Philadelphia

We’re not kidding when we say we want to hear your stories about teens and tech.  Don Tapscott, the author of Grown up Digital, has partnered with us to hold a national contest that centers around the way teens are using technology–and check this out, the grand prize is $1,000!

All you have to do is submit a 90-120 second video–a soap opera-esque commentary on how technology has affected your relationships, be it with your friends, family, significant others, school, community (ANYTHING).  The soap opera theme is a play on our website name, The Young and The Wireless, which itself is a play on an old soap opera your parents have probably heard of.

Your videos must be in “.mov” format and are encouraged to be shot in HD (though this is not a requirement).  If you need a video camera, Adeniyi and I have one that we can lend to you (just one though!)

Finally, you can submit your videos to Adeniyi or me by May 29th, or can be uploaded directly to our website.

Take a look at our main page for more information on contest rules:

http://youngandthewireless.com/blog/summer-soap-video-contest-rules/

Questions? Contact us: smkuriak@syr.edu, aiamadou@syr.edu

This is your chance to tell your story, and win money in the process!

Our second full day in the city of brotherly love was quite eventful! We met with staff and faculty from the High School of the Future, a school built and developed by the School District of Philadelphia and Microsoft. It was a stunning testament to the way technology is changing the way teens live and learn. We’re very excited about the possibility of working with the school to tell their learners’ stories about technology.

At the School of the Future, we were given a tour by Shamece, a freshman at the school who told us all about the cool high tech features the school offered its students. She showed us the library, which had NO BOOKS! It was truly like taking a glimpse into the future of education.

We also struck up a partnership with Science Leadership Academy, the high tech high school where Michele Jackson’s son (of whom we spoke in an earlier post) attends school. Science Leadership is truly a haven for young techies! Everyone was kind, enthusiastic about technology, and eager to help us! We were even able to do a mini presentation to all the faculty during a staff meeting.

And finally, we found the perfect place for us to shoot our “50 people 1 question” segment–the courtyard at City Hall where Broad and Market streets meet. I’d remembered how beautiful and busy that little area was, and when Adeniyi and I checked it out together, we knew we’d hit the jackpot.

More to come (and pictures)!

Today, Adeniyi and I hit the city of Philadelphia for the first time! It was a gorgeous day to be out and about on the streets of Philly. We met some great people, including a parent of a student who goes to a high tech high school, a UPenn student who, along with his friends, have developed a whole new way to work from home, and got in touch with a high school student who does her own podcasts from home.

Michelle Jackson gave up her job to give her son a shot at going to a technology-driven high school, Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia–where he fits right in. She’s worked in IT for years, but says her son surprises even her with his knowledge of the high tech.

Mike Park is an environmental engineering graduate student at UPenn, and when he’s not studying, he’s developing new ways to make money on the ‘Net. One of Mike’s friends is Noah, who has been traveling the world for months and living off funds he’s made playing Internet poker. He’s currently living on a remote island in Shikoku, Japan on a tiny organic farm operating through their wireless connection. Check out his blog: http://vagabondrtw.blogspot.com.

Julie Zauzmer is a teen who produces inspirational podcasts from her own home! She’s trying to change the world, one podcast at a time. Her podcasts tell listeners simple yet effective ways to make the world a better place. Not only that, but Julie’s twelve-year-old sister has her own website as well,www.EZgreetings.org, through which she raises money for charity. Have you used this site? Let us know in the comments section! And listen to Julie’s podcasts at 52ways.org.

In just a few days, Adeniyi and I will be rolling up to Philadelphia, equipment in hand, to tell your stories about teens and technology. We’re excited beyond belief. Philly is a dynamic and diverse city, and certainly lives up to its Patchwork moniker as an Industrial Metropolis. We’re sure your teens are using technology in ways that surpass anything we can imagine, and we want to paint a portrait of Philly through the tech lives of its teens.

So come join us, and help us tell your stories!