Brainstorming Final Project

1."Teaching digital media literacy is important for students to be able to make connections from the abstract to the real." 

2.Digital story telling assists students in the workforce by allowing them to have familiarity with technology and serving as a bridge between school and work."

3. Digital lessons can be facilitated by using teaching blogs,  video sites such as teacher tube, and other online websites related to the content. 

4. Digital media is everywhere but there can be issues with using it due to complexities or other factors. 

5.  I encourage students to be informational thinkers. 

6. "When digital and media literacy educators begin to see themselves as a learning community, it becomes obvious that there is a set of shared ideas that unify their interests in teaching, and learning." (Hobbs, 55). 

I plan on using the above quotes from the weekly readings combined with others to summarize what I learned in this class. 

I discovered that while I am rather adept at teaching digital media literacy, that there are techniques to teaching dml that will ensure that all students are engaged in the learning process. 

I enjoyed this class and the new ideas that I took away from it in relation to teaching digital media literacy.

Weekly Reading #10 Chapter 7

"...students engage in malicious and hurtful online and offline behavior towards their peers even more frequently than they rage against their teachers." (p.125)

I strongly agree with this statement. In todays world it is a problem that we face daily in schools. Unfortunately posts and/or messages that take place at home cause problems "in real life" at school. It is very frustrating.

"To help students acquire the competencies of digital citizenship , we have to do more than make students sign an acceptable use policy statement.." (p.126)

Again, strongly agree. Students today have had the use of the Internet and being online for their entire lives. They have no fear and do not understand the consequences regarding mis-use. I think as educators we need to find a better way to relay this to kids. To them, an AUP and rules list is only a piece of paper that basically means nothing.

"Many teens maintain high levels of secrecy involving their online activities..." (p.129)

So, so, SO true. And unfortunately parents in todays age either don't care to monitor their childs/rens online actions. So frustrating.

Hobbs, Renee. Digital and Media Literacy. Connecting Culture and Classroom. 

Weekly Reading 11

Reflections.
What is newsworthy? I think this question depends on the person who is relaying the news. In the video, the speaker determined that world events from each country were newsworthy. I agree that this is news as it is important to that person and to impart information to others. I also think on a more personal note we all impart news in other ways. Facebook posts about our families, photos on Instagram, or just short phrases on Twitter can show what we find to be important.

Increase in student motivation.
A variety of things can increase student motivation. Trends from today as mentioned above help to motivate students when used in the classroom. Creating blogs, being online, and other technology sources help to motivate them. In my own classroom allowing students to use the tablet technology tools as opposed to laptop computers helps to motivate them. Also, identifying things that they are interested in helps to motivate students as well.

Authentic Learning.
Relating student learning to real world concepts and application helps to keep them motivated and willing to learn new concepts and skills.

Place Based Education.
Keeping students motivated under the guise of solving problems within the community. As a teacher, I often use local places and student names to keep the educational content related and to help student accountability.

Weekly Reading Chapter 9

• To increase student motivation and engagement in the classroom. 

• To develop student skills in using digital media technology. 

• To promote creativity and self-expression. 

• To modernize the curriculum and make it more relevant to students. 

• To improve students' writing and communication skills by enabling them to use a wide range of message forms, symbol systems, and technologies. 

"A passionate teacher, armed with a good idea, can be tremendously inspiring to other colleagues." (p.168)

I strongly agree with this statement providing the colleagues have an open mind regarding the usefullness of the topic. I have attended professional development conferences in which educators that are especially passionate about their topic have inspired me to utilize the ideas in my own classroom as well as share them with my co-workers.

"When teachers infuse digital and media literacy across the curriculum, it requires that educators use texts - including textbooks, newspapers, TV shows, magazines, books, video games, and online resources." (p.171)

I find this statement interesting as I don't think that all digital and media literacy lessons would need to use ALL of the resources listed. I also can see and issue if the resources are not provided.

"It's not easy to learn new technology skills and instructional practices when you have five periods a day to teach." (p.174)

Can I just give a HUGE amen to the above statement. In my case we are on block scheduling so anytime the administration, district, state mandates that new instructional practices are to be implemented I experience a lot of frustration. Especially when there is little or no professional development to back it up.
Most of what I have learned about technology skills and implementation in the classroom is self -taught. Learning about new instructional practices almost always takes place on my own time. 

Weekly Reading Chapter 6

"In a report by the American Psychological association on the sexualization of girls, researchers explained how young teens take their cues from the cultural environment in developing a sense of self. " (p.106)

I work in a high school so I see this everyday. Female students want to look "good" and often will imitate people that they see on television or whom they admire at school. In working with cheerleaders it is especially prevalent as their idols are often icons such as pro-football and college cheerleaders who aren't necessarily the best role models. My girls get extremely frustrated in uniform styles and types of material that "don't make them look good." Very often they have poor self-esteem and their own interpretation of body image isn't the way it should be.

"Some dismiss parents' and educators' concerns
about the transgressive aspects of media culture that conflate sexuality, violence, and criminality." (p.111)

In short if media works to "sell" sex and violence it will be utilized. Effects of children not withstanding. For instance, violent video games such as Call of Duty are extremely popular with the teen set. Research has proven that these games have caused children to behave more violently at home and at school. Still doesn't stop the company from selling thousands of copies.

"When this approach translates into work with middle school and high school students, there's a tendency for teachers to vilify media industries for their profit seeing motives in attracting large audiences." (p.118)

Case in point my statement above. I see the effects of these profit seeking companies on a daily basis. Often the effects are negative. However, companies see the large audience as teens desiring whatever product and overall they are in it to make money.

Hobbs, Renee. Digital and Media Literacy.

Weekly Reading Chapter 5

"Today every teacher needs to be a media composition teacher....When students create messages, they gain new knowledge while strengthening communication and problem-solving skills." (p.85)

I think the above quote means that teachers need to be knowledgeable about digital literacy and have the skills to pass this knowledge on to students. Students that are literate in using technology and are able to create projects and complete assignments using technology will have ownership of their work.

"Some of the best project-based learning assignments using media and technology give students a combination of structure and freedom, where they can develop communication skills and exercise their creativity but have some constraints that limit and shape their work." (p.86)

In my opinion utilizing PBL or problem based learning in the classroom is an excellent way to differentiate for students. As mentioned above students will be able to be more creative with completion of assignments but will have a guide for completion. For instance, a project given to students could list 5 - 6 ways to complete but still have the same final rubric for each child.

"Many students have never worked in collaborative learning groups and need to practice active and tolerant listening, helping one another, giving and receiving constructive criticism, and managing disagreements." (p.97)

I definitely agree that students working in collaborative learning groups. In order to become good learners they must know how to work with each other appropriately to complete the assignment. Collaborative learning has a two fold benefit in my classroom. Many of my students have severe cognitive limitations and do not like working in groups. Collab. groups allow them to focus on the positive aspects and benefits of working with another group. Also, it teaches them that each person needs to have input in order to complete the necessary assignment.

Public Service Announcement (PSA brainstorming)

The topic that I chose to research and complete a PSA on is an issue that is faced across the country by teachers;

High Stakes Testing.
High stakes tests in West Virgina currently begin in the 3rd grade and end in the 11th grade. However, with the addition of the 'Smarter Balanced' reform and tests students will begin testing as early as kindergarten across the nation.
In most states, including WV, high stakes tests are tied to teacher and administrator evaluations and pay. All students learn differently (hence the push for differentiated instruction across the curriculum) yet they are all expected to complete the same paper/pencil or computer tests to evaluate their progress. As an educator, I have definite issues with this.

The following are dangerous consequences related to high stakes testing:

1. Unfair to students; many students do not test well, therefore basing their yearly progress on a once a year progress is just asinine.
a. test anxiety
b. actual learning isn't shown on standardized tests resulting in inaccurate scores

2. Teaching to the Test - teachers and administrators understand the value placed on these tests and will base their instruction on the test

3. Loss of Teachers - over the past 14 years I have personally witnessed teaching practices change based on yearly tests. As a teacher that plans to make this my life work die to my love of children and the belief that I can make a difference in their lives; I find it frustrating that my instruction is driven by government and state officials that have never stepped foot in a classroom nor have witnessed what we teachers see everyday.

Week 10 Media Deconstruction

As a frustrated Frontier customer that spends many evenings cursing the slow Internet speeds and the constant price increases I totally agree with the deconstruction of the first commercial. Many companies of this type do make profits and don't give a damn about customer satisfaction. For those of us in rural areas, we are pretty much "stuck" with the company as that is often the only service available in the area. As a long time customer to both Frontier and AT&T, I am constantly upset with the quality of service that I receive and spend hours on the phone complaining; not that it actually does me any good. I live in rural Pocahontas County and the above two companies are the only cell and landline/wifi service in my area.
When Centurylink merged with Quest they put the commercial out to encourage customers to accept the merger and the overall theme of the commercial was that all families would benefit from it. However, people lost their jobs and not much happened in the way of better service for anyone.

On the other hand; I disagree with the deconstruction of the Alltel commercial. I do not think that it was intended to be racist in any way despite the use of Hispanic men. The company could have used college students renting out the daughters room and it would have been criticized. That is just the American way. Overall, I thought that it was well done albeit a little too cutesy. The ad got the point across regarding saving money and any and all businesses have fine print. It is up to the customer to read this information and make a final decision.

Week 9 Magazine Cover

Magazine Cover

The media persuasion techniques that I used on my cover included mainly grammatical techniques. Since the cover was based on the common core and acquiring information about the core I chose to add minor sentences that discussed the information "within" the magazine while creating an air of mystery and illusion. I also included exclamation statements on my magazine cover as they are exaggerated statements that use exclamation points for emphasis. I chose the statements for my cover based on personal concern about the Common Core and how it will affect me professionally and my children and students academically.

I chose to make my magazine cover a "Special Edition" to emphasize the importance of parents and teachers understanding what the Common Core is all about. The font for the month and price is smaller indicating that those two things are of little importance. The bold black font on each of the article "titles" indicate that these are important items to be read. I also included a scan barcode and a QAR code since all magazines have these.

Weekly Reading 7: The Common Core

What do you like about the common core?
As an educator, I find very little to actually "like" about the common core. If I had to choose something I suppose I could find some benefit in the common core stance of including non fiction text in English Language Arts standards.

What concerns do I have?
Concerns that I have as an educator  are many. Among them include the Smarter Balanced Assessment in which all students are tested in the same way regardless of their individual learning styles or whether they have a computer in their homes. I am also concerned about that students (or any student for that matter) success is relative to my own success as a teacher. Poor testers be damned! Regardless, how well or how poor they did on the TEST is on me. Treating students as "machines" doesn't sit well with me. They aren't little robots that perform on demand. They are kids..people..that have lives and wants and needs. My concerns are many and my frustration is unlimited regarding this new initiative that is supposed to shape my career and my passion. A passion that on some days, when the bureaucratic bullshit becomes so HUGE, that I often wonder was this the right choice for me?

Ironically enough, just today I shared the post linked below on my personal Facebook page regarding the Common Core.
Why I Want To Give Up Teaching Over the Common Core

Week 8: Magazine Cover Analysis

Authors and Audience:

• Who produced this document, and for what purpose?
• theblaze.com produced this document. The purpose for the document cover is to warn parents of the potential negative effects that the common core will have on our children, and as a result on our futures. 


• When was this produced, and what was it's historical context?
• This particular document was produced in May 2014. Historical content is related to the common core. 


• Who is the target audience?
• The target audience is parents and teachers. 

Messages and Meanings

• What are the messages communicated?
• The message being conveyed is that common core is a threat to our kids and to our personal futures. 


• What techniques are used to attract and hold attention?
• Techniques used to attract and hold attention are the speech bubbles and the bright white and gold chalk print. 


• How might people interpret this message differently?
Some may interpret this message differently by assuming that the article is not public school but college related. (Especially those that have no knowledge of the Common Core initiative)

• Who might benefit from (and who might be harmed by) this message?
Parents and teachers might benefit from the message. Government may be harmed. 

Representation and Reality

• What information or perspective is left out of this message?
Any positive related to student learning and the common core. 

• Is this an accurate and credible representation?
I think this is an accurate and credible representation of the negativity related to common core. 

• How does this reflect the perspective or bias of its creator?
The creator is obviously against common core and feels that it will negatively impact students. 

Text and Subtext

Describe the text and subtext presented in this magazine cover. You can find a example of what this means on p.5 in this Intro to Media Literacy Project.

The text in this magazine profile is the large gold word COLLECTIVE
Subtext is: Common Cores Threat to Our Kids, our Freedom and our Future.

The text and subtext indicate that the Common Core initiative is going to ruin our kids and our futures.

Language of Persuasion

Starting on P.6 of the Intro to Media literacy document there are 40 persuasive techniques listed and described. Which ones are used in this magazine cover?
Explicit Claims; Fear; Intensity; 

Lazy Day

I hereby declare this day a lazy Saturday here at home. My house is a wreck, laundry is backed up, and my homework is piling up. So staying home today to get caught up. Or at least attempt to. Skipping the soccer games and hanging on the couch sounds like a plan.

Digital Story

Digital Story

Reading and Discussion #6 Media Messages

"When digital and media literacy educators begin to see themselves as a learning community, it becomes obvious that there is a set of shared ideas that unified their interests in teaching, and learning" (Hobbs, 55).

To me, the above quote means that when teachers realize that as a whole they are, together with their students, a learning community, then the students will benefit from all of their teaching and knowledge in relation to technology and media literacy. 

In other words, "it takes a village to raise a child." 

1. Who is the author and what is the purpose? 

The author is global giving.org; and Secret deodorant;  the purpose of the message is to "take out" bullying. 

2. What creative techniques are used to attract and hold attention? 

Bright colors are used and the illusion of graffiti on a wall. 

3. How might different people understand this message? 

This message could also be understood as a message against discrimination. I think the interpretation of the message would depend on the race of person viewing it. 

4. What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented? 

The point of view that is represented is first person. Values represented are that being mean is bad. 

5. What is omitted? 

Nothing is omitted in this particular message. 

The end of Lazy Sundays.

Until today we've spent every Sunday vegging here at the house. Sleeping in, doing homework, housework, and laundry.  But today...my two youngest girls started fall soccer. It's officially the end of our quiet family Sundays at home and the beginning of a 7 day BUSY schedule.  Luckily for us, it's only for a month..but for reals..I'm getting to old for this. :)

That said. Here are some snaps I took today. West Virginia is gorgeous in the fall. Especially where I live. We are so lucky.

Addressing the 7 Elements of Digital Storytelling

Point of View: 
The point of view of my personal digital story will be in first person. I plan to address my daughters learning disability and my subsequent decision to become a Special Educator for high school students. I will be addressing the learning community, parents, students, and other teachers.

On the other hand, based on the comments from my peers,  I may decide to complete my personal digital story about my relationship between me and my grandparents. The experience that I had with them growing up was the most positive part of my childhood. If I choose to do the story on this aspect of my childhood my audience would be families.

Dramatic Question:
The dramatic question =  Imaginative Play: My Childhood on the Bus

Emotional Content:
The emotional content would be either the struggles we faced as parents with my daughters learning disability or losing my grandparents (aka my stabklity) before my children really had a chance to know them.

Soundtrack:
Either *My Little Girl* by Tim McGraw or __ for my relationship with my grandparents.

Economy:

Pacing:

Reflecting on our Love/Hate Relationship with Media

Reflection:
It was interesting to see that most people in the class have the same type of attitude about using media. Everyone does it because we live in the digital age but everyone also has some kind of issue with using it due to complexities or other factors.

Specific Media Type:

The type of media that I chose to write about is visual media. I enjoying watching CSI and criminal type shows at home and online but some things really bug me about these shows. Mainly I am disturbed because I know that the reality of these types of investigations is that they aren't solved in weeks, months, and sometimes years, let alone in a 60 minute show. I am also disturbed sometimes with the content. I know that a lot of the shows content is often based from material in the news. However, I worry about "copy cat" murderers, rapists, etc. watching these shows and seeing a "good way" to do a certain crime. Scary stuff!

Brainstorming my Digital Story

1. A Positive Scene from Childhood
A positive scene from my childhood would be spending time with my grandparents. They used to pick me up every Friday after school and I was allowed to stay at their house until Sunday afternoons. My grandma taught me to cook, sew, and enjoy reading and my grandad taught me to "tinker" with tools and to garden. I remember them buying an old bus that they'd planned to fix up and use as a camper. It never ran but my Mamaw and Grandad let me use it as a playhouse. Many happy hours were spent in that bus when I was a little girl. I would pretend to drive on long trips, play house, and snuggle on the couch to read. I can't target a specific event from my childhood because I've blocked a lot of it out for psychological reasons but I do remember those weekends spent with my grandparents and my childhood play house as happy times. 

2.A Negative Scene from Childhood
A negative scene from my childhood would be when my mother left my father. I grew up in an abusive home and can't really remember a lot of things about my childhood because I've blocked a lot of those memories out. We lived in a farm house in a town that isn't far from where I reside with my family today. I'm not sure why we left that night. I just remember that my mom had  a few clothes for me, my brother, and her packed in clothes baskets in the back seat of our old blue station wagon. She drove that night to the next county to a women and children shelter which was intended to be a safe haven for abused women. I don't remember a lot about that place, but I do remember that my me, my mom, and my brother all had to sleep in the same room in the same bed because there were other families there like ours. I remember that they kept the doors and windows locked at all times in order to protect everyone. I also remember the paint smell and shiny white walls, and a nice lady that gave me books to read and school supplies because I'd had to leave everything of mine at home when we left dad. I remember being horribly frightened and unsure of what was going to happen. I think I may have been around six or seven when this happened. This event is important in my life because it signifies the unrest and reality of growing up in an abusive home. In that moment, on that day, I decided that I would never let anyone, especially a man, be mean or abuse me. I also decided that I wouldn't let my children grow up being scared and unsure of what would happen next. I have stuck with this promise to myself throughout my life. 

3. My Teen Years
An event from my teenage years that stands out in my memory is the night that I officially met my husband. I had just graduated from high school and was planning on leaving home and going to live and work with my grandparents in New York. My friend and I decided to go out to a party that we knew was going on that weekend at a local hang out location. When we got there, my (now husband) was already there with a bunch of his friends and had the stereo in his car blaring with a popular 90's tune. I remember the fire, the summer breeze, an alcohol buzz, and chatting with one of the nicest guys that I'd ever met while everyone partied and socialized. This is an important event in my life because that night I met the man that I knew that I would marry. We have rarely spent any time apart since then and I decided not to go to New York to live with my grandparents. In fact, I stayed right here in Pocahontas County and we were engaged three short months later and married the following July. We have five beautiful children together and have been married for twenty years. I plan on growing old with my souldmate and my best friend. 

4. My Adult Years
An important memory from my adult years was the death of my grandfather.  We were very close as I spent weekends with my grandparents growing up. I remember coming home from grocery shopping with my children and checking the answering machine here at home. I never check it, so I'm not sure why I did that day. My aunt had called and told me something was wrong and that I needed to call her back as soon as possible. When I did, and she told me what had happened...that grandad had a bleeding ulcer which had caused him to literally bleed to death from the inside I recall going through denial and asking her over and over if he was ok. In my mind, this man who was larger than life  to me couldn't be dead, When my aunt told me again that she was "sorry, he was gone" I panicked and sought out my husband. I remember going to the field where he was raking hay and screaming out that something was wrong. In my panicked state he thought that something had happened to one of our children.  This event was important to me because one of the most important men in my life was no longer there. No more calls to come and "fix" his tv when he just wanted us to visit, no more hanging out together on the patio on in his prized gardens. And this event led to another catastrophic event in my life when my mamaw, his wife of 50 years,  died only a few months later of colon cancer. She had been ill but after my grandads death she no longer wanted to live and didn't want to fight for her life. In effect, she died of a broken heart. This event has had a huge impact on me because two of the people that I loved and trusted the most and could always count on are no longer here.

5. A Turning Point
 A turning point in  my life would probably be when I moved back to West Virginia from Maryland when I was a teenager. I'd moved many times and attended many schools in states all over the east coast. I think that turning point, when I returned to the county and state of my birth, was when I decided that I didn't really like moving anymore and would try and avoid it if I could (subconsciously that's probably why I decided not to move to New York when I graduated).

Week 3 Peer Responses

Activity #1 Peer Responses

Video #1 Finding a digital story by Dairus Gray

What do you like about the video?
I like that the author has enough self esteem to share his story as an addict and someone who feels worthless with the world.

What did I learn from the video?
I learned that the author was an addict and felt that he was worthless. He had no life plan, didn't want to attend college, and is a poet who plans to change his community.

How do you think the video supports a healthy respect for multiculturalism?
I think the video supports multiculturalism because Darius has made his life work to help people like him and to establish a sense of community.

Video #2 Snow Days a digital story by Rachel Jackson

What do you like about the video?
I like that the author compares her youthful snow day experience with her experiences as an adult graduate student writing her dissertation.

What did I learn from the video?
I learned that there are many connections to childhood and our lives now. I learned that Rachel has a very positive relationship with her dad, trusts him implicitly, and fears his death which will leave her alone.

How do you think the video supports a healthy respect for multiculturalism?
The video supports multiculturalism by discussing life in Oklahoma and the authors relationship with her father.

Video #3

What do you like about the video?

What did I learn from the video?

How do you think the video supports a healthy respect for multiculturalism?

Reading and Discussion #3 (Week 3)

Activity #2 Bubbler Activity


I did manage to convert the embed tags and get the above bubbler into my blog but I'm not sure if the information that I logged is even showing. When I went back and looked at other student work, I can't see anything but first or last slides?? This could potentially be a neat tool to use in the classroom, but I definitely need to play around with it more to ensure that it is working correctly. I became frustrated when attempting to embed code and view the bubbler video so I feel sure that my Special Education students would experience the same frustration.

My Thoughts on the Reading Assignment: 

I feel that teaching using media content in today's classroom is very important. All students at my school watch a morning 'Channel 1' video about current events.  I feel that teaching using media content does have a fine line though. Some students may have religious and or other beliefs that go against the content that the teacher may be using. In WV all teachers are given a Webtop account and when utilizing videos on you tube channels or other video channels we must submit the link that we'd like to use and wait for permission to use. This creates a problem in the classroom for "on the fly" teaching or utilizing a teachable moment. That being said, I don't often utilize you tube videos in my own classroom because I find it frustrating to "jump through hoops" in order to teach. I do however, use teaching blogs, teacher tube, and other online websites to facilitate my lesson presentation. Using these tools, I can be assured that my students won't be exposed to negative media content as they are approved through the state board of education and my counties acceptable use policy.

A question that I would like answered is:
How can we as teachers ensure that students are not exposed to inappropriate media content when they are utilizing onine sources at home and school?

Sources:

• Moore, D.C.. (2011, June). Asking Questions First: Navigating Popular Culture and Transgression in an Inquiry Based Media Literacy Classroom. Action in Teacher Education, (33) 219 - 230.

Week 3 Blog Post 3

Vanessa Clay:
I appreciated this video because I too come from an Appalachian background and until I became an adult I didn't think that I was multi-dimensional or interesting either. I related in a lot of ways to the author, from her grandfathers large family (although my grandmother came from a family with 14 children), to her grandmothers heritage. (My maternal great grandfather came from Ireland).
I didn't note any negatives in this story. The entire story had a nice flow.


Jarod St. Brown:
The only negative that could possibly be noted in this digital story is the delay with the photos. I enjoyed hearing about the authors relationship with his father and grandfather and about their differences. Despite this, both of them helped to shape his life. Differences between his father and his grandfather were accepted unconditionally. I related to this video because I have also traveled to many places in America with my family. I agree that when you have the opportunity to "see America, you do it."

Amber Haller:
This story was short but it's meaning was abundantly clear. The author wanted us to know that it's never to late to reach your dreams. I am also working on my Master's degree and started it nearly 12 years AFTER obtaining my BS in Education. I was a wife and a mother before I chose to go back to school,but despite the obstacles I was and am able to reach my dreams. I thought Amber did a stellar job in meeting the criteria of a digital story with few words and photos.

Week 3 Blog Post 2

Point of View
The point of view of the digital story shown above is first person. The author, Debbie,  is also the storyteller. She is telling a story about her Granny who made a big impact in her life. Clogging and singing were two things that tied them together even after her Granny's death.

Dramatic Question  The essential question in this digital story is; What impact did the authors Grandmother have on her childhood and adult life? 

Emotional Content 
The emotional content of the story is the authors relationship to her grandmother. I related to this because I too, was very close to my Grandmother before her passing and she also taught me a lot. 
This particular story brought back memories that I had with my own grandmother from my childhood on. 

The 7 Elements of Digital Storytelling Week 3 Blog Post #1

Element #1:
The purpose behind the first example is to show the viewer how salt beds are used and what to do with them. The point of view is 1st person with a narrator telling what to do. In this video the voice heard was of the students or people discussing what happens with salt beds.
The purpose behind the 2nd example is to discuss the positive effects of using fish water/tanks to "feed" plants and is told in first person. The voice of the author is heard as well as use of scrolling text to present information. 

Element #2:
In the first example I wondered why the children were throwing metal out of the truck onto the land and what this had to do with the title of the video "Are We Making Guam Ugly?" In the 2nd example, I am unsure of the essential question but suspect that it has something to do with a legend that was written at some point. The question was answered with the final drawing.

Element #3: 
The  emotional paradigms are depression and self help, love for each other, and knowing that someone is there.

Element #4:
The womans voice in the example helped with the overall meaning of her digital story by discussing trade and assistance to each other. Her voice, gravelly and aged, led me to think of age old salt mining and bartering.

Element #5:
This story element used music to go with the example but in this case I found it distracting and annoying. However, it helped to create authenticity within the digital story.

Element #6:
It is important to be economical with the amount of photos and transitions in the digital story in order to keep the viewer interested in the content. In the example I was able to infer that Maria was given the surprise of her very own space (her own bedroom) by her family.

Element #7:
The narrator discusses what happens during an earthquake and uses their voice to determine urgency. 

Reading and Discussion #2

Teaching students the digital technology process prepares students for college and the 21st century workplace. Digital technology helps to differentiate the classroom learning experience for students and "has allowed kids to communicate complex ideas through a variety of modalities." Students are provided with an intensive digital learning curriculum that helps them to relay information to the public and assists them with positive self esteem. Additionally, many schools are allowing students to complete the digital technology courses as college credit which will further prepare them for secondary learning.

Digital stories can be instructional, persuasive, historical, or reflective. Digital storytelling will assist students in the workforce by allowing them to have familiarity with technology and serving as a bridge between school and work.


Sources:

Decarolis, Jessica. "Reel Works in Schools" http://reelworks.org/programs/school-programming/ retrieved 1 September, 2014.

"7 Things You Should Know about Digital Storytelling."

Digital Storytelling and Reel Works

Happy Ending

1.What do you like about the digital story?

I liked that the author was brave enough to discuss his family problems and post them online. 

2.What did you learn from the digital story?

I learned that the authors family were drug addicts and it affected them all. The child was devastated by the way it affected his childhood. 

3.What surprised you about the digital story?

I was surprised when the author talked about supporting his mothers drug habit with money that he made working. 

4. What social problem was the digital story addressing.?

This digital story addresses drugs and abuse; family, divorce, and loss; and personal identity. 

4.How did the digital story provide an example of how digital storytelling can build self esteem, help young people voice an opposition to social problems, or create an alternative to stereotypes of adolescents typically portrayed in mainstream media?

In this case digital story telling builds self esteem because it allows the child to discuss what was happening in his life and how it affected him and his family. 

5. Do (or how do) these digital stories provide evidence of that these young people are engaged in analysis of their own culture?

The author did analyze his own culture by discussing growing up as the child of addicts. 

6. Do (or how do) these digital stories support a healthy respect for multiculturalism and diversity?

All of the digital stories that I watched supported multiculturalism and diversity. Some of the authors discussed life in another county, issues with their families (such as child abuse and drug use), while others related their own personal experiences to the issues. 

Week 1 Discussion Posting

Postman wrote this article in 1969 and in my opinion had a pretty good idea that students would need media literacy in the future. I think he was correct in indicating that the 'crap' needs to be separated from what is actually important. I think if he were to write this article today he would really determine that a lot of digital information is "crap" For example, students today need to determine what is most important when looking for information online. 

The video was interesting; the model definitely made me start to think about what we actually see in digital media and what is really there. It was interesting to see the changes that were portrayed by the model as her "model status" and her "personal status". Teaching digital media literacy is important for students to be able to make connections from the abstract to the real. Additionally it will promote higher order thinking and learning in a world that is becoming more and more digital. 

Getting to Know Me...

About Me

I was born in Marlinton, WV and spent most of my childhood there. After the 85' flood my family moved to Maryland where we lived for 3 years. In 1991 my family moved back to WV and I ultimately ended up finishing school in the same county that I started at. I met my husband in 1992 and we were married the following year. We have 5 children and live on a beautiful farm in southern Pocahontas County. I started teaching 13 years ago. 

Animoto Video 
Animoto

Why is teaching media literacy important?

Teaching media literacy is important to ensure that our students become proficient in analyzing, critiquing, and engaging with technology.

What do you want to learn about teaching media literacy?

I want to learn how to incorporate media literacy into my lessons. 

What concerns do you have about teaching media literacy?

Possible concerns include tech issues and students being able to retain the information that they have learned. 

When are assignments do in this course?

Assignments for this course are due on Sundays.

What are the rules for late assignments?

Contact the professor within 24 hours of the assignment being late. You will be given the opportunity to receive partial credit on the assignment. If the professor is not contacted within 24 hours you WILL NOT receive any credit for the assignment. 

What is the best way to contact me?

The best way to contact the professor for this course is via gmail. 

Should you work ahead?

If the student plans on working ahead, contact the professor as readings for the assignments often change.