Making Change

In our final discussion, we talked about some of the limitations we face (or are worried about facing) as we bring digital technologies and media literacy into our classrooms.



ACCESS:

• hardware
• blocks/filters
• reliability/speed
• space

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

• for departments/schools
• for administrators

PHILOSOPHY/PEDAGOGY:

• being clear in purpose
  
• knowing why we do what we do
  

CURRICULUM RESTRAINTS

• time
• flexibility
• allignment with standards

PARENTS/COMMUNITY:

• resistance
• legal repercussions

ADMINISTRATION:

• how to justify and find support

In the comments below, please find the drafts of some of the "solutions" we found to these issues. These include links, sample letters, grant opportunities, statements of philosophy, etc.

Friday Due Date

Your presentations yesterday were excellent. I am looking forward to reading your reflections posted on your blog by Friday, July 10th.

Remember that our reflection should be the equivalent of 4-6 pages and should include the following 4 sections:

• Introduction to the topic (including your interest in this area)
• Detailed curriculum plan
• Links to external resources
• Connections to our course themes

Thanks for a great week!! I will leave this blog up for you to use as a resource and will post the links I promised as well.

Check in in the fall to let us all know how your media adventures go!!

LB :)

Wednesday Night Assignments

For tonight, you do not have an external reading assignment, but I do want you to search the web to explore what kind of public discourse is out there on Disney Pixar's Up.



You will find useful information at IMDB (The Internet Movie Database). You are also free to look at blogs and other online posts. Film "reviews" can be useful but they often use frameworks and language that contradict the cultural studies models we have explored this week. Try to find sources that talk about "representation" and what the film teaches us in its message and worldview, rather than mere technical prowess.

For your scheduling needs, we will be seeing up at the Providence Place Mall at 1:55pm. Guests are invited -- we will be discussing the film after and they are welcome to join us for that as well.

See you in the morning!

LB :)

Saying the Words

This is the Dave Chapelle clip we watched in class... check out the rest of the Inside the Actor's Studio clips to hear more from him...

Political Economy Resources

Here are some of the materials we will be using in class on Wednesday... no need to check them out ahead of time. But they are here for your reference:

The Mickey Mouse Monopoly


Disney's Celebration


Disney's First Black Princess





Tim Wise, Between Barack and a Hard Place

Reading for Tuesday Night

For your reading tonight (Tuesday), please read the Giroux article posted here:

Henry Giroux on Disney

(And if you want more of his critique of the comodification of childhood, read this.)


Your blogging assignment for tonight is to reflect on Giroux's points. What do you make of his critique of the Disney Empire?

Monday Night

Thanks for a great first day!

Tonight (Monday), your assignment is this:

1. Spend about 40 minutes searching online for resources related to "critical pedagogy." Bring some notes about what you found with you to class on Tuesday. (Optional: post those links on your blog.)

2. Create a new post on your blog reflecting on the first day of this course. What resonated most with you? What questions do you have? How does this relate to your teaching and your life, if at all?

If you own a laptop, a digital camera, digital video camera, cell phone with camera, flashdrive, or other digital technologies, bring them with you to class on Tuesday... we will be playing with technology in the afternoon!

See you in the morning...

LB :)