Response 3
How might new media and participatory culture be applied to your teaching practice?
Why will concepts relevant to social media and participatory classroom cultures enhance teaching and learning with/about media and digital literacies
Media is constantly evolving within society and opening new doors for educators and students to access an abundance of information that will enhance their learning, however, cultural competencies and socials skills need to be fully involved in order for participation to be developed. It has become apparent that schools are struggling to evolve into the emergence of participatory culture and it is often after-school programs and informal learning communities that are creating the biggest change, devoting time to these new media literacies. (Jenkins et. al., 2009, pp. xiii). Nowadays “participatory culture shifts the focus of literacy from individual expression to community involvement…the new literacies almost always involve social skills developed through collaboration and networking” (Jenkins et. al., 2009, pp. xiii). It is very important to recognize this need for collaboration with new media and how it can be implemented within teaching practices and classrooms to create successful learners.
MDL4000 has shown us future educators first hand how new media and participatory culture can be implemented within the classroom to enhance students’ learning. Students can use technology to support their thinking and express themselves in a creative, personal way. Not only are there thousands of apps and web 2.0’s that students can use to create projects, do research or simply engage with other students sharing ideas and work, these technologies can be used by the teacher to bring new experiences to the classroom. Technology can be used within any subject and can enrich the content of the curriculum in ways that have never been possible in the past. After hearing about all the technology opportunities I intend to bring many of them into my classroom. One of them being Twitter, and having an account where I can post all the cool things my students are working on, keeping parents and colleagues informed. After hearing how you can use Google Hangouts to bring an explorer or photographer into the classroom is absolutely inspiring, I cannot wait to bring these opportunities to my future students.
Social media can be used to have two classes interact with one another, or to simply keep parents informed on the projects and activities the students are working on. Having virtual pen pals with another class and eventually meeting them on Google Hangouts. We as teachers need to jump out of our comfort zones and explore the different social media sites and learn to adapt to the quickly evolving digital world. This may be something as simple as a class blog or website that is both teacher and student led, teachers and students can work together to become digitally literate. With guidance, supervision and safety regulations/talks, students can explore social media to take their learning to the next level. These relevant concepts and “new literacies almost all involve social skills developed through collaboration and networking…these skills build on the foundation of traditional literacy and research, technical, and critical-analysis skills learned in the classroom” (Jenkins et. al., 2009, pp. xiii). New skills such as: play, performance, simulation, appropriation, multitasking, distributed cognition, collective intelligence, judgment, transmedia navigation, networking, and negotiation. (Jenkins et. al., 2009, pp. xiv). Educators should not fear away from these new literacies, we should jump into the participatory culture and be appreciative of its opportunities and resources it has to offer.
How might new media and participatory culture be applied to your teaching practice?
Why will concepts relevant to social media and participatory classroom cultures enhance teaching and learning with/about media and digital literacies
Media is constantly evolving within society and opening new doors for educators and students to access an abundance of information that will enhance their learning, however, cultural competencies and socials skills need to be fully involved in order for participation to be developed. It has become apparent that schools are struggling to evolve into the emergence of participatory culture and it is often after-school programs and informal learning communities that are creating the biggest change, devoting time to these new media literacies. (Jenkins et. al., 2009, pp. xiii). Nowadays “participatory culture shifts the focus of literacy from individual expression to community involvement…the new literacies almost always involve social skills developed through collaboration and networking” (Jenkins et. al., 2009, pp. xiii). It is very important to recognize this need for collaboration with new media and how it can be implemented within teaching practices and classrooms to create successful learners.
MDL4000 has shown us future educators first hand how new media and participatory culture can be implemented within the classroom to enhance students’ learning. Students can use technology to support their thinking and express themselves in a creative, personal way. Not only are there thousands of apps and web 2.0’s that students can use to create projects, do research or simply engage with other students sharing ideas and work, these technologies can be used by the teacher to bring new experiences to the classroom. Technology can be used within any subject and can enrich the content of the curriculum in ways that have never been possible in the past. After hearing about all the technology opportunities I intend to bring many of them into my classroom. One of them being Twitter, and having an account where I can post all the cool things my students are working on, keeping parents and colleagues informed. After hearing how you can use Google Hangouts to bring an explorer or photographer into the classroom is absolutely inspiring, I cannot wait to bring these opportunities to my future students.
Social media can be used to have two classes interact with one another, or to simply keep parents informed on the projects and activities the students are working on. Having virtual pen pals with another class and eventually meeting them on Google Hangouts. We as teachers need to jump out of our comfort zones and explore the different social media sites and learn to adapt to the quickly evolving digital world. This may be something as simple as a class blog or website that is both teacher and student led, teachers and students can work together to become digitally literate. With guidance, supervision and safety regulations/talks, students can explore social media to take their learning to the next level. These relevant concepts and “new literacies almost all involve social skills developed through collaboration and networking…these skills build on the foundation of traditional literacy and research, technical, and critical-analysis skills learned in the classroom” (Jenkins et. al., 2009, pp. xiii). New skills such as: play, performance, simulation, appropriation, multitasking, distributed cognition, collective intelligence, judgment, transmedia navigation, networking, and negotiation. (Jenkins et. al., 2009, pp. xiv). Educators should not fear away from these new literacies, we should jump into the participatory culture and be appreciative of its opportunities and resources it has to offer.
Response 4
How might digital storytelling be applied to your teaching practice?
Why will concepts relevant to digital storytelling enhance teaching and learning with/about media and digital literacies and digital citizenship?
We as new teachers are able to walk into a classroom with the benefit of having an abundance of tools within our tool belts that will enhance the learning of our students. We were taught through paper and pencil when we were in elementary school and we are now being introduced to how technology can be used to not only enhance the students’ ability to learn, but allow them to activate their own knowledge and have the students teach themselves and grow. After taking MDL4000 and learning all the different technologies that can and should be incorporated into our classroom, I am aware of SO many web 2.0 softwares and tools that I will take with me into the many classrooms I visit and lead. Storytelling is an ancient form of teaching that has been used by many teachers over the course of history, “Nowadays, technology has given us a new twist to this ancient teaching method” (Tolisano, 2010, pp. 5).
Not only can I use already created digital stories to show my students all the amazing things that can be shared within the classroom because of technology, but students can use web 2.0 tools to create their own digital stories. Having the ability to share other creations of stories to my students, will enhance their creative thinking and allow them to see the endless possibilities that can be created using media resources. Students can make a connection within media and use it as a tool to help them with other subjects and help them express themselves in ways they never thought possible. Using iMovie to share pictures of their favourite vacation, using Mindomo to organize their thoughts for a project, or using Google Hangouts or Google Docs to communicate with members of a group project, are simple ways that can enhance our old ways of creating projects, with ease and convenience.
Allowing students to interact with technology in a hands on fashion will allow them to become digital literate in a society that is quickly evolving to digital dependence. Relevant concepts such as understanding and knowing that “technologies that await us in the future is that we will find ways to tell stories with them” (Ohler, 2013, pp. 3). We need to allow students to become a digital citizen and use technologies is ways that we cannot imagine. Student and teachers need learn from one another, when it comes to technology we as teachers need to recognize that we may not be the expert in the room at all times. Letting the students bring their ideas and helping them achieve what they ave envisioned will create digital competence within a classroom. Digital storytelling allows students to get creative in a personal way. Every student may be using the same program but every story and project will be unique in the end, thats the beauty of digital storytelling—uniqueness!
Last semester, I was not as confident with learning the many media tools and techniques that can be implemented within classrooms and I did not take the risks I would have liked to take within my grade 6 placement class. I was in a classroom that did not use technology and media to their advantage and I wish I would have tried to introduce some myself. After experiencing, hands on, the many tools and websites that are out there, I feel confident that I will use technology within my next classroom. Introducing my students to the many tools I have had the incredible opportunity to be introduced to within MDL4000.
Try these web 2.0's to help your students create digital stories:
Storybird
SlideShare
VoiceThread
Wordle
Storyboard THAT
Little Bird Tales
References
Jenkins, H., Purushotma, R., Weigel, M., Clinton, K., & Robison, A. J. (2009). Confronting the challenges of participatory culture: Media education for the 21st century. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Ohler, J. B. (2013). Digital storytelling in the classroom: New media pathways to literacy, learning, and creativity. Thousand Oaks,, California: A SAGE Company.
Tolisano, S. R. (2010). How - To - Guide Digital storytelling tools for educators. S.l.: Creative Commons.
How might digital storytelling be applied to your teaching practice?
Why will concepts relevant to digital storytelling enhance teaching and learning with/about media and digital literacies and digital citizenship?
We as new teachers are able to walk into a classroom with the benefit of having an abundance of tools within our tool belts that will enhance the learning of our students. We were taught through paper and pencil when we were in elementary school and we are now being introduced to how technology can be used to not only enhance the students’ ability to learn, but allow them to activate their own knowledge and have the students teach themselves and grow. After taking MDL4000 and learning all the different technologies that can and should be incorporated into our classroom, I am aware of SO many web 2.0 softwares and tools that I will take with me into the many classrooms I visit and lead. Storytelling is an ancient form of teaching that has been used by many teachers over the course of history, “Nowadays, technology has given us a new twist to this ancient teaching method” (Tolisano, 2010, pp. 5).
Not only can I use already created digital stories to show my students all the amazing things that can be shared within the classroom because of technology, but students can use web 2.0 tools to create their own digital stories. Having the ability to share other creations of stories to my students, will enhance their creative thinking and allow them to see the endless possibilities that can be created using media resources. Students can make a connection within media and use it as a tool to help them with other subjects and help them express themselves in ways they never thought possible. Using iMovie to share pictures of their favourite vacation, using Mindomo to organize their thoughts for a project, or using Google Hangouts or Google Docs to communicate with members of a group project, are simple ways that can enhance our old ways of creating projects, with ease and convenience.
Allowing students to interact with technology in a hands on fashion will allow them to become digital literate in a society that is quickly evolving to digital dependence. Relevant concepts such as understanding and knowing that “technologies that await us in the future is that we will find ways to tell stories with them” (Ohler, 2013, pp. 3). We need to allow students to become a digital citizen and use technologies is ways that we cannot imagine. Student and teachers need learn from one another, when it comes to technology we as teachers need to recognize that we may not be the expert in the room at all times. Letting the students bring their ideas and helping them achieve what they ave envisioned will create digital competence within a classroom. Digital storytelling allows students to get creative in a personal way. Every student may be using the same program but every story and project will be unique in the end, thats the beauty of digital storytelling—uniqueness!
Last semester, I was not as confident with learning the many media tools and techniques that can be implemented within classrooms and I did not take the risks I would have liked to take within my grade 6 placement class. I was in a classroom that did not use technology and media to their advantage and I wish I would have tried to introduce some myself. After experiencing, hands on, the many tools and websites that are out there, I feel confident that I will use technology within my next classroom. Introducing my students to the many tools I have had the incredible opportunity to be introduced to within MDL4000.
Try these web 2.0's to help your students create digital stories:
Storybird
SlideShare
VoiceThread
Wordle
Storyboard THAT
Little Bird Tales
References
Jenkins, H., Purushotma, R., Weigel, M., Clinton, K., & Robison, A. J. (2009). Confronting the challenges of participatory culture: Media education for the 21st century. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Ohler, J. B. (2013). Digital storytelling in the classroom: New media pathways to literacy, learning, and creativity. Thousand Oaks,, California: A SAGE Company.
Tolisano, S. R. (2010). How - To - Guide Digital storytelling tools for educators. S.l.: Creative Commons.