Drama across the digital divide

Kim Flintoff
Queensland University of Technology and Edith Cowan University
Australia

This paper considers some issues that face drama educators as digital immigrants teaching digital natives in technology-mediated drama forms.

The title of the paper reflects the shift that is occurring – the use of unfamiliar linguistic codes that are used by elite coders and game players; and even SMS and online messenger services can alienate those of us more attuned to Standard Australian English. These codes are designed precisely to exclude and include. The title is obtuse, unclear and exclusionary -- precisely the aspects we need to recognize. We don't automatically belong to this emerging technologized society: we are the newcomers, the immigrants, and in many ways our students will be guiding us through the codes and meanings. But at some point we need to take stock and take charge of our role in this new arena.