Educ 6810 - Week #2

Photo Analysis: Critical Media Literacy, Politics, and Democracy

Study the photograph for 2 minutes. Form an overall impression of the photograph and then examine individual items. Next, divide the photo into quadrants and study each section to see what new details become visible.

This picture gives me more confidence about the oil spill situation.

In this picture, I see two men, one black (President Obama) sitting with another white man (National Incident Commander US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen) at a table.  There is "Deepwater Horizon Response" map in the background, along with another map above that one.  I also see a picture on the left that looks like men helping with the oil spill.  It does not look as if they notice that the picture is being taken. There is an American flag on the left and coffee cups on the table in front of them along with a picture in the right hand corner that I cannot make out.  President Obama is making hand motions - he is using his hands to make his point clearer.  However, the other man has his hands on the table folded with a pen in his fingers.  President Obama looks to be in the middle of a conversation or a statement, he looks to be concerned with the matter with his head is cocked to the side.  He may be trying to let the people know that he is well aware of the spill and that it will get better.  However, the man looks to be distracted or dazed.  He looks to be bored or disappointed. The admiral's body language seems negative, while President Obama's looks to be somewhat positive.  The admiral looks to be wearing some sort of uniform, while President Obama is wearing a button up shirt.  This looks to be a conference of some sort with  the camera right in front of the two men.

I feel that they are being very serious in the matter.  President Obama seems to be discussing this in a positive way.  He seems to be encouraging the audience that the issue of the oil spill is going to be under control.  The admiral; however,  looks to be dazed or uninterested in what President Obama is saying.

This picture is obviously taken in the middle of an interview or some sort of conference meeting.  President Obama is mid-sentence and the other man looks to be 'out of it'.  However, the picture itself is spontaneous.  I feel that this is just trying to convey the fact that President Obama was discussing the matter.  I am unsure of if he is trying to explain, inform, persuade; however, he looks like he is in deep conversation.

What questions does the photograph raise? Write at least 3 questions.

• What is President Obama saying? How is he acting?
• Will the Admiral be able to do as he is saying?
• What is the Admiral thinking during this picture?

Obama in deep thought about the oil spill.

Obama sharing information about the oil spill with Admiral Thad Allen. 

Website

This website shows a picture with a short description.  Then, there is a table to support the observation and analysis, similar to ours, that will help the reader and the viewer better analyze and observe this photo.

Educ 6810 - Introduction

My name is Emily Crow.  I am from the small town of Glen Dale, WV.  I attended FSU from 2008-2012.  I am currently working towards my Master's in Digital Media while juggling renting a house with my boyfriend and a brand new FULL TIME teaching job! I am absolutely loving it! Today was my first day; therefore, it was a little chaotic. However, I am so excited to see what this school year brings.  I am a sixth grade math, English, and social studies teacher at my old middle school, Sherrard Middle School in Wheeling, WV.  What I hope to gain in this class is insight on how I can make my English and social studies classes more enthusiastic.  I am a math person; therefore, I know all of the perks for making math engaging.  Hopefully this class will bring out new technological ways to keep my students interested!

Here is my Animoto Video! Enjoy!



Make your own slideshow at Animoto.


1. Why is teaching media literacy important?

There are so many reasons why teaching media literacy is important.

• this is where the students are in their lives - this era, this culture
• we need to help them form opinions on the media
• we need to start them young 
• they need to know what is right and what is wrong - what is real and what is fake
• prejudice and bias
• media is used everyday - comics, books, newpapers, magazines
• whats real - whats photoshopped

2. What do you want to learn about teaching media literacy?

I am teaching two social studies classes, and English block, and two math blocks.  I know that these kids are in a world where they can be vulnerable and they are constantly watching media, using media, reading media, and just knowing the technology around them.  I would like to learn how to help with the manipulations and how to teach them the good vs the bad - the right vs the wrong - and the real vs the fake.  I am hoping to also get ideas for my classes this year.

3. What concerns do you have about teaching media literacy?

I am nervous because there is so much out there.  I want to be able to teach them everything I know; however, I am not sure if I even know half of what is out there.  I am concerned that I will either teach them incorrectly or teach them in a bias manner.

6816 - Weekly Reading #10

How does the project detailed in the video support research process that consistent with the kind of research people encounter in the workplace.

It uses the workplace to resolve real issues and helps the people work together and help each other.  They also used technologies that help with the 21st century skills that are very important.  They ended up using the local people for help which is great and this supports research processes.  Within this project, there were able to observe things, collect different sorts of data, and they used the data collected to solve the problem at hand.

How does this project support new literacies?

This project supports new literacies by using the technology that is used within Web 2.0 tools and the technology that engages students to learn.  These new literacies were used to help the students become engaged and work together to learn the 21st century skills.  They used observations, collection of data, and usage of the data to solve problems.  This is the literacy our students need to learn.

Sources:

Jenkins, Henry. (2008). Educause Learning Initiative. What can Wikipedia Teach Us About the New Media Literacies. http://hosted4.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=a3224ae765a64c70a8e33ee164992f511d

International Reading Association. (2009). New Literacies and 21st Century Technologies. http://www.reading.org/Libraries/position-statements-and-resolutions/ps1067_NewLiteracies21stCentury.pdf

International Society for Technology in Education. (2012). ISTE 2012 Wednesday Keynote Dr. Willie Smits with Christopher Gauthier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7-qjllPCOo

6809 - Week #10 Reading

1. What is the main argument being made by the speaker?

I feel that the main argument in this video is that educational reform is a good thing; however, it needs to be done in different ways other than testing.  I feel that we need to go in the right direction of the students' needs.

2. Do agree or disagree with his argument?

I agree with the argument.  The educational world is an ever changing place.  We do; however, need to understand how to measure the success of our students.  Students need to learn on their own and us as educators need to make sure that this happens.

3. Make connections between the ideas presented in this Keynote and concepts explored in this course. Be specific, use quotes from at least 5 course readings, your response should be around 500 - 800 words.

One quote that I really enjoyed from the Keynote speaker was, “If you chose the wrong goal to measure yourself, if you chose the wrong objective to go after, no matter how good, how efficient you are, you are not going to get where you want to go” (ISTE Videos, 2012). I feel that this means that we need to make sure that our goals are correct and our objectives are exactly where they need to be. This means that we can use as many of the technological updates and Web 2.0 tools that we want; however, in our classroom – our goals need to go hand in hand with our curriculum as well as 21st Century skills.

According to another article we read in class, even if we have ideas for our classes – we need to make sure that the ones that enjoy it are enjoying it; however, the ones that are struggling, we cannot leave behind. "Given our own experience, we can predict that some students in multimodal classrooms will complete assignments with ease, enjoying the opportunity to use their creativity an incorporate media that they often use for ‘fun’ in a more formal academic setting" (Borton, Huot). Even though there are very many students out there that enjoy being engaged with all of the Web 2.0 tools, there are many that still struggle and we need to make sure our goals are set for these students.

Along with the tools that are mentioned within the classroom, we learned in this course that IMing can also help with literacy skills. "I can recall my first IM experience. I felt anxious and rushed, unable to keep up with the lightening fast keyboard skills…” (Carey). IMing can be a great way to make sure goals are being met.

Reaching out to all of our students is the best way to make sure that we are meeting the goals that need met and we are helping these students achieve what needs achieved. "A closer examination of Patty’s designing of her Webkinz site entails an understanding of a number of roles, such as pet owner, shopper, and interior decorator, and the earning of virtual money through games of chance and various jobs, which allows her to care for her five pets" (Rowsell, Burke). This is an example of how even the toys of the students can help them with their literacy skills. All we need to do is engage our lessons around their likes.

Along with reaching out to the students’ interests and favorite toys, we need to reach out with their favorite movies or popular cultures. “Movies are promoted everywhere from television advertisements and children’s shows to websites, and accompanying merchandise is unashamedly unrestricted in its breadth. No longer is this paraphernalia limited to lunchbox lids. Popular cartoon icons, such as Dora the Explorer, can be found on linen, clothing, stationery, camping equipment, children’s furniture and even toilet seat inserts for toddlers." (Adlington, Hansford,). This quote is a way to make sure that we as educators can relate to the students.

"For educators and students, it's here - technology and the desire to create and read multimedia and multimodal texts" (Sanders, Albers). This quote completes this whole course. Educators need to realize just as much as students that technology is taking over and we need to learn to incorporate it within our curriculum while completing the correct goals and objectives.

Sources:

ISTE Videos. (Producer). (2012, July 9). ISTE 2012 Tuesday keynote featuring Yong Zhao. [You Tube video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKXeNKsjoMI

Borton, S. C., & Huot, B. (n.d.). Chapter 8: Responding and Assessing. Retrieved July 16, 2013, from Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6DFAmexYq7veC02bzZxTGVZT1k/edit

Carey, J. (n.d.). Instant Messaging: A Literacy Event. Retrieved June 25, 2013, from Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6DFAmexYq7vYWdXV2RacF9EVXc/edit

Rowsell, J., & Burke, A. (2009, October). Reading by Design: Two Case Studies of Digital Reading Practices. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(2), pp. 106-118. doi:10.1598/JAAL.53.2.2

Adlington, R., & Hansford, D. (2008, July 6). Digital spaces and young people’s online authoring: Challenges for teachers. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from National Conference for Teachers of English and Literacy: http://www.englishliteracyconference.com.au/files/documents/AdlingtonHansford-Digital%20spaces.pdf

Sanders, Jennifer and Albers, Peggy. Multimodal Literacies: An Introduction. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZnRBedCgj_IJ:https://secure.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Books/Sample/32142Intro_x.pdf+are+literacies+and+Discourses+used+interchanably&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjE9pBd2JmN_g_xuDVosAj01ImYkr6u-oyjriG0tREXG8fzwbyeuhcmDw0rrbTA1rug-bgizHwuiUlocJcQwdvcCiPOxZYWVExNgQ8BmulksyeRUcUX4LJmfxLlw7e8UTdG2TuT&sig=AHIEtbSZ7RHTNL_Rfe2bglUQRg9zzCD2JA

6816 - Week 10 Final

TrackStar

6809 - Week 10 Rubric

Rubric

6809 - Rough Draft of News Report

This is a VERY ROUGH draft!