Tuesday, March 18, 2014

A Positive Twist on Teens and Technology



Don Tapscott is a one of the leading authorities on innovation, media and the economic and social impact of technology, and his view on teens and technology is optimistic, encouraging and affirming.

In 1997 when I took over as the Director of Academic Technology at The Fenn School, I read several books on the impact technology was projected to have on education, youth and society. Tapscott’s, Growing up Digital became my favorite along with Nicholas Negroponte’s BeingDigital. What I remember still from my readings 17 years ago was Tapscott’s belief that the Net Generation was going to think and create differently, and we needed to harness that.

As I have been observing my own behavior with technology, mindful at times, mindless at others, I began to wonder what Don Tapscott thinks today. He published Grown  Up Digital in 2008 with the sub-title, How the Net Generation is Changing Your World. That feels like a long time ago in technology years when the iPhone only appeared in 2007. 

In my quest to find out what Don thinks today, I found this short interview that says it all. Today I leave this short clip for your reflection, and I will follow up tomorrow on some questions I have for Don.


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