Final Reflection

           Reflecting back on the path of this course I still have to say that I did enjoy the structure and format of this class. Its understanding and lenient design has allowed me to successfully finish my first semester of grad school while keeping up with all of my other responsibilities in life.

I would have to say that my strength in my understanding as in the middle of the semester remains in discussions. Discussions within this course allowed for me to have self-initiated learning where I first developed an answer on my own and then once everyone posted I had the opportunity to learn from classmate’s point of views as well. I would say getting to hear everyone’s responses is what expanded my learning the most. Harder concepts became clearer having the opportunity to hear the different perspectives. For example, Networked Publics by Kazys Varnelis was a challenging piece for me at first. It was the thematic group discussion that really helped me fully grasp the broken down concepts. Therefore I thoroughly read and participated in every discussion to get the most out of my learning experience.

As for improvements I am still in the process of improving my methods when it comes to online learning. I am discovering what the best times for me to read online material are so that I actually absorb the content. This was my first full virtual semester. I have taken online classes before but never all at the same time. I have learned its better for me to read during the day and not at not night because I am not as alert. I have developed a tendency to print out key reading material for note taking purposes because it works better for me than highlight within the text on the computer. A new opportunity for improvement that has been discovered since the mid of the course has been my skills when it comes to APA format. APA was completely new to me. In the past I have always used MLA. The OWL Purdue website was a close friend this semester to help me tackle the in-text citations and reference page for every formal piece assigned and will continue to be with future courses.

I have had much insight throughout the course of this semester. I have learned that the best tool I have entering into this new field is right at my fingertips. To reach out to my classmates and peers if searching for advice. Everyone has a different experience and opinion so you’re bound to find an answer that is going to lead you in the right direction. As stated in my midterm reflection my insight remains in the fact I can utilize the knowledge provided in this course in my actual career and life. I found relevance in the acquired information and I look forward to the opportunity to apply it.

I truly enjoyed the knowledge that New Medias and New Literacies had to offer. I believe that that readings, discussions and assignments have all helped my growth within my potential career. 

Example of an Information Literacy Guide

Name:_________________________________________       Date:_____________

RESEARCH GUIDE FOR MS. JOHNSON’S 8^TH GRADE ENGLISH CLASS

PART TWO: FINDING SOURCES

Now that you have selected your topic it’s time to research! You will be given class time to find several web pages and sites that will help construct your paper.

When looking, ask yourself the following questions to make sure that the sites are reliable and useful.

Consider the following:

·         Who created the site? What are their qualifications? Motive? Do they make a profit?

·         What’s the purpose of your site? What types of information are available on this site?

·         Is the information presented from a biased point of view?

·         Is it scholarly or informal?

·         How current is the information?

·         Why would you choose to use information from this site in your research paper?

Find at least 3 websites. Use the following space to record the URLs

1.

2.

3.

We will start PART THREE: CITING SOURCES next class…

( I chose to develop a partial sample of an information literacy guide focusing in on 8th grade learners assisting with conducting research and the reliability of sources. Skills that need to be taught early on in order to master by vital educational years)

Adolescent Interview

For my adolescent interview I took the opportunity to interview my 14 year old brother, Bailey.

I used technology to conduct the interview using the interface of “facetime”.

During my interview I was surprised to find out that he uses a lot of technologies and social networks throughout every day.

Technologies he uses that were discussed consisted of television for entertainment, a gaming console called PS4 to play video games as well as converse with his friends. He uses an IPhone for communication and his social networking. Social networks he uses include Instagram, Facebook. Twitter, and iFunny. He also mentioned that he uses the computer to Skype and to watch YouTube videos.

I learned how much social networking this 14 year old does. My childhood growing up was very different from Bailey’s. I was surprised to find out how little my parents regulate his social networking usage. When I was growing up the only communication I had with my friends was the telephone or AIM in which I had to use dial up to talked to them.

Cyber bullying was a big highlight of our conversation. I asked Bailey if he has ever witnessed cyber bullying and he said he has on several occasions. He has been a victim and so have several of his friends. This was very upsetting to me as a sister. I asked him when it came to these incidents how they were handled and he informed me that the bullying that happened to him was reported to my mother and the ones involving his friends he intervened with the intention to stand up for them. Cyber bullying has always been something that I am extremely offended by and always have been because I just don’t understand the ignorance around it. Years ago I was introduced to a story about a girl named Amanda Todd who shared her story of bullying on YouTube which eventually lead to her suicide. I told Bailey to look her up and the night after our interview he posted this video on his Facebook for all to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80RqEf56Ix4&sns=fb

My biggest take away from the interview is just how much our world has changed and how much it involves technology.  Kids are introduced to these medias at such a young age and the dependency has grown. 

Evian "Baby&Me"

This week I chose to deconstruct an ad for water from the company Evian. I watched the commercial several times when making observations. The ad consisted of normal people walking down the street of a city and noticing their reflections on the side of a building. Their reflections were baby versions of themselves in which they reacted to with excitement. The producer’s message is trying to convince their consumers that their product preserves youth. Even though I enjoyed their comedic approach I was not convinced and the most important thing I took away from this observation is how businesses will try all types of methods to get their product to sell. Honest and not. 

 I can relate this experience to Networked Publics, “Value at the Edges” because I found my focused ad on YouTube; a participatory media culture. There are citizens/consumers that spend hours upon hours of everyday just browsing through YouTube videos. The internet started off as interaction between peer to peer, citizen to citizen and now it has transferred into producer to consumer. Value at the edges discussed producers using arts and medias to relate to consumers and their culture. Where I found this ad and what is in the ad is a perfect example of this. 

 I have posted the link to the ad for your enjoyment purposes. 
Evian "Baby&Me" Ad

Week 8 Journal--Influence of the Media

Something that struck me as interesting this week was the direct correlation between mass media and the increase of eating disorders within the population. Electronic media has affected the way consumers think. They see this constant “ideal body” and eventually are brainwashed thinking you’re not beautiful or handsome unless your skinny. The readings summarized how much money and time is spent on advertising. Advertising linked to the topic of eating disorders tends to glorify “thinness” and encourages all to obtain this perfect body. Cultural pressure within the social media is a huge contributor to the continuance of eating disorders. The content provided stated that

» The average young adolescent watches 3-4 hours of TV per day.(1)

» The average American child may view as many as 40,000 television commercials every year.(2)

» Four hours of television programming contain about 100 ads.(3)

» 30 percent of local TV news time is devoted to advertising.(4)

Children, teens, and adults are ambushed with these commercials constantly advertising perfection. Advertisements of diets, supplements, gym memberships, equipment, weight loss in general and even the continuous use of thin models and actors are a huge catalyst for eating disorders. The responsibility of teaching critical medial literacy should be put on the parent and reinforced in the school setting when given the opportunity. With this direct correlation I place the most responsibility on the parent to teach the child how to have healthy eating habits and avoid the pressure by loving themselves for who they are. Schools can help by looking for signs of children being influenced and continuing to expose advertisements for what they are when given opportunity. This knowledge has always been something that I have personally been aware of. I myself over the years have experienced that same pressure to be thin just not as much as others because of my learned awareness. But every time a diet commercial, or weight loss pill comes on I find myself giving in to that curiosity. In the past I have even found myself researching my favorite stars diets that I deemed to be the “perfect body” in hopes to find out “the secret”. The pressure from the media and weight loss will always exist. It’s terrifying to think that producers are capable of driving consumers to the vulnerable “solution” of eating disorders.

· 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991). (1)

· In elementary school fewer than 25% of girls diet regularly. Yet those who do know what dieting involves and can talk about calorie restriction and food choices for weight loss fairly effectively (Smolak, 2011; Wertheim et al., 2009). (1)

· 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991). (1)

The statics are beyond disturbing and just motivates me to help protect my children and students by educating them to stay above the influence and create the awareness of critical medial literacy.

· The incidence of bulimia in 10-39 year old women TRIPLED between 1988 and 1993 (Hoek& van Hoeken, 2003). (1)
» In 2001, U.S. advertising expenditures topped $230 billion, more than doubling the $105.97 billion spent in 1980. (6)

These are not coincidence.  

1. www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

2. Starsburger, Victor C., (2001, June) “Children and TV Advertising: Nowhere to run, Nowhere to hide”. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 22, 185

3. Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 10, 1999

4. Rocky Mountain Media Watch

6. McCann-Erickson U.S. Advertising Volume Reports and Bob Coen’s Insider’s Report for December 2001

7. www.medialiteracy.com

Concern of Democracy

Democracy has been raised as very problematic and this is what I find extremely interesting because in my future profession I want to know how to successfully create a truly democratic classroom. Saskia Sassen in her video discussed the “tools and techniques” put into place to create democracy which have been a “given openness” and a “given choice” but she critiques stating that these “given” tools don’t necessarily produce a balanced and equal distribution. 

This is a great point and very concerning as a future educator. In past posts I have stated how it’s very important to me in my future classroom that all my students have an individual voice but her general statements in regards to democracy have me concerned that I will never truly be able to achieve this because it will be practically impossible to maintain equal distribution. Her piece has made me come to the realization that my classroom is going to be an experimental remaking of an informal political organization and not til then will I know how I will be able to manage an as equal distributed democracy as much as possible. This frightens and saddens me because it puts my student’s voice and opinions at risks. True democracy has been raised as a problem and the reality of even distribution within civil society, networked and my biggest concern, the classroom. What are the ways we can create a more distributed outcome?

This is something that I will not be able to tackle until I have the grounds to experiment and I hate the term experiment because no student should be a trial. I will need to discover what the individual cause is in regards to my students that is holding them back from contributing and producing. As an educator this is going to be a challenge because this preventive factor is highly likely to be different for every student.

Varnelis, Kazys. "Saskia Sassen: Networks, Power, and Democracy - YouTube." YouTube. N.p., 26 July 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpw1GpHzAbc&feature=youtu.be>.

Week Three: Social Networking and Combined Medias

Out of all the readings and videos the topic that suck with me the most and interested me was the topic focusing on using social networks as a way to mobilize citizenship. I never really realized this. Now that is has been pointed out I step back and I am able to recognize how I have witnessed this more and more every day. This consists of using websites such as Facebook, twitter, intagram to send the desired message. Citizens are able to use these medias as a group and reinforce information of their choosing. An informal alliance is built between common beliefs and the will of support.

This made me think back to the day of the recent bombing in Boston. I woke up and checked my phone. Many condolences statuses were posted on Facebook and a family friend of mine even shared a local Boston page that was fundraising for the cause and locals. My instagram feed consisted of post after post of “Pray For Boston”. These social networks were being used as a mechanism for support and patriotism.

Henry Jenkin’s video inspired this focus the most. As said before in previous posts I am a visual learner so this caught the majority of my focus. He focuses on social networking and how young generations have the potential to do things that matter because they are our teachers within this World Wide Web. They typically introduce us to these new medias and then we learn the ins and out of them to keep up. I discussed the usage of social networks mobilizing citizenship. Schools that are children go to are blocking these websites because they are deemed to be useless. I don’t agree with this. Within my student teaching experience I actually used social networking as much as possible as a tool to interest and relate to my students. I assigned research papers discussing current news topics among their generation and ask them to pick topics out of their facebook feeds. Or when reading literature I have asked students make a “FAKEBOOK” of a chosen character of their choosing.

As stated in Networked Publics by Varnelis networking is part of everyday life. The internet is transforming our sense of proximity and distance so we are able to stay in communication with people, states, countries that are in the real world, far away from us. Key issues discussed are within children being able to decipher and balance all the information across all of the medias. (Jenkins pg.47) I don’t see this as a problem. I see it as a tool, an ability that needs to be developed. You use all of these medias to gain additional knowledge and then you combine your information to make your own opinions or to produce a response to the concept which is all generated by the combination of all the supplied information. I don’t foresee this as a problem because in my educational experience I was encouraged in school to use different medias with assignments. For example, when assigned a paper my teacher would tell me that I was required to use four resources for my paper, three which could be of my choosing, one being the focused course text and one of my choices must be another book. Schools are encouraging this more and more. Students need to balance these diverse medias and learn how to combine all the information to produce. ”Educators need to create new activities when new technologies are introduced into the classroom.” (Jenkins pg.39) I do agree with this, but let’s do this where we know we will be guaranteed success. We know social networking interests our students and they relate to it. So instead of ruling it out, let’s utilize it. 

R U Really Reading, Online

Literacy is nothing less of the ability to read and write. Nadia, the student focused on within “Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading” by Motoko Rich choses to use digital media for her literature and she proves her proficiency by producing above average grades within school. She maintains A’s and B’s. Everyone has different interests; reading is reading. If a child chooses to read all day on the computer and still produces adequate grades then who is to judge her chosen method. If an adult asks a child to stop reading just because it is not a topic of their choosing then shame on them. All reading expands knowledge. All reading tends to increase vocabulary skills. Literacy proficiency is not affected by the topic or method chosen it is affected by the lack of the activity entirely.

Literacy is transitioning to new media landscapes and it is nothing but beneficial to those who require diversified learning. These new landscapes just further the learning experience. They are more visual as well as interactive. The visual aspect tends to provide a clearer understanding. For example, growing up teachers would assign a particular piece of literature. At the end of the unit the teacher would play the movie based on the book. This movie would always clarify points missed while reading or at least reinforce what was read. Students such as English Language Learners take much benefit to these new methods. Teachers often use these new technology mediums for their differentiated instruction to assist these students with their comprehension. When concepts are understood clearly they tend to help learners create connections, and when the learners create connections it tends to fuel critical thinking.

The internet holds much potential of value. It is appealing to all sorts of learners if used properly. From personal experience, when taught the difference between reliable sources versus non reliable the internet can provide you with endless information needed to get through required classes and curriculum. It is extremely common these days that even professors use the internet to facilitate learning; they obtain reading material that the course focuses on from the internet. There are endless amounts of literature databases at your fingertips within the World Wide Web. These classics that debaters refer to; claiming that students should be reading instead of browsing on the internet because they hold more value are most likely easily located in the tool that they are criticizing. The internet is not the enemy. Our students are reading and that’s all that matters. Instead of ruling out the internet as a literacy resource, we should just teach students how to use it properly.

Week One Journal

My own literacy practice involves visual need. Even when reading the directions and outline of this assignment I needed to rewrite exactly what I was reading on paper in order to fully comprehend. Growing up in school there were times where I could reread the same page of a book three times and still not be able to tell you what I read. It wasn’t until high school when a particular teacher introduced me to the usage of sticky notes and jotting main points down which tended to help my literacy comprehension. Over the years I developed my own method of note taking while reading which has helped me throughout my learning path.

"The distinctive contribution of the approach to literacy as social practice lies in the ways in which it involves careful and sensitive attention to what people do with texts, how they make sense of them and use them to further their own purposes in their own learning lives"

(Gillen and Barton, 2010, p. 9)

When I read this quote it made me think about how society pays attentions to its citizens, their literacy levels and also what these citizens do for themselves for their own literacy skills. In regards to literacy habits when reading I had to take notes for outline and clarification, I had to highlight to trigger understanding and look up definitions to words that were unfamiliar. Those steps were all necessary for me to complete and understand all of the five readings for this week. Without using those literacy techniques, points may have been misinterpreted or completely forgotten. Each reading is different and my specific note taking allows for myself to break down each one as well as compare them. I do this to complete assignments accurately and also to expand my long term knowledge. If fully understood properly, this is information that I can remember, which will give me the opportunity to refer back to and utilize for life. Placing the text information in long term memory for use is important to me. While I pointed out how I break down the texts to accomplish this, the most important thing that I do for myself to really understand the information provided, enabling me to use within my educational career is to relate personally. I did this with almost all of the readings and personally relating in my opinion is what really separates information from being short term to long term.

The selected articles and chapters made several points which related to my personal literacy practice and its history. Literacy has become more than just reading print on paper. It is constantly developing and its biggest strive which has affected me the most has been the expansion of the internet and computers which was discussed several times. My bachelor’s degree required myself to observe classrooms and teaching habits. The school I observed had more computers than teachers.  That has to speak to its effectiveness and reliability. The schools trusts computers to provide students with the tools that they need to enhance their learning. Computers have the potential to help with students that require visual literacy as myself. Both articles addressed how teaching and learning are more effective with technology. The use of multimedia improving increases the results of critical thinking. The chapters paid attention to illiteracy especially adult illiteracy. How some countries such as New Zealand recognized theirs problem and took measures. Others discussed the effectiveness of new literacy techniques, paying close attention to what they can do to help not just in the classroom but also outside of the classroom. This I took heart too. Being literate is so necessary to further yourself in life. There are different levels of literacy just how there are different types of teachers. There are teachers who want you to know how to read and there are teachers who want you to know how to read and understand what you’re reading. Those are the teachers that want you to personally progress. That’s how I related to the majority of these readings. I asked myself…why do these readings matter to me? How do I relate? One day in my future I want to be able to be that teacher that helps to understand, advances your literacy, encourages you to go on beyond basic learning and understanding and that’s what all of these studies on literacy are about.