MediaSword

MediaSword MediaSword is a blog to book project that will educate, equip, and train parents and their children to survive and thrive in a digital media world.

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"The pen is mightier than the sword." - Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1839
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The tools of communication have changed dramatically since those words were first penned, but the essence of both the words and the tools has not. The skill to receive, analyze, create, and convey messages with clari

ty is still an asset of extreme value. Words and images have the ability to change the fate of kings, alter the course of nations, and give voice to the oppressed. The spread of ideas has advanced from oral tradition, the simplicity of the pen, the printing press, to the sophistication of new media technologies. Navigating the shifting landscape adeptly is the aim of MediaSword. Wielding the MediaSword means knowing how to defend against prejudice and predators, violence and viruses, falsehoods and flimflams. But, it's not just defensive - it's also going on offense. It means slicing through stereotypes, and creating content to change, challenge, and persuade. It's learning to not merely be the influenced, but to become the influencer. Launching May 1, 2011, MediaSword is a blog to book project that will feature original and curated content, resources, and interviews with educators, parents, law enforcement, journalists, activists, marketers, social media experts, pediatricians, and more. Topics will include:

Information, Digital, and Media Literacy
Internet Safety and Security
Online Reputation Management
Social Media
Content Development

I'm not sure I agree that "sharing horror stories" is the best way to educate young people about the perils and pitfalls...
04/13/2015

I'm not sure I agree that "sharing horror stories" is the best way to educate young people about the perils and pitfalls of sharing things online, but this article makes several important points that parents can use to help educated their kids to keep them safe online.

The idea of Snapchat is simple, delightfully so. Take an image or a video and send it to a friend. Ten seconds after the receiver opens the file, it self-destructs—or does it? The truth is "the Internet never forgets," says INFOdocket's Gary Price.

Though coming from a business perspective, this is an excellent breakdown of the 2015 Pew Research Center’s Teens, Socia...
04/13/2015

Though coming from a business perspective, this is an excellent breakdown of the 2015 Pew Research Center’s Teens, Social Media & Technology Report from Heidi Cohen. Armed with this info, it's a great opportunity to have some discussion about your teen's usage that can help teach and train them to manage their social media life in a way that helps more than hinders. They may be digital natives, but as a parent, you have more life experience. The most effective way to engage your kids with social media is to engage with them face to face.

Do you know what teens are doing on social media and what this means for your marketing? Here is the 2015 US teen social media use with charts to guide you.

Here's a fantastic resource for parents to learn more about specific social media sites and apps that teens are using. F...
10/09/2014

Here's a fantastic resource for parents to learn more about specific social media sites and apps that teens are using. From Josh Ochs at Safe, Smart & Social.

Learn more about Parent Social Media Training with this video. This is a 34 minute sample of the content that we have used to train thousands of Tweens & Teens nationwide on social media safety. In this video Josh Ochs outlines how kids can use social media as a portfolio instead of a pasttime. A...

Self-filtering beats techno-filtering any day. Good rationale and great list of data points to identify are found in thi...
10/01/2014

Self-filtering beats techno-filtering any day. Good rationale and great list of data points to identify are found in this article KQED Mindshift.

“If we are not teaching the kids to use the web as a vehicle for enhancing learning and teaching them to be the filter, that’s a dereliction of duty.”

Good reminders for parents who are in the know, and good advice overall for parents who need a little help.
09/27/2014

Good reminders for parents who are in the know, and good advice overall for parents who need a little help.

While growing up online has its benefits, it also poses new risks. Here are six tips from parenting experts to help you keep your kids safe on social media.

This is a fantastic resource gives overviews, links, insights, and advice from High Tech Dad Michael Sheehan. Highly rec...
09/27/2014

This is a fantastic resource gives overviews, links, insights, and advice from High Tech Dad Michael Sheehan. Highly recommended bookmarking for reference.

Do you know what social networks your kids are using? Here's a guide on many top social media networks.

Apparently, Steve Jobs was not only a tech genius, he was also digitally literate.
09/16/2014

Apparently, Steve Jobs was not only a tech genius, he was also digitally literate.

Apple’s leader limited his children’s screen time, and a surprising number of other technology executives do too.

Learning a programming language today is like learning a foreign language many moons ago. As this articles states, learn...
07/15/2014

Learning a programming language today is like learning a foreign language many moons ago. As this articles states, learning to code has the power to impact huge change in the world.

Why America's schools need to train a generation of hackers.

A good look in the mirror to take stock of online habits that should NOT be an example to our kids.
06/27/2014

A good look in the mirror to take stock of online habits that should NOT be an example to our kids.

Disclaimer: If you are in blissful denial that your tech use is out of control at any level, then this article will make you uncomfortable. It may even make you mad. You may want to skip this post and go play Candy Crush instead. Professionals say the first step to dealing with, and overcoming any …

"Each time you talk to your kids about safety - whether you’re asking them who they’re spending time with, what time the...
03/05/2014

"Each time you talk to your kids about safety - whether you’re asking them who they’re spending time with, what time they’ll be home or what’s happening with their friends -- include the time they’re spending in the digital world in that conversation."

This week, Life Ed explores the social media conversation every parent should have with their 13 year-old.Linnette Attai is the founder of PlayWell, LLC, a c...

From the mouth of babes...
02/10/2014

From the mouth of babes...

Over the years, as I've moved in and out of classrooms sharing information about technology learning tools and digital citizenship, I've overheard students ask pointed, but reasoned questions about digital parenting.

This article makes a good point about the use of visuals and interactivity through the use of technology. In addition, w...
02/10/2014

This article makes a good point about the use of visuals and interactivity through the use of technology. In addition, while it's possible to enhance learning through digital tools, the need is to not just learn how how to use them, but how to filter unnecessary content and communicate key concepts. There's an interesting infographic that illustrates how to do just that in regard to this topic.

The current trend of education technology is nothing to sneeze at. There are iPads and Android devices popping up in classrooms around the world.

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