The Brookeshelf

Teen Tech Week Part II

The week is almost over, but there's still time to celebrate all things adolescent and electronic. Have you hugged a texting teen today? Bowed down before a Nintendo Wii? Done a dance in your library's computer lab whilst strewing flowers in a display of almost-spring ecstasy?

No?

Then take a gander at a few more of my favorite little tidbits about teenagers and technology:

First up, take a look at BrainCake.org. It's a website created by the Girls, Math & Science Partnership (in conjunction with the Carnegie Science Center here in Pittsburgh), with the aim of giving girls an online world where its acceptable to enjoy genomes, cosines, and the like. Not only is BrainCake absolutely beautiful and very fun, but it also has information about the Click! program:

It is the first program of its type – part Charlie’s Angels, part Real World. Click! uses specialized tablet computer interfaces, location-aware mobile devices, and digital documentation to engage girls in a six-day camp. After five days of training, Click! girls have an all-day Saturday adventure at Carnegie Science Center that, if successful, will earn them a new status level in the Click! agency.

They run around the city and solve mysteries and stuff! Using cool techie gadgets!! It's like living out all of your Kiki Strike fantasies!!! Why can't I be a 13-year-old girl again? (Geez, something I thought I'd NEVER say.)

Anything that wants to bring more teenage girls to science gets a raised glass from me. Good work, guys.

If that doesn't satisfy your Teen Tech cravings, then take a gander at John Green's vlog posting on the video game Nerd Fighters. Quoth he:

“Using the English Nerd when you’re playing “Nerd Fighters” is kind of like picking Toad when you’re playing Mario Kart.”

Yeah, I'd say that's a pretty apt description. There's no WAY I could have taken down a Band Nerd when I was in high school. They're far too muscular, carrying around those instruments and stuff. And don't even get me started on their cunning ability to walk and make music at the same time. Yikes.

Also, take a look at the Brief History of Time Travel. One of my favorite essays from years past. Um, it has nothing to do with teenagers. But I'm sure teenagers would like it.