Practicing Internet Literacy Regularly

I like that the article pointed out that any checklist or formula for separating useful websites from untrustworthy ones will not work. The internet is one of the most constantly changing things in the modern world, and any method of filtering will inevitably be rendered useless. The only true solution is to encourage students to develop and refine their own methods. I certainly believe in offering them initial strategies, but the best strategy is for students to regularly practice searching and evaluating websites, and always revising their strategies based on their experiences.

Email pen pals

I definitely think pen paling and projects between students in different countries has a great deal of potential. There are plenty of text books and professional videos on the cultures and areas of the world, but it's a powerful thing to ask any question and receive an answer from someone who knows the subject so well. Even as teachers compare notes with each other, students could compare learning methods and experiences, and learn about anything from local history or cuisine to wild life. I think the major obstacle is the startup.

It is true that there are many places on the internet inappropriate for students, but it's also true that many sites contain both inappropriate and useful content. Pages like Wikipedia and YouTube are great examples. I've seen instances where nbc, discovery, and other news and information based sites have advertisements which are inappropriate for students. A teacher can capture the essential content and show it to students offline, but students are eventually confronted with examples of the inappropriate material outside the school. Some sites should definitely be blocked, but I feel many schools err on the side of excess caution, removing beneficial tools. Eventually students will have the freedom to go anywhere on the internet. Maybe it would be better to let them encounter some "less" objectionable material in the controlled environment of school.

Student Survey

I recently decided to hand out a survey to the students on the First Team who will be working on the video editing project, I thought it would be good to give them an opportunity to see what I was planning to teach them, and let me know if there were any topics of particular interest.
The surveys were helpful, but not in the way I expected. They helped me realize that many of the students in the program don't want that kind of opportunity. They want to come to the workshops and rely on me to decide what they should learn. It was an interesting reminder that although it can be an opportunity to actively influence what you learn as a student, it's also an additional responsibility, and a task some don't want.

Multidisciplinary Units

Reading the article, I thought the multidisciplinary activities were very interesting. In real life tasks are not separated and categorized like they are in education. Most tasks require a variety of separate skill sets, and it’s good for students to get used to adapting their abilities and knowledge to applications previously never considered. I also like how some of the activities were not simulation based. Students were working to achieve a real positive change in their community, and that application gives the work more merit than “doing it for the grade”.

Using PowerPoint in a different way

As part of my workshop prep, I’ve been creating PowerPoints to help me teach the material to the students. It’s been a very interesting process. In the past I’ve always created a PowerPoint as a stand alone. The goal was for students to take the PowerPoint and use it on their own to learn the material. This time I’m creating slides that will appear while I speak, and I will point to images and definitions as I explain the subject. In some ways it’s easier; I don’t have to worry about clarity because I will be there to ensure students understand.

An Amalgam of Sources

As I worked on the materials and content for my 4 workshops, I was struck by the diversity of my sources. The books and tutorials I used to learn these same subjects were created by photographers, authors, critics, professors, graphic and fashion designers, etc. In many cases it was about sifting through what was relevant to their field, but not mine, and taking portions of their ideas and techniques to adapt to my purpose. It becomes a process of picking an aspect of the process, shapes, and going out and finding someone who knows a great deal about shapes and symbols, and how to use them effectively.