Weekly reading 11 What in the world Teaching with Current Events.

What in the world Teaching with Current Events.

 News can be defined as "Newsworthy information about recent events or happenings, especially as reported by news media". But what makes news newsworthy? I concluded that for young people it's what they are interested in or what is in their social season per-say. Young people are exposed to so much media in so many different ways that they have their own system of weeding out what they want to see, hear or read. Students learn how to dissyfer media language on their own. This is where teachers come in as the educator or mentor and help students to learn and process how to deconstruct articles, videos, and even music. Very much like we are currently doing in this class. Learning the different ways to process and identify what is appropirate and what is not, we are looking at the underlying of media literacy. 

So how do we make connections that support criticle thinking skills? In the above video Sarah explains here story, she gives us several activities that involve real-world problems. Sara includes open-ended inquiry, thinking skills and metacognition, one of her examples " what could we do if we could do anything?"  This requires thinking outside the text book and looking itno authentic learning "Learn by doing" which is what Sarah shared in her story. Sarah also engaged her audience by the examples she gave throughout her story.  I feel that in order to get students on our youth team to do something they can be passionate about they have to have a buy in. In our group we have a strong moto it is " We are youth led adult guided". 

Because we are a community coalition we deal with many commnniuty issues that affect youth. We use these very issues to teach other srudents in our schools and community all about prevention work. So Currennt events for us is very important we use them to target specific community issuses happening at the time.  I ask the team members what do they think about current headlines, how do they feel about social issues, what can we do to help our community prosper in a positive manner. The students then create many projects- newspaper write ups, commercials, blogs, Facebook postings, townhalls to share in our schools and in our community. They do all the research and presentations my role is just to proide them with the right tools. I use a simular tool like what is in our book Digital and media literacy page 155 Activities to link Current Events to Digital and Media Literacy. (Access, Analyze, Create, Reflect and Take Action).

      

Hobbs, R. (2011). Research as Authentic Inquiry. In Digital and media literacy: Connecting culture and classroom. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.

Tedx Rainier: Sarah Stuteville; Journalism Revived

Student Resource Above the Influence

http://abovetheinfluence.com/

Life on the Line PSA

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In Taylor County for the last five years we have seen a major increase in drug use. According to the Governor’s Drug Task force and WV Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities. It was decided that in order to create a health and strong work force we as a state was going to have to address our local community drug issues. 

Here is what we found:

http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/bhhf/Sections/programs/ProgramsPartnerships/AlcoholismandDrugAbuse/Research/Documents/County%20Profiles/Taylor%20County%202014.pdf

My PSA will address the public on Substance Abuse Prevention, Education and Community Coalitions.

I chose this topic because it is what I am currently working on in my county. We have addressed a need for a substance abuse prevention coalition in our community that can be used to host Town Hall meetings, provide education on substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment.

It is our goal or mission per say to get our community involved in order to begin the process of building a drug free community. This will address everyone in the county from teachers, law enforcement, students and parents.

Our message focus will be to bring educational resources to our community by: 

1. Develop a substance abuse prevention community and youth coalition.
2. Poviding evidence base curriculum in our schools that will teach students about the dangers of drugs. 
3. Host several town hall meeting in order to give updated information on drug trends. 
4. Complete a community assessment on the knowledge of drugs in our community. 
5. Develop a plan (with the guidance of the Coalition).

     How did you create your PSA to reach your intended audience? I kept my PSA simple and used PowerPoint and YouTube slide show creator. I wanted something that was short and clear in the message. I did not want to take away from the purpose of the message by using something to fancy or too long and loud. I wanted the PSA to reach everyone in my community young and old alike.

For my persuasive techniques I quoted Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in slide three (3).
Here is my PSA

Media Deconstruction Century Link & Alltel

October 26, 2014

Do you agree with the claims made in the deconstruction? I am going to say yes to the media deconstruction of both commercials they were very well presented and convincing.

Is the Century Link ad really a cover for a company that is making profits over customer satisfaction? When you first view their video it looks trust worthy and convincing it is not until you start to dig deeper about the actual company and begin reading about the networking mergers and how their employees lost their jobs then you begin to see the dirt under the rug the company does not look to wonderful anymore. 

The deconstruction of Alltell stood out to me the most I guess it was because Jessica Collins did such a great job of pointing out things I would never think of in an add. However, I have to wonder how many people actually research a product before buying it. Let’s look at our Young Consumers ages 14 through 21 this is the age of the biggest spenders I can’t imagine this group taking the time to research a phone company in order to buy their cell phone. Example the new IPhone 6 let’s assume apple is Alltel.  In the mind of a young adult they are processing the fact that this in a new product and they either must work to get it or ask for it for their birthday or Christmas. Not one is concerned about the Apple Company history or any kinds of merger. How do we then teach our young people about the meaning of media messages without scrutinizing critical autonomy?  

We as the consumer have to always remember that companies like Century Link, Alltell or even Apple are out to make their product appealing at all cost they are in the business of selling and making money. Ads are a highly familiar part of our cultural environment (pg. 116) (Hobbs, 2011). Does it matter the people lose their jobs as a result of company mergers, no it does not, does it matter that you can save money with a family plan no it does not, what matters is what end result are you looking for. Save money by doing your research read the fine print and the history of the company before you fall victim to the media advertising. 

I want to add that the deconstruction for Alltell was a great example of media deconstruction I had never seen one done like this before so for me it was a great visual.  

This is my interpretation of both commercials.

Magazine Cover Diversity With Common Core

I chose to create a product with a positive spin on common core. The magazine cover I designed is Diversity With Common Core, I wanted to show how common core could be used with Spanish and English language arts curricula with Common Core State Standards, the project called the Cartonera would be the perfect vehicle for integrating Spanish and English language arts with social studies and art to build bilingual language proficiency and family engagement in our school. 

With LSIC wanting more parents to get involved this was the perfect way to engage everyone.  

The Cartonera was an authentic performance task through which students could present their writing in a creative way. By blending art with this writing assignment, students were able to express themselves visually and linguistically. Their stories were completed with a recipe for the food described in their personal narrative. We are planning to host a family potluck as the culminating event. Families will be able to share their cultures, build community, take pride in their children's work and learn more about our school.

Who could have guessed that a little piece of cardboard would become a unique way of showcasing students’ talents.

In creating my magazine cover, I used five different language of persuasion techniques: 

Association to link the product to the Latino community.

Testimonials I used a students of multicultural  ethnicity to convey diversity.

New an old idea Spanish, English, Language Arts, social Studies and Art (common Core) to express a new project such as the Cartonera that would include all of the above.

Simple solution to incorporate a balance with common core.

Group dynamics diversity in the classroom.

http://www.learningintwolanguages.com/2014/01/common-core-in-dual-language-classroom.html

(Lindholm-Leary 2001, p. 1)  Lindholm-Leary Ph.D., Kathryn. Biliteracy for a Global Society: An Idea Book on Dual Language Education.  National Clearinghouse on English Language Acquisition & Language Instruction Education Programs, www.ncela.gwu.edu, Washington DC, August 2000.

https://www.yourcover.com/My-Covers/?ProjectId=87512

http://www.tolerance.org/blog/cartoneras-meet-common-core

http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/subscribe

Hobbs, R. (2011). Composing With Media across the Curriculm. In Digital and media literacy: Connecting culture and classroom. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.

Weekly Reading 7

http://youtu.be/u168bk2lntI

What do you like about the Common Core?

I am undecided on how I feel about common core. I need more information in order to decide what I as a parent not an educator feels is the best thing for my children. After viewing the video and reading what several other states like Florida had to say about common core my feelings are mixed. If it is so great then why is it up for educational and political debate. I have to wonder is our education progressing or are we the reason for hindering learning and growth by collective common core? 

What concerns do you have?

My concerns are that if every child learns differently and at a different pace how is common core going to support their learning. Excuse me for my lack of classroom knowledge but as a parent I can say all three of my children have had struggles in different areas of their education.  I have never been able to use the same material across the table for any one of them. I have saved their school work all the way through high school. With each kid and each grade it has always been different. Common Core as I understand is a way for kids to learn and catch up across the states continuum of education. Is that even possible.

Find another media text that supports your stance.  

http://www.flcommoncore.net/

Use the critical questions to deconstruct this media text.

Authors and Audience:

Who produced this document, and for what purpose? This document was produces by Floridians Against Common Core Education. It was created for the purpose of expressing their views on why common core is the enemy.

When was this produced, and what was its historical context? As far as I could tell this page was created in 2013.

Who is the target audience? The target audience is parents, legislator, and teachers.

Messages and Meanings

What are the messages communicated? The message is clear Common Core is the enemy and President Obama is behind it.

What techniques are used to attract and hold attention? This particular web site had text, video’s, legislation and interview behind its message. What held my attention was the legislators and their opinion.

How might people interpret this message differently? They might interpret the message differently by believing that the Common Core is a good thing for our schools across the states with no faults.

   

Who might benefit from (and who might be harmed by) this message? I feel that everyone seeking knowledge about Common Core would benefit from this because it has a lot of information, however in the end it is up to you to decide. Parents may have a different view on Common Core then Teachers there are to many factors to consider.

Representation and Reality

What information or perspective is left out of this message? The cost on what this common core will cost what about how it will impact student learning. How will it impact teachers and their classrooms and planning time? There are too many unanswered what if’s.

Is this an accurate and credible representation? Accurate maybe credible not sure.

How does this reflect the perspective or bias of its creator? It clearly points out it perspective on why common core will not work and how the Federal Government should be kept out of education. 

Week 7 Final Draft of Digital Stories

Final Draft of Mi Vida Loca

1. Raise awareness of a social problem- In my story (La Vida Loca) there are so many ways I can go about raising awareness, my husband is cooking with a shirt on that said " Tobacco Free Day 2014 WV RAZE". But I am going to talk about the students in my pictures. This group of young students are a youth coalition whom I have had for 5 years since 8th grade through a grant funded by Senator Byrd we were given a grant to develop the National Youth Leadership Initiative NYLI in partnership with Michigan State University and CADCA. These kids help me talk about high school drop out and substance abuse prevention all over the state. We have traveled from Charleston WV to Washington DC to meet with legislators to discuss funding for programs in our schools. 

We have asked for evidence based programs so that our health teachers can be trained in hope of empowering a drug free community. Why do I do this because I was a high school drop out. I dropped out of high school my junior year because I got tired of having to go up against the gangs, drugs and all the negative senescence of John F Kennedy High School. So now I teach prevention to keep kids in school and off drugs. That is my passion!

2. Build self-esteem-In my digital story I have a picture of very few words, that picture is about me on Graduation day at Fairmont State University. So much was happening that day! I will never forget, I had relatives fly in from Florida and New Jersey to see me graduate. I remember the morning of graduation. I took my dad with me to practice then the two of us went for breakfast I was stressing out about what am I going to wear, look at me an old lady graduating among these young adults. I had so many mixed feeling that day. I was graduating with a bunch of 20- 26 year old students. I felt out of place!

Meanwhile at my house everyone was getting ready and the kids where planning a little gathering for after the graduation. While I was getting ready my middle son Matthew came into my bedroom to help me with my graduation gown I told him to try it on soon it would be his turn! Matt said to me "Mom your a my HERO" thank you for doing this for our family this is a big day for you but an even bigger day for me. My Mom is graduating from College how awesome is that he said. I was at a lost for words. I hugged him and in that very moment my self esteem was in such a place of accomplishment a place I had never experienced before. 

I suppose its because I never really thought about what my kids thought about me going to school, to me I was just a mom trying to finish my education at an old age. Nothing to really brag about. 

3. Create an alternative to a stereotype typically portrayed in mainstream media.
I don't really know how to answer this, an alternative to stereotypical in my case would be to never give up understand personal experience so that you can live by example. Mainstream media is an over flood of things that are either positive or negative so choose what you want it to be. Then make a difference by changing the norm. 

Please view below my Final Draft 

http://youtu.be/RMuudRLZCwg

I use digital media to tell stories on the issues that affect our student community. I teach student how to make photo voice stories with photography that will help convey their ideas and how they want to share their expressions.
The student and I communicate through several different social media and we network with tools such as Edmodo, google live or SKYPE.