"We need to go beyond critical thinking and teach students to be knowledage-able."

Michael Wesch

Dubbed "the explainer" by Wired magazine, Michael Wesch is a cultural anthropologist exploring the effects of new media on society and culture. After two years studying the implications of writing on a remote indigenous culture in the rain forest of Papua New Guinea, he has turned his attention to the effects of social media and digital technology on global society. His videos on culture, technology, education, and information have been viewed by millions, translated in over 15 languages, and are frequently featured at international film festivals and major academic conferences worldwide. Wesch has won several major awards for his work, including a Wired Magazine Rave Award, the John Culkin Award for Outstanding Praxis in Media Ecology, and he was recently named an Emerging Explorer by National Geographic. He has also won several teaching awards, including the 2008 CASE/Carnegie U.S. Professor of the Year for Doctoral and Research Universities.

The MEAPA Way suggests that individuals, business, schools, communities and other organizations can learn a variety of lessons from this story by watching this 20 minute video and answering the following questions:

• What are some examples in the video that illustrate how ideas can be spark plugs and cause people to take action?
• Explain what he means by "helping students go from knowledgeable to knowledge-able."
• What examples of collaboration are included in the video that were made possible by the spark of a new idea?
• What examples of courageous behavior are included in the video that were made possible by the spark of a new idea?
• As you seek to further your personal and professional development, what lesson/s can you take from this story and apply it to your ability to respect and discuss new ideas; collaborate more and exhibit courageous behavior?