[Music]
how do you define Millennials let’s go a
little bit younger than that
how about Gen Z when you think of those
born after 1996 most typically think of
a generation that’s technically savvy
and deeply immersed within digital
devices not limited to cell phones
laptops iPads gaming consoles virtual
reality technology exists everywhere but
let’s take a look at what’s really going
on inside kids are immersed in the
digital world exploring social
interactions through social media
communication applications Common Sense
Media has reported that 75 percent of
teenagers in America have profiles on
social media networks smartphones have
facilitated the shift in teens
communication and information landscape
making it faster than ever before we are
more interconnected than ever
the selfie Marian Webster defines the
selfie as a photograph that one takes of
oneself typically with a smartphone or
webcam and shared via social media
selfies have become a creative outlet
for people to express themselves while
some may argue that they are
narcissistic or inauthentic they offer a
glimpse into the lives of some people
many women are using selfies to take
back control over how they are perceived
in a world where peer pressure’s to look
a certain way are heavier than ever
the selfie defies the notion that girls
can’t be proud of what of their own
image
it allows girls to show who they are and
how they want to be perceived the selfie
allows women and girls to take back
control of their image an empowering
feeling in the world of social media
with the rise of that social media it’s
become rooted in our day to day lives
and I’m sure many of you are on social
media right now it gives us access to
communication on a global platform
digital communities have been popping up
left and right within those networks for
any interest group or niche or topic
possible let’s take a look at a recent
social media movement hashtag stand with
Standing Rock the Standing Rock movement
was started by Takota iron eyes and her
friends when they heard that the Dakota
access pipeline was going to be reroute
‘add away from Bismarck and through
their sacred lands the Standing Rock
youth were able to get the attention of
the world through hashtags
live-streaming YouTube Twitter they took
to digital media to engage in peaceful
protests 5 million tweets were used
using hashtag no Dakota access pipeline
or hashtag stand with Standing Rock
digital media’s are no longer play
solely for professionals or academics
but they found their way into unique
niches within youth and adults teens are
using digital communities to develop
their sense of self when it comes to
school or personal interests Facebook
Instagram Twitter reddit other blogging
platforms that many of you have probably
gotten on today they’re all they all
offer a place for students to find
people just like them with a quick
search you can find a group for youth
cross-country runners Ironman
triathletes safe places for people going
through struggling times
artists in high school or even banks
when these communities have the social
and emotional supports for their digital
citizens it gives youth the environment
where they feel safe to talk among
like-minded people I want to take a look
at one of my students
his name’s Nick he’s an eighth grader at
my school he’s not here today he’s
frequently found with a computer in
front of him i erase it I didn’t know
him for the beginning of the school year
but I met him when we were introducing
digital portfolios at our school and
there was a challenge to make an avatar
of yourself he created this collage of
himself where he took his face and he
put all the interests that make him who
he is Nick told me he made this using
Photoshop and then he went on to show me
some more of the images that he’s
created I asked him how he learned to do
this and he told me that he’s a member
of a Google+ community that where
artists get to show their own work and
critique other’s work in Photoshop they
have 14 day challenges where they
learned to develop skills like drawing
the human face or drawing a hand in
addition he also used a follows many of
those artists on YouTube where they post
tutorials and he gets to learn how to
use the different tools within Photoshop
now clearly Nick has an interest for
digital art but he’s using a diverse
array of forums and social media
networks to showcase his work and become
a valuable member and contributor within
the digital communities and Nick doesn’t
know what he wants to be when he’s older
let alone what he wants to do but as he
discovers new interests like his recent
interest in virtual reality it provides
him a place in communities that he can
go to as an avenue to explore his
expressions of identity and creativity
when these uses of Technology what these
uses of Technology all have in common is
the ability to give voice to hopes and
dreams they empower youth to pursue
their passions the academic the writer
the musician that artists the social
media the social activists the
interconnected digital community gives
youth a space to determine who they want
to be what they want to know and learn
while they enter a safe virtual world to
explore the self they imagine they want
to be now despite all the positives of
technology there have always been
negative negative counterpoints many of
which are valid citing that balance is
key but the truth is that technology
needs to be embraced technology is the
future a fast changing future that we
can count on to continually become
faster better and more convenient the
benefits of Technology is a list that
could go on and on I leave you with this
final note what role could technology
play in finding your inner passions
thank you
[Applause]
how do you define Millennials let’s go a
little bit younger than that
how about Gen Z when you think of those
born after 1996 most typically think of
a generation that’s technically savvy
and deeply immersed within digital
devices not limited to cell phones
laptops iPads gaming consoles virtual
reality technology exists everywhere but
let’s take a look at what’s really going
on inside kids are immersed in the
digital world exploring social
interactions through social media
communication applications Common Sense
Media has reported that 75 percent of
teenagers in America have profiles on
social media networks smartphones have
facilitated the shift in teens
communication and information landscape
making it faster than ever before we are
more interconnected than ever
the selfie Marian Webster defines the
selfie as a photograph that one takes of
oneself typically with a smartphone or
webcam and shared via social media
selfies have become a creative outlet
for people to express themselves while
some may argue that they are
narcissistic or inauthentic they offer a
glimpse into the lives of some people
many women are using selfies to take
back control over how they are perceived
in a world where peer pressure’s to look
a certain way are heavier than ever
the selfie defies the notion that girls
can’t be proud of what of their own
image
it allows girls to show who they are and
how they want to be perceived the selfie
allows women and girls to take back
control of their image an empowering
feeling in the world of social media
with the rise of that social media it’s
become rooted in our day to day lives
and I’m sure many of you are on social
media right now it gives us access to
communication on a global platform
digital communities have been popping up
left and right within those networks for
any interest group or niche or topic
possible let’s take a look at a recent
social media movement hashtag stand with
Standing Rock the Standing Rock movement
was started by Takota iron eyes and her
friends when they heard that the Dakota
access pipeline was going to be reroute
‘add away from Bismarck and through
their sacred lands the Standing Rock
youth were able to get the attention of
the world through hashtags
live-streaming YouTube Twitter they took
to digital media to engage in peaceful
protests 5 million tweets were used
using hashtag no Dakota access pipeline
or hashtag stand with Standing Rock
digital media’s are no longer play
solely for professionals or academics
but they found their way into unique
niches within youth and adults teens are
using digital communities to develop
their sense of self when it comes to
school or personal interests Facebook
Instagram Twitter reddit other blogging
platforms that many of you have probably
gotten on today they’re all they all
offer a place for students to find
people just like them with a quick
search you can find a group for youth
cross-country runners Ironman
triathletes safe places for people going
through struggling times
artists in high school or even banks
when these communities have the social
and emotional supports for their digital
citizens it gives youth the environment
where they feel safe to talk among
like-minded people I want to take a look
at one of my students
his name’s Nick he’s an eighth grader at
my school he’s not here today he’s
frequently found with a computer in
front of him i erase it I didn’t know
him for the beginning of the school year
but I met him when we were introducing
digital portfolios at our school and
there was a challenge to make an avatar
of yourself he created this collage of
himself where he took his face and he
put all the interests that make him who
he is Nick told me he made this using
Photoshop and then he went on to show me
some more of the images that he’s
created I asked him how he learned to do
this and he told me that he’s a member
of a Google+ community that where
artists get to show their own work and
critique other’s work in Photoshop they
have 14 day challenges where they
learned to develop skills like drawing
the human face or drawing a hand in
addition he also used a follows many of
those artists on YouTube where they post
tutorials and he gets to learn how to
use the different tools within Photoshop
now clearly Nick has an interest for
digital art but he’s using a diverse
array of forums and social media
networks to showcase his work and become
a valuable member and contributor within
the digital communities and Nick doesn’t
know what he wants to be when he’s older
let alone what he wants to do but as he
discovers new interests like his recent
interest in virtual reality it provides
him a place in communities that he can
go to as an avenue to explore his
expressions of identity and creativity
when these uses of Technology what these
uses of Technology all have in common is
the ability to give voice to hopes and
dreams they empower youth to pursue
their passions the academic the writer
the musician that artists the social
media the social activists the
interconnected digital community gives
youth a space to determine who they want
to be what they want to know and learn
while they enter a safe virtual world to
explore the self they imagine they want
to be now despite all the positives of
technology there have always been
negative negative counterpoints many of
which are valid citing that balance is
key but the truth is that technology
needs to be embraced technology is the
future a fast changing future that we
can count on to continually become
faster better and more convenient the
benefits of Technology is a list that
could go on and on I leave you with this
final note what role could technology
play in finding your inner passions
thank you
[Applause]
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