Here’s some news for you: our economy (as you know it), our culture (as you know it), and our values (as you know many of them) are being destroyed by a new global, connected ecosystem, as Weinberger calls it. Just face it. The world is changing at a pace largely suitable for those under the age of twenty. But economy, culture, and values do not just disappear. They will be replaced, and it is the responsibility of those over twenty to understand the processes of change in order to skillfully help shape the new world economy, culture, and the formation of new values.

Reject the change, and you will be run over. But those who do understand change know: listen to your dissenters. Dave Weinberger knows this well.

Students in the UK can expect to get their examination results over the next couple of weeks through secure online services and even MySpace.

Ewan continues:

I have to say that I really like EdExcel’s effort to meet young people where they are and coax them through, instead of just pushing students initially to use an ‘official’ (read: boring) website.

There is something quite powerful happening here. An official education organization is actively embracing the social fabric of student’s lives. I still find many educators refer to MySpace as a four-letter word. Could this possibly be a sign of changing paradigms?

To be honest, the experiment did come with some problems, according to the BBC. But considering the popularity of such an effort, the attempt is worth applauding. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has made a tremendous leap into the 21st century by their willingness to create their virtual office right in the midst of what many would consider a very questionable neighborhood.

As adults, many of us have much to learn about online social networking. We may play a part of it, yet hesitate to think that our children might be actively engaged as well. It’s like walking in a busy downtown knowing the red light district is just around the corner. Then finding out that your 13 year old is only a block away from you. What do you do?

How about communicate? There has never been a time of greater need for us to learn to communicate self-responsibility to our children. Online life is such an integral part of the social fabric of teenagers (and pre-teens!), we cannot close the door on internet activity AND we cannot shield our children from the red light districts tempting our children’s curiosity (or whatever dangers may lurk in the alleyways). The inherent openness and freedom of expression built into the web makes it virtually impossible to police. We, and our children, are left on our own to use it responsibly. But the web offers tremendous information and social resources that cannot be ignored. In reality, the downtown is virtual, and the dangers are simply a mouse-click to safety. But that choice must be understood and made appropriately.

Many years ago I helped stage a play (for which I cannot remember the title nor playwright!) which revolved around two brothers living alone in a house. The older was so protective of his younger brother, he would create these fantastical dangers to keep his sibling from ever leaving the house. As one might guess, the younger brother did manage to slip out occasionally. The absurdity in the play was the older brother’s lack of trust and narrow-minded belief that his sibling was better off shielded from the outside world. (Please let me know if you recall the name of this play!)

The play is a metaphor for today as parents and schools seek ways to shield youth from the dangers and temptations of the internet, rather than teaching responsibility and safety. If we expect our children to function as normal adults in the 21st century, we must impart trust, responsibility, and safety on their online activities.

I’ve been reading Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens by Nancy E. Willard. She has some excellent and common sense strategies for educating parents and kids. I would highly recommend this book as a resource for parents with children of any age. She informs from kindergarten through high school and provides straightforward scaffolding strategies that are very age appropriate. I will summarize some of her key points in a post to follow.