Swift Kick

We did their session for students. The best part (after looking at the
shock on their faces during the start of the presentation) was the way
this technology was presented to them so can do so much to improve their
lives - academically and personally. Plus the additional learning tools
they are exposed to like www.chacha.com (Try their guided search -
incredible research results).

In addition, they did a session for faculty/staff and how they can use
MySpace and Facebook to enhance their role at the college. I admit I was
a 'hater' before their presentation. I'm a convert and now have a
facebook account where I have subgroups for some of my areas of
expertise where students can go and become part of these communities.
(you can become my friend - just ask)

Our Asst VP for Student affairs was so impressed we have invited them
down to do a session at our summer professional development day for all
student affairs staff in June.

We are also arranging them to all 4 of our campuses in September to do
multiple sessions on each campus "effective use of technology and the
Dangers of MySpace and Facebook" A big investment on the college's
part. - Valencia Community College

Most students have been warned of the dangers of MySpace and facebook, such as identity theft and predators. However, few have heard of the possible opportunities presented by these sites. On Sept. 19, Kevin Prentiss of swiftkickonline.com explained these benefits to Drake students in his talk, "The Secrets Behind Facebook and MySpace.com."

Prentiss likened MySpace and Facebook, which 93 percent of students use, to a glass bedroom where anyone can view a member's personal information and photographs. Due to this influx in information availability, it is essential that students pay attention to what they are putting on their sites, especially since 60 percent of employers now search the net about a prospective employee before hiring him or her. According to Prentiss though, it is in this glass bedroom that opportunity lies. He recommended students use social sites as megaphones for their talent. By advertising their skills and passions online, students have the ability to be noticed by a potential employer or even get a job right now. For example, Swiftkick.com hired a young man after viewing a video on his Facebook page. He is now Swiftkickonline.com's "go-to guy" for videos.

Prentiss also cautioned students against getting caught "naked" in their glass bedrooms. With the tools and technology available to students today, a picture can be put online almost as quickly as it's taken. Inevitably, some cringe-worthy pictures are going to show up.

"Everyone has moments and pictures that make them cringe when they look at them," Prentiss said. "You guys, congrats, are the first generation to have all those moments on camera! Those pictures are linked to you forever."

The only solution to this problem, Prentiss said, is to overrule the bad with the good. "Most people don't look past page three in a Google search," he said. "You have to push the bad stuff to page 13 or 14."

Prentiss said he thinks this digital generation will change the way the world views online photo records, though, because everyone will have an online photo record. This will affect everything from choosing a babysitter to choosing the president. Currently, many people over 25 think the glass bedroom is negative, even dangerous. To people under 25, though, it's a way of life, and it offers some really exciting opportunities. This difference is what Prentiss calls the "gap."

The gap is also present between today's college students and junior high students. College students use Facebook as a social network. Junior high students now use Second Life, a 3-D virtual world owned and built by its residents (secondlife.com). In Second Life, residents create their own 3-D characters, homes and businesses. Second Life also has its own economy, with the Linden dollar. The Linden dollar, which residents use to buy the creations of others, can be converted to U.S. dollars at a Linden Dollar Exchange. Last November, Anshe Chung became the first millionaire (in real U.S. dollars) in Second Life by buying, developing and selling virtual real estate (businessweek.com). Prentiss said many younger people love Second Life, while college students find it "freaky" and "weird." As technology progresses, the gap will continue to change.

Right now, Prentiss said, a laptop computer as smart as a field mouse is available for $1,000. By 2017, a laptop as smart as a human brain could be available for $1,000. According to Prentiss, researchers think they'll be able to scan a person's brain and enter that person's individual personality into a computer. Conceivably, someone could call the computer and not know the difference between it and the actual person. This is the computer with which today's sixth graders could graduate college.

Prentiss cites change as the theme of today's digital world and said even though it can be scary, it can also be good. It allows people to accomplish old things, like socializing and making money, in new ways. - Times Delphic