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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Young Men in Digital Culture: A New Form of Informal Learning?

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In this chapter, the interest lies in the role of the media in young people’s and young adults’ everyday life. Of special interest is the idea of virtual environments as a learning environment, because the aspects of media, virtual realities and learning are socially important and scientifically challenging. In the analysis, three main areas are taken into consideration: First, the discussion on new learning models; second, the progress of information technology; and third, the gap between the styles of learning inside and outside the school. The study focused on young men who practically live in the online world, either playing or talking with each other via online gaming and social portals. The basic question is: What do young men learn online? For the purpose of the study, online chats which had been stored by the young participants in early 2007 were examined with permission. The extent of the material reviewed amounted to 140 pages. Some of the young participants were also interviewed. Based on this material, it is possible to claim that new media, such as the Internet, has more to do with changes in sociability than with new kinds of learning, although there is still cause to talk about learning as well. However, the modern media environment is a place for ‘hanging out’ together, chatting, commenting, criticising, reflecting, passing time, having fun, and – most of all – being together.