Summit to Launch International Research Initiative on Youth, Technology, and
Learning
Efforts to focus on the new generation of tech-savvy learners
New York, NY: They've been called the Internet Generation, the "always
connected," and the Power Users. They are teens who have grown up with
computers,
the Internet, and cell phones, and are using these technologies to communicate
and access information anytime, anywhere. But what impact is this profound
technological revolution having on young people around the world? How is it
changing the ways they think and learn? What implications will these changes
have
for their education and future employment?
Leaders from the industry, education, and research communities will provide
some answers at the kickoff summit for an international study focused on how
youth around the world are using technology and influencing the direction of a
global information society. Speakers at the event, to be held at the United
Nations Headquarters, New York City, December 12-13, 2004, will present their
research, hypotheses, and forecasts on the impact that growing numbers of
technically-talented youth around the world, so-called "power users," will have
on
the future of education, work, and society at large.
"We are seeing young people, from about the age of eight, already proficient
at using many forms of technology," said Joyce Malyn-Smith, a project director
at Education Development Center, a host for the summit. "They are already
accustomed to using the Internet to obtain information, using cell phones and
text and instant messaging to contact anyone anytime, and using video games,
PDAs, iPods and other technologies routinely. This knowledge and ability is
leading to profound changes in the ways young people interact, solve problems,
and
approach tasks, and our summit is a first step toward understanding what these
changes mean for our society," Malyn-Smith said.
âTechnology is a powerful tool for development," said Amir A. Dossal,
Executive Director of the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships.
"We
welcome this initiative and hope it will spearhead new ideas and action in
achieving the Millennium Development Goals,â he said.
Among those releasing research at the summit, will be:
Dr. Lone Dirckink-Holmfeld, Aalborg University, Denmark, will speak on
whether our educational institutions are ready to meet the challenges of the
digital
generation and what we need to learn from power users to design new learning
environments to guide their learning.
Dr. Daphne Bavelier and C. Shawn Green of the University of Rochester, will
present research on ways that intensive, long term experiences with technology
shape the brain and how we learn.
Dr. Eric Klopfer and Susan Yoon, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will
talk about developing games and simulations for power users, and his work with
youth, using scientific tools and techniques.
Other attendees include John Gage, VP and Chief Researcher of Sun
Microsystems, Inc., David Saedi, CEO of Certiport, Rob Foshay, VP of Plato
Learning,
Inc., Patrick Gaston, President of Verizon Foundation, Megan Stewart, Director
of
Global Education, Macromedia, Inc., and Cheryl Scott Williams, VP of
Education, Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Participants will discuss and
make
recommendations regarding the future impact on society of today's power users,
their importance in building a skilled and qualified workforce, the revolution
in cell phone use, and the impact of these tech-savvy youth on educational
product development.
The summit event will be hosted by Janet Whitla, President, Education
Development Center, Inc. in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for
International Partnerships.
##
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is an international non-profit
organization that manages 325 projects in 50 countries to advance learning and
healthy development for individuals of all ages. The summit is a project of
EDC's
Education, Employment, and Community Programs' Workforce and Human Development
Group, which builds inclusive public-private partnerships, creates
education-to-employment systems, and supports information communication
technology (ICT)
fluency for all learners.
The United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) promotes new
United Nations partnerships and alliances worldwide. Established by
Secretary-General Kofi Annan in March 1998,UNFIP is an autonomous trust fund
set up to
serve as the interface between the United Nations system and the United Nations
Foundation (UNF), the public charity responsible for administering, over a
period of 15 years, Ted Turnerâs US$1 billion contribution in support of
United
Nations causes. Over the years, UNFIP has expanded its functions to provide a
âone-stopâ service for partnership opportunities with the UN family.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Alison Cohen, EDC
December 8, 2004
617-618-2109
/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Camilla Schippa, UN
212-963-3441
/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
forwarded by Bonnie Bracey
bbracey at aol com
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