalism” is not necessarily new by technology timelines.
The dramatic footage sent by mostly young people from Iran tell a story deeper than civil protest. There is no violence in this movie file. Turn up the volume. Listen to the story. This is one long continuous shot from a mobile phone, traveling along the street during protest. It is about technology. It is their primary link to the outside world for expression. These are authentic stories that have crossed all channels and platforms using all types of media.
Michael – Santiago Papasquiaro meets Cicero
Many of the authors on rise of the technology class are part of Youth Technology Corp. An organization that helps students connect around the world. Although YTC focuses on technology, what they do for young people and communities serves a higher purpose.
“Most after-school programs ‘teach’ a fixed content, and repeat each semester. They are not set up to allow each individual student to develop their own skills and perspective over time. YTC creates an environment where the curiosity and ambition of each teen is given a chance to come out and be supported and encouraged. They start out doing something fun and physical with ‘cool’ and relevant technology that provides quick and meaningful rewards and a sense of personal mastery.” -YTC Founder Dave Finkel
Michael – Innovation vs. Invention
This is hand-drawn
All of it. It’s not a photo and was recently created by an artist. I’m still trying to find the artist. So, someone will be drawing CD covers in 10 years since we download all our music. I am sure innovation trumps invention. With every new device people think the world will change overnight. The iPhone could be an exception. Things did change overnight. Otherwise, very few inventions changed the world as quickly. There was another tape format that looked just like these VHS tapes called “Betacam.” It didn’t last for home use, but was a breakthrough format for documentary makers and television stations. Most of us are innovators. Occasionally we think of something simple that hasn’t been made before. As this blog populates with more of you, discuss your innovation here. One of you will invent something new someday. The innovation that you collaborate with others will probably lead you there. Bill Gates. Steve Jobs. Sergei Brin. Inventors or Innovators? Or just great leaders?
Moderator, US
Joshua - Tel Aviv, Israel
Aruna - Mumbai, India
jacqueline - Cicero, US
Salvador - Orihuela, Spain
David - Orihuela, Spain
Cristo-Orihuela, Spain
Veena - Chicago, US
Nikolas - Glenview, US
Caridad - Orihuela, Spain
Katie - Administrator, Chicago, US
Ryan - Glenview, US
Samantha - Santiago Papasquiaro, Mexico
Kaito - Tokyo, Japan
