New Media Means New Choices

Early activities in the exploration of new media opportunities involved the invention of new media modes, forms and genres. These have included wikis, blogs, videologs, text messaging, email, hypermedia, and more. These representations have taken advantage of media-rich elements, interconnectivity, and social participation. Given the establishment of these "new media" uses, the challenge has now become the development of an expressive constituency that is competent in these new media forms, and, more importantly, that is capable of choosing which of these is important for what context.

This presentation will examine this proposition, suggesting opportunities for how youth might be trained to engage new media, and how new media might evolve from its predominance in pop culture to a significant role in academic disciplines.

About Kristina Hooper Woolsey

Trained as a cognitive psychologist with a special interest in visual/spatial learning, Dr. Woolsey has extended her expertise and experience over the years into the areas of technology and design.  A recognized pioneer in the early days of multimedia computing, she was a Distinguished Scientist at Apple Computer, Inc,, where she was a founding member of the Human Interface Group, and the Director of the Apple Multimedia Lab.  She is currently a Visionary Member on the New Media Consortium Board of Directors, and the Executive Director of the New Media Thinking Project.