I have had numerous arguments with parents who I wouldn’t call tech savvy. Generally these are parents judging Instant Messenger, Facebook or MySpace not having really tried them and not understanding the nuances of the technology. Parents who don’t want their kids chatting or putting any information online because of online predator threats.

Well this parental opinion is generally born out of ignorance in my personal experience. I have spent my life on computers from my first Apple 2e and in the last 15 years online. Like many of my readers I know what protection to install, what basic threats to look out for BUT most importantly I don’t run a household based on ‘fear of the net’. I’m not the George Bush of my home. I operate a home that is about exploration and self expression. Monitor, don’t stop child online exploration.

I was pleased to see a Berkeley report (see 2 page summary version) just out (hat tip RWW) which helps confirm this on their Digital Youth Research website.

Major Finding from the 5000 hours of research

Most youth use online networks to extend the friendships that they navigate in the familiar contexts of school, religious organizations, sports, and other local activities. They can be “always on,” in constant contact with their friends through private communications like instant messaging or mobile phones, as well as in public ways through social network sites such as MySpace and Facebook. With these “friendship-driven” practices, youth are almost always associating with
people they already know in their offline lives. The majority of youth use new media to “hang out” and extend existing friendships in these ways.

More evidence from TED speaker Sugata Mitra

Kids learn from their friends better than from adults is the theme from Sugata Mitra who shows how kids teach each other very effectively when a computer is available and no teachers. His theory is tested in remote India and this stream is worth watching. Good evidence to support the theory.

http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf

I always forget how to screen capture because I’m a bit of a Switzerland in that I like and use both Mac’s and PC’s. So this post is my quick reference guide. Let me know if you have any others?

I’m a MAC

1. Command + Shift + 3 = entire desktop
2. Command + Shift + 4 = select part desktop
3. Command + Shift + 4 then Spacebar = active window

I’m a PC

1. Print Screen > Paste into graphics program = desktop
2. Alt + Print Screen > Paste into graphics program = active window

I’m a Vista PC

1. Accessories > Snipping Tool > pick method from ‘New’ drop-down

BarCamps are always good, always free and always inspiring. You find out stuff you had know idea about and debate with people on stuff you know a lot about. It’s a primordial soup of tech ideas and views without an internet filter applied.

Top 5 tips for BarCamp

5. Have something to say, if not your own quick speech, be prepared to comment on the days speakers to create the conversation.

4. Make sure you know your key tech terms. Make sure you have a firm grip on Memes, Tribes, Semantic Web, SaaS, Cloud Computing and a view on No Filters!

3. Keep you eye on the schedule, it moves like Obama boxing Republicans and if you miss something that everyone says was “really cool”, then it will sting like a bee.

2. Don’t go on a no drink, no pizza, no caffeine detox between now and 15 Nov. Bring all those healthy addictions plus one tech addiction for a tool called Twitter

1. Continuously thanks the sponsors. Microsoft AU, Atlassian, Pollenizer and Google AU are giving everyone an awesome day for free.