Welcome To The Sex::Tech Blog

More of the break down.

Even though the Sex::Tech Conference has concluded, the buzz has not died down. If you couldn’t make it and are still thirsty for more fear not. Quench your thirst by taking a few minutes to browse through conference coverage provided by some of our attendees. Drink up and don’t forget to share!

Wow. That's a lot. All this attention has us feeling like internet heart throbs. We revel in the high fives and blog love being sent our way. We finally know what it’s like to be the popular kid on campus.

If you still can’t get enough Sex::Tech or want to link up with someone you met at the conference, head on over to the Sex::Tech Ning. Ning is a user created, customizable social network where you can congregate and bond over just about everything.

As promised the presentations from the conference are now available to download at Sex::Tech, and are organized by day. You'll never be thirsty again.

Posted by: sextech_blogger on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - 17:45
Here it is, what you’ve been waiting for… the break down

So if you didn’t make it to the conference you’re in luck because we’re going to break it down for you day by day:

Day #1’s theme was all about embracing technology to reach youth where they already are, in their language. It is fair to say that the most effective ways to reach young people is to utilize the venues that they already inhabit, like social networking sites, forums and blogs to market your organization or project. Podcasts, Instant Messaging, video games, and text messaging are just a few of the tools you can use to get your sexual health message across. But before employing these techniques it is important to understand your demographic and how they use the internet. Peer led sex education also seems to be a viable way to reach young people, even though they’re not really technology based (unless you’re lucky enough to get android interns). But young people can help you master your technology and provide an authentic youth voice and a wide array of relatable experiences for youth seeking your services.

Day #2’s theme centered on tools and methods to use technology to reach youth where they are in their language. Here are just a few examples of the ways people are integrating technology into sexual health programs to get you started:

  • HOTGIRLS & FIREGRL – volunteer led organization dedicated to improving the health and lives of young women.
  • The Hear Me Project – a writing and video scholarship contest about the effects of HIV and AIDS has on the population.
  • MyBlackBook – confidential, secure place to store info about ones sexual history.

Pen and paper are dead. So is snail mail. But never fear! Web 2.0 is just stretching its legs and preparing to take its first steps, so now is the time to pounce. New media provides inexpensive ways of marketing your organization or projects, disseminating info and connecting with others that share your cause! Stay tuned for links to download Sex::Tech presentations!

Posted by: sextech_blogger on Friday, February 1, 2008 - 10:07
The beautiful aftermath.

From the steady stream of attendees and teens, panel moderators, to the unflappable volunteers who braved the elements in yellow shirts, we at ISIS thank you all for making the inaugural Sex::Tech Focus On Youth Conference such a pleasure.

A special thanks to our diverse group of presenters who put it all on the line, sharing trade secrets, program successes and near misses with candor and humor to an audience eager to learn. Hopefully everyone who attended the conference will return to their roost with a head full of fresh ideas and new ways to apply all that technology and its trappings to their projects. We also hope that you were able to make some new friends by forming partnerships with the other organizations at the conference, while hearing from youth on what they need from an effective sex education program. I think it’s safe to say that fun was had by all, now just don’t forget to show off those sporty Sex::Tech tote bags.

Speaking of ‘fresh ideas’… The Fresh Focus Video Contest was a resounding success. The three finalists attended the conference and spoke eloquently about their sex education experiences and their motivations for entering the contest (besides that cash). It is fair to say that they had a message that they wanted all attendees to leave with: Adults, listen to us, respect our opinions, and tell us EVERYTHING, not just what you think we need to know. Ok, we’re paraphrasing but essentially to make programs and teaching tools more effective, organizations should involve young people in the creative process. Think of it this way, its like subscribing to all the blogs we’ve been listing here and always having someone around that can program your cell phone and tell you what’s cool.

Posted by: sextech_blogger on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 21:58
Afternoon Conference Crumbs..

Let's face it. There are millions of sex blogs and websites on the internet these days. Instead of wasting your time surfing, go straight to Sexuality.About.com -- the be-all, end-all sexuality resource, complete with essential how tos, Q & A's and yes, even sex toy guides. Cory Silverberg with his decade of experience and training in sexual health is what really make this site special. Seriously, they're all about facts. Luckily for you, he will also be presenting "Come As You Are – The Place of Sexual Pleasure in Online Content for Youth" at the Sex::Tech Conference. If you ever have a sex inquiry, let Cory and Sexuality.About.com break it down for you. He's a keeper.

Speaking of Sex::Tech presenters, a full set of conference abstracts and presenter bios is available online in PDF format. Think of this as the icing on your Sex::Tech cake. Enjoy.

Posted by: sextech_blogger on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 16:20
things that make you go ‘hmmmm’

Digital media is here to stay. Just like adults can't imagine life before TV, young people can't imagine life without the Internet and all it has to offer.

ShapingYouth.org is a great site that offers ways to harness digital media for the creation of educational tools. Amy Jussel's lively exposé takes you to the edge and back, with blurbs on virtual learning environments, youth driven digital creations (like our Sex::Tech Conference and Fresh Focus Video Contest) and more!! Shaping Youth also profiles a long list of things that make you go "hmmm", like product placement in advertising, the vapid values that promote consumerism, stereotypes and all the other methods of branding kids' brains. We <3 this site and you should too, as it's another great resource for emerging trends of all kinds and how to use them to reach youth.

SexInThePublicSquare.org is just what the name says it is. No polite sex talk here. Just frank, democratic discussions of sexual health and literacy in relation to legislature, politics and human rights issues. This is a great pit stop to keep you current on sexuality legislation and politics (ever wonder what happened to the Matthew Sheppard Act?), different fields of activism (yay Fresh Focus Contest) and how those topics appear in pop culture. Bookmark it or you'll be sorry.

Posted by: sextech_blogger on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 15:38