LORETTA MARTINIDT 7064

SCHOOL CHANGE AND THE INTERNETJUNE17, 2011

Reflections aboutLiteracies: Information, Media,

and Internet

Thoughts Prior to this Lesson

Before this lesson, I thought my high school classes were fairly information and Internet literate. I spent time teaching my students the steps to researching projects and evaluating the good resources and the bad. We often used the Internet for Web searches, but I see now that we were only scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Thoughts (continued)

I realize from our class videos and readings and my knowledge of where my students get most of their information, that my students relate more to the Internet and other media than I do and are probably more media and Internet literate than I am in many ways.

Thoughts Now

Now I see that we have much work to do before I can truly feel that my students and I are information, Internet, and media literate. Unfortunately, my students have the advantage since they are so comfortable with multi-tasking.

Where Do We Go Now?

I still like the Big6 approach for solving problems and working on projects. It has very defined and organized steps that my students seem to understand best. However, in the past, I have concentrated more on the actual steps of the Big6, not so much on how to use the Internet and other media within the Big6 model.

Here is Where We Go!

In the past, I have concentrated more on the actual steps of the Big6, not so much on how to use the Internet and other media within the Big6 model. This is one area that I will change – how to constructively search using the Internet..

According to Sonja Bell-Joyner (Anderson, Grant, & Speck, 2008), her students felt more confident about researching their project after she covered how to properly use the computer for searching.

The Light Bulb!

Based on our readings and videos, I see now that Media Literacy really focuses more on critically examining the media and technology of the messages that we receive. This reminds me some of the my classes on propaganda – trying to decipher what is real and what is not.

We will need to work on their ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and communicate in several formats of media. I want them to be able to understand and relate to the world.

What’s In It for Me?

I feel I know less than my students about much of the media formats that exist today. When I need help, I have to ask my 35-year old son or my 14-year old granddaughter. Having been reared in the age of technology, they are eons ahead of me, but I want to learn. I find it exciting and I need to know so I can help my students.

I want to learn how to

Wik

i

Blog

Skyp

e

Podcast

Slidecast

VIDEO

Animate

Lesson 1

Grades 11-12PsychologyTopic - Drug AbuseFinal Product (Choice -

created online, if possible) Slide Presentation/Podcast Research Paper Exhibit/Blog Online Video Pamphlet/Brochure Any other suggestions that

are approved by teacher

Brief Instructions:Choose a drug that is often abused. Research completely for:o Legal/Illegal?o How it is produced?o How it is obtained?o What part of the body

does it affect?o How is it abused?o What are its after-effects?o Does it leave permanent

damage?o How will it affect the

future?

Lesson 2

Grades 11-12SociologyTopic – Different CulturesFinal Product (Choice -

created online, if possible) Slide Presentation/Podcast Research Paper Exhibit/Blog Online Video Pamphlet/Brochure Any other suggestions that

are approved by teacher

Brief Instructions:Choose a culture, other than American. Research completely for:o Beginnings/Historyo Religionso Common customso Holidays/Ritualso Family life/Healtho Economy/Governmento Social systemso Major eventso Future?

Lesson 3

Grades 11-12U.S. GovernmentTopic – Different CulturesFinal Product (Choice -

created online, if possible) Slide Presentation/Podcast Research Paper Exhibit/Blog Online Video Pamphlet/Brochure Any other suggestions that

are approved by teacher

Brief Instructions:Choose a country, other than America. Research its government. o Brief history.o Kind of government?o How was it formed?o How has it changed?o Who is in charge?o Functions?o What is its future?

References

Anderson, R. S. , Grant, M. M., and Speck, B. W. (2008). Technology to teach literacy: A resource for K-8 teachers. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Campbell, A., Heller, E., Horney, E., and Slater, L. (2007). Information literacy in the digital age. University of Washington. Retrieved on June 15, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWzigkpR7yg