Ok, I'm not sure if this is correct, but here goes.

I just finished reading Ito's report on Living and Learning with New Media. I had never even heard the term, or if I had heard it been aware of the term "new media" now I know what it is referring to. As someone who has never gone on facebook or myspace at all, (a little to help my husband look up a former friend), all this "new media" is very new to me. So now I understand it means, interactive media or media for social communication. I believe what struck me the most while reading this article was the fact that I'm glad I "fell into" taking this class because it is proving to be timely. My children are 7, 6, and 3 respectively, so I will need to get on this "new media" bandwagon fairly quickly if I want to keep in touch with my children's interests. I would really like to research some of those questions which were raised in the article. Which type of young person becomes so attracted to gaming? Are these the same kinds of kids who played Dungeons and Dragons when we were in high school? Are they social outcasts? I don't think so, but I'd like to look into that a bit more. By the way, I'm picking the medium font because it's easier for me to read, if this isn't correct please let me know. Sorry for the digression.

When do I write? Probably for these graduate classes I am taking to get credentialed to teach comp. I don't really have any other time to write. I feel technical writing is writing for a purpose. For example, I would like to collaborate with others in our class to write a grant to help Mt. Zion. I would like to do this because grant writing is a useful thing to know how to do correctly, and I have never had the opportunity to write one. However, it is something I have always desired to know how to do.

Connections: Well as I have mentioned this class is exceedingly timely as I would like to "guinea pig" my eldest son to do some connections on this "new media" thing. They didn't mention Webkins in the article; however, I assume the site Millsbury or Neopets is similar. I'm not familiar with those. I've heard ofNeopets, but I'd have to go on line and check it out.

I'm looking forward to reading what others have to say regarding the "white paper" we read. "White paper" there's another term I've never used myself before. I totally buy into the idea that kids learn more from peers than from adults, and can see how this new generation will use technology in ways I myself am still not comfortable using.

Maria,

This is an excellent take on new media, one grounded by personal experience with the ways new media enters the household.