I grew up in the times when distribution of digital content (games and programs) were in the form of a floppy and later a stiffy. Being a gamer that looked to play with other like-minded peers, forced our generation to learn not only how to play the games, but also how to get them to work. There was no help file, google or even access to internet. If you wanted to know how it worked, you had to get someone to show you (and then remember or write it down) or figure it out. Rarely did you just give up and go on to the next thing. One of the advantages those days were that you hardly ever got your hands on something that someone else had not already figured out. Being labelled a Geek or Nerd because of our love of both hardware and software, was at the time meant as a derogatory term, even though the most successful businesses are now owned by "those nerds". The reason these experiences were crucial to move humanity into the digital age is two fold.
Firstly, the old saying "men don't grow up, their toys just become more expensive". Moore's law necessitated that any geek worth his salt and whom thus had a true interest in computers, absolutely and unequivocally needed to stay on top of technological advancements to be able to admire the jump in processing power from the XT to the 286 to the 386 to the 486 to the ... or the jump in transfer rates when you first used a coaxial cable compared to a serial cable.
Secondly, it required persistence to become a nerd. You needed to overcome public ridicule. As previously mentioned, there was no Google, instructional YouTube videos, email access to a help desk or even access to an Indian call center agent. It required trial and error over extended periods, especially if you wanted or needed to figure it out by yourself. Just getting the computer to load a program, required you to set various variables in the old DOS language. No click and go stuff. You were forced to try every alternative that you could (or could not) think of. Although it was complicated and frustrating, we slugged through hours and hours of failing and when you do eventually get it to do what you wanted, you were told that your eyes are going to go square and you need to go play outside.
How does this relate to the articles? Simply put, being a digital pedagogue requires that one keeps on learning as technology, systems and even information evolves in order to evolve with it and then be able to relay that information by means of a method that enables the learner to absorb the information. The critical thinking aspect of a pedagogue requires that the person keeps an open mind and not necessarily asks "What is this supposed to be doing" but rather "How can I make this work". Most "hard core (gamer) geeks" have had experiences like it.
As an example just look at the 19-year-old that built a Skyrim expansion as an Interview for Bathesda. It took a lot of time, learning, effort, creativity and definitely determination on the part of Velicky to create his work of art. There was no guarantee that he will be successful in the ultimate goal of the endeavor, yet he persevered. In my mind, it epitomizes the essence of Geekdom or Nerdhood and underlines the basis, in part, of what the authors refer to as the requirements for a digital pedagogue. The case is further strengthened by the fact that, in my experience, all geeks simply cannot help themselves to keep on doing it.
The biggest hurdle in years past and probably the reason that no non-geek thought about asking geeks to become digital pedagogues to society can probably be prescribed to the fact that most non-geeks found geek speak extremely boring. However, there are very few people living today that has not heard and/or used the words Megapixel, Resolution, Ram or Megabyte. Ask them what it is, and you will receive a myriad of answers as to what it could possibly be, but mostly they just heard someone talk about it and they know its important. The point is that in order to be a true digital pedagogue, it is not only required to be inquisitive, keep on learning and adapting your environment to suit your needs, but you need to be able to transfer what you know to someone else.
Considering Moore's Law and the statement in my opening paragraph that "you had to get someone to show you", it is therefore a clear indication that Geeks were digital pedagogues to one another but the world simply could not translate their language into human and they were therefore not recognized in their roles as digital pedagogues by the population at large.
The articles lists the inherent traits of constantly questing for knowledge, an ongoing obsession with technology, an urge to share said knowledge between peers and if it does not work for you to change it so that it does.
By this definition, all Geeks and Nerds are therefore
Digital Pedagogues.
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