Convergence Culture

Convergence culture, as Henry Jenkins explains it, is a collective media. Every medium is connected, creating a flow of information. It is a cultural rather than a technological process. He explains that old media is not replaced by new, as many believe, but is instead blended with new to create this convergence. As educators, we have an opportunity to utilize skills and applications in technology in order to better reach a younger generation. We must embrace these practices and learn to use them effectively rather than ignoring them in our classrooms. In today's classes, many children are either being taught that social networking and other digital tools are not safe, educational, or productive in any way. However, in today's businesses, these are the practices that are being used by those at the top. It is our responsibility to teach our students the skills necessary to succeed in today's world. They should not be limited to digital tools, but should instead be shown the safe, effective and educational ways to use them.