Reading 6

QUOTE & REACTION:

"But overuse of closed questions risks turning students into barking seals, performing the role of good student." p. 54

This statement was so powerful to me. When teachers have asked me closed questions, whether verbally or on an assessment, I knew that I was just looking to regurgitate what they had previously taught. Although this method may be effective in some instances, I think critical thinking is what is of utmost importance. Regurgitation of information is just a churched-up way of saying memorization. Memorization can be helpful, but I do not wish to create tiny little yes-men who cannot critically think their way out of a situation. If I use this method of closed questions, I am truly doing my students a disservice in the grand scheme of things. All people should be able to critically analyze the information they come in contact with on a daily basis.

MEDIA DECONSTRUCTION:

Headquartered in Baltimore Maryland, Sylvan Learning offers a variety of tutoring services at locations nationwide. Their primary audience is supposed to be students who need additional help outside of school, but their audience is truly the parents of those children. The purpose of this particular media message (from their website’s homepage) is to draw attention to the success of their brand. Clearly, they have been and will continue to “deliver results” and “inspire success” as it is highlighted in their opening page. The photo featured is that of a possibly Middle-Eastern “tween” who seems somewhat content. By doing this, I believe Sylvan wants to give the vibe that they are multi-cultural and have had success with all students--male, female, black, white, otherwise. Their phone number is highlighted in yellow and is at the right of the page right above the graphic of the girl, thereby drawing your attention from the largest image directly to the contact number. There is also a large font used for the word “success” so that if you read the idea from left to right, you assume that Sylvan has had success in tutoring this young female. This young female, has, in turn, been happy with the success received through her tutoring at Sylvan. The word success is used twice on this page, showing that the values that Sylvan holds are those of success through their brand…getting results. What this initial page is not telling you is the price of success. They have chosen to hide that information a little deeper in their website. As a matter of fact, in the FAQs, they continue to dance around the finance issue by saying that each program is specific to each student therefore there is no “set” price for Sylvan.  

DRAFT of Digital Story

http://youtu.be/kHFCr3ZMmyM

Note Card Confessional

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YJ8VONokuo&list=PL6VylCoO5mhagYMwLdSluHV9bhDq3xeKw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YJ8VONokuo&list=PL6VylCoO5mhagYMwLdSluHV9bhDq3xeKw

Story Board

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1g1tCbH7ilb3A7kYNT-NvTHlq8wVJE9dleTFw5TmJmU4/edit#slide=id.g4760d8a91_730

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1g1tCbH7ilb3A7kYNT-NvTHlq8wVJE9dleTFw5TmJmU4/edit#slide=id.g4760d8a91_730

Addressing the seven Elements of Digital Storytelling.

Point of view:  My story will be told from my perspective to other single mothers and to people concerned about one-parent households. I will be taking on the idea that a one-parent household is in no way bad for society or humanity and we should be seen as victors, not victims.

Dramatic question:  I am thinking of something along the lines of, “being a single mother IS the new ‘traditional’ family.”

Emotional Content:  Although being a single mother has had its tumultuous times, there are more rewards than I can count. I had a high risk pregnancy and was told I would probably not be able to “hold” my daughter to full term; I developed gestational diabetes and had to be medicated and change my diet dramatically; I was told I was high risk also because of my age; my daughter’s father left us homeless when I was 13 weeks pregnant; my daughter’s father now refuses to even prove paternity, so I receive no child support and am ok with doing this alone, with the help of great family and friends; my daughter has brought great people into our lives and pushed some bad & unnecessary people out of our lives; my daughter and I are happy together; she is my motivation to go back to school to get a Master’s and to build a better life for the two of us—we currently live in low-income housing and visit the food pantry monthly . . . and our car was stolen this week—but we will triumph, remember, we are victors, not victims; I have realized that the present is indeed a gift and no matter what financial strife I have, my daughter lights up my world with her laughter.

Soundtrack:  I would like to use a variety of tracks:  some audio of my daughter and some music that coordinates with the mood of each section of the video.

Economy: Boy, this will be a tough one for me! I tend to tell all, so keep me in line, guys!

Pacing:  I am hoping that since I am not speaking in public, I won’t come off sounding like an auctioneer (which is EXACTLY how it sounds in my head when I deliver speeches). 

note card confessional link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YJ8VONokuo&list=PL6VylCoO5mhagYMwLdSluHV9bhDq3xeKw

Note Card Confessional

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YJ8VONokuo&list=PL6VylCoO5mhagYMwLdSluHV9bhDq3xeKw


p. 43:  Both the immediacy and the immersive social characteristics of digital media are a double-edged sword

p. 29:  Children and young people grow up in mediaspheres that adults cab find difficult to understand. Similarly, many young people find the preoccupations of the adult world to be remote, disconnected from their lives, and incomprehensible. This fragmentation of culture is evident across all aspects of contemporary life, in news and current events, politics, and the arts.

p. 35:  Not only is important to be able to identify the source of information, we must also examine the quality of information we encounter
p. 42:  Verification  involves finding multiple sources, identifying the author or purpose, or examining the quality of evidence used.

Brainstorming My Digital Story

 In looking back on your life, you may be able to identify particular “turning points” – episodes through which you experienced an important change in your life. Please choose one key turning point scene and describe it in detail. If you feel your life story contains no clear turning points, then describe a particular episode in your life that comes closer than any other to qualifying for a turning point – a scene where you changed in some way. Again, please describe what led up to the event, what happened in the event, where and when it happened, who was involved, what you were thinking and feeling, and so on. Also, please tell me how you think you changed as a result of this event and why you consider this event to be an important scene in your life story today.

I think the most pivotal moment in my life has been becoming a mother. I had always desired to have children, but because of health issues, I was told that was probably not going to be an option for me. Although I did not plan my pregnancy, my daughter has been the biggest, best gift I have ever been given! Of course, with parenting, if there's one thing I've learned so far, it is to take the good with the bad. I can't say for certain that there has been "true" bad, but definitely points of contention and concern. 

Some of the key positive point I would like to explore are:

1. a closer relationship with my family (Raylie has become our glue)

2. choosing to go back to school, so that I may have a better career

3. my motivation and zest for life has increased exponentially

4. I've found my true friends

5. I had no idea I could love this much

Some of the key negative aspects have been:

1. I had a high risk pregnancy from conception to birth (SCARY!)

2. finances are a joke show, at this point

3. being a single mom is not as glamorous (haha) as it sounded

4. time management has me at a loss

Reflecting on our love/hate relationship with media

http://padlet.com/shannonddewitt/utqlgcgpdxme

I think the media form I have the biggest love/hate relationship with is text messages, which I assume falls into digital media. I love that text messages are so easy to send and receive; i love that texts are quick and to the point; I love that text messages are somewhat more acceptable in public than a loud phone conversation; I love that you can secretly text someone in the same room without much notice from others. However, what I hate about text messages, like emails, social media, blogs, etc., there is a lack in tone. People cannot appreciate my sarcasm like they could in a live conversation. I also think that when there is a delay in text messages in a conversation, the meanings can become muddled and difficult to follow.

Week 3 R& D

http://www.pimpampum.net/bubblr/?custom=&id=54870


I think the article was helpful in identifying the key aspects of what an educator may face when teaching digital media literacy. Moore was especially helpful in identifying and defining five key concerns for educators:
1. Inappropriate material in the media text
2. Ignorance or lack of sufficient knowledge about popular culture
3. Dislikes of popular culture
4. Alienation from popular culture, for example, "I feel out of touch" or "It doesn't relate
to me"
5. Fear of offending administrators or parents.

I think all five are great examples of concerns I have about introducing digital media in a classroom. For example, how can I choose a topic that is relevant, but also appropriate, interesting, and not offensive to parents & administrators? Surely, if I chose a topic like same-sex marriage, this particular demographic would probably be instantly offended, alienated, and show extreme dislike for topic choice. Whereas, if I chose that same topic in, say, Provincetown, Massachusetts, it may not be met with such rebuke. It is really a slippery slope for the educator more so than any other party involved. There will always be someone who does not feel comfortable with a topic, but finding that ONE specific, distinct topic could be a real chore for the educator. How can one be relevant in this day and age without being somewhat controversial?

I believe the thing I would like to know more about is what are some "safe" examples of topics that might not raise every eyebrow?

Moore, D. (2011). Asking Questions First: Navigating Popular Culture and Transgression in an Inquiry-Based Media Literacy Classroom. Action in Teacher Education, 33, 219-230. (2011, January 1). Retrieved September 2, 2014, from Mediaeducationlab.com.

Week 3: Activity 3

My favorite video was Vanessa's. I think it had the strongest & best sense of the 7 elements of digital storytelling. She seems to be a natural at telling stories. I also enjoyed the other 2 (by Jared & Amber). The video by Sara was no longer available. I hope we get the chance to do a similar project, as their stories, photos, and musical choices fascinated me. I left encouraging comments on all of the videos I could view, not only because I was instructed to, but because it is important to give validation to creation. We are all finding our voices in this course & in life. Although, the video by Amber was not orally narrated, the story was a wonderful tribute. I think her words were powerful, but there is something lost in the tone when you can not audibly hear someone share their feelings. I think her video could have been even stronger with voice narration. The other videos by Jared & Vanessa were very emotionally strong & I felt better connected to their stories. I found Vanessa's to be the ideal standard to which I would hold my own aspiration up to, if I do such a project.

Week 3: Activity 2

This is my favorite video of the three I watched:

Finding - a digital story by Darius Gray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUenKFlQSAQ&list=UUKLPPDaG0bCj1Yqy6PlcouQ&index=61

Darius gives the story from his point of view, first person. He walks the viewer through a life transformed by sometimes random chance and sometimes personal decision. The question facing Darius is truly whether or not to remain sober, get help for his depression, and pursue a life he finds is worth living. Although Darius is still "finding: himself he has made great strides in his sobriety and life goals. Instead of continuing down the road of addiction, he has opted to join a 12-step program and take the advice of a random lady & go to college. He may not be completely transformed to his liking, but he is in the process of finding out what his life really is worth. I have often been faulted for sharing too much information, but here we go anyway:  My life has been similar to that of Darius. I, too, suffered from depression which lead to drug and alcohol experimentation. I, too, did not know where my life was heading. Although I did find some solace in friendships and writing poetry, like Darius, it was not until I immersed myself in education and community (which for me was my family I had become so isolated and detached from). I, too, never thought I could attend college. I, too, took the advice of a random acquaintance.  Although I did not find a voice in my community, as Darius has, i have found my voice within my family, and to me, that is the community I most yearn to belong in; it is my most important community. Darius' story really struck a chord with me because of our similarities in losing our way and finding an alternate route from what we had at first prescribed ourselves doomed to pursue. We both took chances and made decisions that made our lives better, although we didn't have to; we both could have stayed on that friend's couch, in that dank basement of despair, rendering our lives unworthy. Instead we chose to continue finding . . .