By Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.
Celebrity blogs and "viral videos" have changed the way that news and cultural socialization takes place. The way that people approach the Internet and how they obtain information has probably changed forever, particularly for the "gamer" generation, who simply do not tune into the television news hours or Sunday morning news shows. There are rather profound implications for eLearning as well, and it is important to keep the changes in mind when thinking of how best to be engaged.
Five days after Britney Spears’ "trainwreck" performance on the Video Music Awards (VMA’s) for MTV, the "Leave Britney Alone" video produced by 19-year-old Chris Crocker, a gay man living in his grandparents’ basement in Tennessee, had received eight million hits.
Chris Crocker’s video became an excellent example of a "viral video" — one that is disseminated throughout the web and gains enormous traffic as people e-mail the links to each other, post links on their blog, or embed the script in their social networking space (MySpace, etc.)
It is every parodist’s or prankster’s dream to create a viral video. After all, there is no doubt that people will see it. The average American may not be able to tell you where Turkmenistan is, but he or she can tell you which celebrity shaved her head and brandished an umbrella at a car full of paparazzi.
In Florida, a college student was administered electrical shocks via Tazer when he became disruptive at a speech given by former presidential candidate John Kerry. The fact it was recorded by a phone / camera and instantly posted on the web provoked intense debates about free speech and police brutality. It also provoked parodies and copycat stunts. At the same time, there was a very real possibility that it was a prank, inspired by an entire spectrum of reality shows, many of which focus on playing practical jokes and pulling rather harsh set-ups, gags, and traps. The many-times viral video spawned a host of parodies and remix Tazer song that reminds one of vintage Fat Boy Slim.
With the presidential candidates hitting the campaign trail, we probably have a lot to look forward to, in terms of set-up pranks and "punked" behavior.
In order to be relevant and interesting to the e-learner, information in our e-celebrity, YouTube and Page Six world, information has to meet certain criteria. Further, it is good to keep in mind that a virtual socialization process is going on. Individuals turn to the Internet, in addition to newspapers and magazines, to gauge social values, mores, and trends. This is nothing new, except that in the world of the viral video, socialization via Internet takes place very quickly, and it is always changing.
To be effective for eLearners, information must fit certain criteria:
- 1. It has to be engaging and entertaining. As a result, short, engaging video clips and news flashes (always with photos) work.
- 2. Reality sells. Reality programs have conditioned viewers to believe that authenticity comes in pixelly, low-resolution videos and images obtained by handheld devices are more authentic and "true" than high-resolution images.
- 3. No one believes the "official" version. In fact, many viewers are suspicious of "big" media, since it is assumed that they often have a commercial or political agenda, which results in spin or outright fabrication of facts.
- 4. Viral videos move fast. Viral videos are disseminated via feeds, links sent via email and text messages, and embedded in MySpace accounts. The viral video is an excellent example of a "meme" in action, and demonstrates how waves and tipping points occur in the "wild."
- 5. You have to be able to interact with it. Viewers want to interact with the e-media event. They want be able to voice their opinion, and to see their posts being responded to. They also need to be able to link to their own MySpace or blog.
- 6. Celebrity blogs and YouTube viral videos are examples of socialization events in the virtual world, in a world where face-to-face socialization is becoming (seemingly) less important.
- 7. eLearners will not respond to "canned" or irrelevant and stale discussion boards. They want to be able to relate their own experiences and discuss issues that connect to their ideas, views, and values.
- 8. Good eLearning involves e-socialization. The socialization process has been accelerated in the virtual world and it involves more people. In theory, more people have access, and there is a sense of democracy in action.
An effective eLearning course will allow elearners to incorporate items that matter to them. Motivation occurs as individuals are able to satisfy their need for affiliation as well as their need for acknowledgment and accomplishment.
Download Dr. Nash's podcast at:
http://community.elearners.com/inside_elearning/attachment/5670.ashx
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