My response to the sessions with Dan Gillmor and Kristy Roschke is that I am inspired with a potential piece for solving a problem at my school. The Language Arts department is contracting in size, due to drop offs in elective enrollment. Our offerings are traditional and need modernization.
In the wake of this morning's session I think I want to propose a new elective course in Digital Storytelling. Everything below is just me tossing out some preliminary thoughts. I would take a long look at the Mediactive curriculum first (and some other established curricula, like IB Media Ethics) and would have to go through a rather painful course-writing process in my district. What I want is to create a course that is accessible for any learner in my school, so I definitely want a hands-on focus.
When you finish reading this, please share any thoughts or suggestions you might have. If I end up doing anything with this beyond imagining, I will be happy to share.
My starting thought is that it might have some of the following components:
Overview: The class would build media literacy in a hands-on production-based format. Students completing the class would have skills to contribute to the school news site, as well as understanding the "media ecosystem" and their role within it. Since our school is 1:1 and has a business focus program housed in the building, this course might also support marketing education.
The Landscape of the Internet
-History
-Contemporary Issues
-Privacy and Security
Social Media Tools
-uses
-abuses
-building your personal brand
Web Communication Genres and Literacy Skills
-marketing vs. journalism
-arts uses
-Using mapping and check-in technology
-how to discern where things fall on the spectrum of truth and fiction
Ethics and Etiquette
-philosophical foundations
-journalism values
-edge cases
-environmental issues
-social issues (including cyberbullying and etiquette)
Storytelling and Production methods
-photojournalism
-using video storytelling tools
I love your idea. We recently combined my J1 and my yearbook class, due to a lack of focus for J1. J1 had become a dumping ground for kids who needed an elective but didn't really want to do journalism.
ReplyDeleteI can see a digital storytelling class as you've outlined as an option. It would help meet our standards on media literacy, as well.
It's something to consider. Thanks for the idea!