Teens on the Digital Fringes

1. Teens on the Digital Fringes Dr. Lesley S. J. Farmer California State University, Long Beach lfarmer@csulb.edu

2. Introduction • Quick! Imagine a teen techie! • The Digital Divide • The library’s role • Fostering digital inclusion • Starting with teens • Technology issues: access and use • Getting into action

3. Today’s Teens • College Class of 2010: They have always been able to watch wars and revolutions live on television. Noriega has always been in jail in the U.S. What’s a record player, a typewriter, an 8-track type, a Beta video? Professional athletes have always competed in the Olympics. There’s always been a screening test for AIDS.

4. The Borders in Teens’ Lives • Family and school • Family and peers (culture, language) • School structure that impedes learning • Emotions that distract from learning • Expectations differences between boys and girls • Worldview about sexuality

5. Groups on the Digital Fringes • Homeless: risk sex and drug abuse • Teens of color: issues of health, education, transience, different norms • Immigrants: issues of race, generations • National language learners • Rural and isolated / Migrants • Gang members / Incarcerated / Dropouts: urban, poor, stressed, alienated • Teenage parents • Girls: male culture, stereotypes • Teens with physical and mental disabilities: less likely to have jobs, leave home, develop relationships

6. Information Poor • Don’t think they can help themselves • Behave secretly/ deceptively to protect what info they have • Don’t take social risks • Don’t think people outside their class would share info with them • May be successful within their own culture • Technology can empower them and help them link with other groups

7. Physical Access to Technology • Access: hardware, software, connectivity • Library access: distance, year-round, hours, scheduling, regularity, length of time, remote access • Free Internet vs. deep Internet

8. Technical Access to Technology • What is there to learn? mechanics, evaluation • How do teens learn technology? messing around, friends, hands-on • Instructional issues: motivation, expectations, interactivity, choice, variety, pacing/steps, flexibility • Venues for learning: library, community, business collaboration

9. Intellectual Access to Technology • The technology world • Information literacy • Media literacy • Issues: language, textual literacy, context, meaningful purpose

10. Digital Content for Teens • Relevant content • Local information • Education • Language issues: translation, non-English sites, visual cues, meaningful content/context • Creating content

11. Use of Technology by Teens • Development of technology use: self-interest>>interaction>>creation • Speed bumps: mechanics, instable technology, no email/chat, $$, time… • Independent use: email, IM, shop, entertainment, education • Teen technology use in schools • Teen technology use in libraries • Teen technology use in communities

12. Factors that Foster Teen Use • Teen space • Internet connectivity (speed!) • Useful software • Tolerance of noise, social aspects • Reasonable rules (and cost) on printing, email/chat, downloading, time on machines • Opportunities for volunteering

13. Technology and Life after School • Jobs/employment Information literacy and technology Communications technology Programs for careers and technology • College / higher education • Citizenship / politics

14. Laying the Groundwork • Interacting with teens • Interacting with communities • Action plan: Identify the audience and motivators Involve stakeholders Develop and deliver compelling vision and message Insure enough resources and support Follow-through and assess

15. And, When in Doubt…. • Get to know teens • Include them • Support them • …and ADVOCATE for them!