I told her she'd probably hate twitter, and I think I'll end up being right. She teaches photography at a local college, and she talks about how she ensures that some part of the semester is covers not just concepts and composition but retells in full splendor the wonders of film, the darkroom, and all that jazz. I say that's a waste of time. 

I worked a year in my school's photo lab. I developed two rolls of film per week for nearly two years. I loved it fiercely, but those days are gone. There are no more darkrooms; there are developing and processing machines that do all that in the space of a water heater. In the same way that the computer went from a building to the square on your lap, progress means things change. 

In the same way that I do not recommend new programmers understand the tape processing of the computers of 30 years ago, I don't think it necessary to explain to a photographer the nuances of the original crop tool. Teach the concepts. Let talent and skill be honed in the current medium, creating the passion that inspires a practitioner to dredge up and discover the past; become immersed in a forgotten culture--we must let past things die before they can become retro. If we don't, the romance will surely wear thin.

Look at the greats. See the pattern of their skill. Interpret that in your new medium--be it digital photography or retweeting--and do it well. New leaders don't need dead formats.