Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Double Journal Entry Week #2

Quote:
“For this particular speech, President Bush and his staff decided to position his podium in front of a painting of Teddy Roosevelt.”
Reponse:
Anytime I encounter a deep analysis of a text, or photograph I become instantly skeptic that someone, somewhere is trying to create something from nothing.  In this particular piece I tend to be incredibly skeptical.  I am a non-analytical person and while I can see the connection that the author draws between the portrait of President Roosevelt and the topic being addressed I still believe that he was looking for symbolism where there may have been none intended. 
Yet, after reviewing the Seven Senses and looking applying the principles given I can see that there are ways certain people could create this positive feel good atmosphere that comes with President Bush speaking in front of a Pres. Roosevelt portrait.  I could easily downplay any manipulation or staging except that there is very seldom a “standard” for Presidential Press Conferences. 
In this particular instance it is important to note that not only is media literacy important, but so too is a thorough knowledge of history, politics, and photography.  No one person can know all, so therefore we must rely upon our instincts and our senses to guide us into making logical choices and decisions based upon the facts we are presented with.
Connection:
I tried a variety of combinations of words in my search engine before I came up with a result that I found interesting.  While I could continue further on the quest and look for additional information on the Kennedy v. Nixon debate I believe this brief article makes the question.  To reach this conclusion, I am drawing upon my own use of the power or Evaluation, reading this piece reminded me of previous discussions and knowledge I already had about the Kennedy v. Nixon issue.  During the early days of television many politicians struggled with presenting the proper image.  It is only logical (the power of syntheses) that presumptions and understandings can take root and flourish.

REFERENCES:
Abilock, D. (2003).MultiMedia Schools. A seven-power lens on 21st century literacy. (Nov/Dec ed., pp. 30-35). Retrieved from http://www.infotoday.com/mmschools
Planet Pick. (2011). Global Post. The campaign: The art of political photo staging. (Aug. 19, 2011 ed.). Retrieved from http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/planet-pic/5673457/the-campaign-the-art-political-photo-staging

1.What is semiotics? 
2. How can teachers capitalize on students preferred literacy behaviors?
3. According to this article why is it important for students to learn to analyze the news media? 
4. Copy and Paste a West Virginia CSO that a photo analysis activity might address.

For my generation it was always, “seeing is believing” having grown up in an age where radio was replaced with television and we now knew who people really were and we were not dependent upon our imaginations to give us a fabricated image.  In my youth the concept of media literacy had not yet been explored nor had semiotics.  It was only necessary to look at an image and make a decision, it was not necessary to study the reading of signs and symbols and their interaction with each other. 
However, as time passes it becomes increasingly more important for students, of all ages, to learn to analyze the news media.  One can no longer feel confident that the picture seen is the picture that was taken or even that was staged.  It is important to use the preferred literacy behaviors of students to ensure that they are in fact receiving the knowledge that is being imparted in a manner that is useful. 
Through the creation of interactive storyboards teachers can not only impart the knowledge the students needs to receive they also can do it in a way that will retain the interest of the student which in turn helps ensure more retention.

CSO:
In Science, seeing is not necessarily believing.
Grade 5
Science

Standard 1: 
Nature of Science

SC.S.5.1
Students will
·         demonstrate an understanding of the history of science and the evolvement of scientific knowledge.
·         demonstrate an understanding of science as a human endeavor encompassing the contributions of diverse cultures and scientists.
·         demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of a scientist.
·         demonstrate skills of scientific inquiry.

Performance Descriptors SC.PD.5.1

Distinguished
Above Mastery
Mastery
Partial Mastery
Novice

Fifth grade students at the distinguished level in the nature of science:

evaluate the importance of the research of scientists in diverse cultures throughout history;

are creative when designing an investigation, and



judge data and justify conclusions.
Fifth grade students at the above mastery level in the nature of science:

explain the sequential relevance of the  research of scientists in diverse cultures throughout history;

determine the correct tools and apply skepticism when conducting an investigation, and

organize data to determine relationships of the variables within an experiment. 
Fifth grade students at the mastery level in the nature of science:

compare and contrast the research of scientists in diverse cultures throughout history;

use careful methodology and logical reasoning to safely conduct an investigation, and

support conclusions with observations and organized data. 
Fifth grade students at the partial mastery level in the nature of science:

describe the research of scientists in diverse cultures throughout history;


use safe procedures, proper tools, and scientific methods when conducting an investigation, and

base conclusions on observations and recorded data.
Fifth grade students at the novice level in the nature of science:

list scientists of diverse cultures and their inventions or discoveries;


follow the scientific method and use safety practices when conducting an investigation, and

base conclusions on observations and data.


Objectives
Students will

SC.O.5.1.01
realize that scientists formulate and test their explanations of nature using observation and experiments.

SC.O.5.1.02
recognize scientific knowledge is subject to modification as new scientific information challenges current explanations.

SC.O.5.1.03
examine the careers and contributions of men and women of diverse cultures to the development of science.

SC.O.5.1.04
compare and contrast the historical significance of scientific discoveries.

SC.O.5.1.05
cooperate and collaborate to ask questions, design and conduct investigations to find answers and solve problems.

SC.O.5.1.06
formulate conclusions through close observations, logical reasoning, objectivity, perseverance and integrity in data collection.

SC.O.5.1.07
apply skepticism, careful methods, logical reasoning and creativity in investigating the observable universe.

SC.O.5.1.08
use a variety of technologies and scientific instruments to conduct explorations, investigations and experiments of the natural world. 

SC.O.5.1.09
demonstrate safe techniques for handling, manipulating and caring for science materials, equipment, natural specimens and living organisms.

SC.O.5.1.10
utilize experimentation to demonstrate scientific processes and thinking skills (e.g., formulating questions, predicting, forming hypotheses, quantifying, or identifying dependent and independent variables).

SC.O.5.1.11
construct and use charts, graphs and tables to organize, display, interpret, analyze and explain data.

SC.O.5.1.12
use inferential reasoning to make logical conclusions from collected data.

Photo Analysis


This photo of President Barack shows a man that appears to be in turmoil.  The image is shot looking down upon the President and he is not making eye contact with the photographer.  It gives the illusion that he is in debate or other serious conversatio.  I am often amazed at how much grey has crept into his hair in the last four years, he no longer looks as youthful and vital.  His skin appears to be more sallow as well.  At first glance I believe that the background is insignificent, but after reviewing the Seven Lenses I am more likely to think that the jumbled background which is clearly and intentional out of focus was most like used to create a look of seriousness.  It inferes that the meeting or event which has the President appearing so serious is of such significence that no one took the time to "tidy up" for the cameras, it just wasn't important.  The same could be said for the open color and light colored shirt it makes him look more like an everyday Joe than he really is.


Here the President has obviously just enjoyed a tour of a US Coast Guard vessel and is feeling confident.  It is a casual, routine visit, with nothing too serious on his mind.  He has an entourage in tow and apprently he is comfortable as there is no obvious security.  He is smiling broadly and apparently there are few people in attendance.  But wait, isn't that the same shirt that he has on in the other photo?  Which of these tow display the real purpose of the visit?  Would the Secret Service leave the President openly unprotected or are the men on the right and left of him, in fact, his bodyguards.  It appears the the second to the right of the President is some part of the vessel in which they just left, but he does not rank in significence to be allowed to walk directly beside the Pres.  I'm a little confused about the "golfer" in the green shirt.  His khaki pants and polo shirt suggest a relaxed attitude, perhaps his next stop really is a golf course.

All of the seven senses have been engaged in evaluating these photographs, and I must admit I looked at them very differently after I read the reading than before.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Week #2, Activity #2

Watching the Robert Kubey video was a confirmation of what I have long believed.  Quite simply, you cannot believe what you hear and only half of what you see.  Kubey talks about the tactics commonly employed in media to "tell THEIR story."  These tactics include: "photoshopping" or graphically altering the appearance of individuals to give an illusion that supports the position of the advertiser, the use of smear tactics where less desirable characteristics are exploited or even completely fabricated, and the intentional distortion of the facts.  It is commonly held that the best comparison is apples to apples, but in politics and other race based advertising the key players try to convince the viewers that the round orange fruit you are seeing is really an apple, and those that do this well have you ready to make applecrisp.

I find it interesting the way some campaigns, such as Obama use scare tactics.  While Romney is known for pulling the race card, there are ways in which Obama does the same only in the reverse.  He frequently showcases how middle aged, white Americans have suffered from the policies of Romney and his Bain Investment Group.  In this mini-documentary Obama's campaign pulls out salt of the earth, steel workers to tell their story of job loss.  While one steelworker showcased is black, the majority focus is on the loss of jobs and income in a predominantly white neighborhood as a direct result of Romney and his company.

But then again, maybe that one guy is not really black, perhaps he was "shopped."

Sunday, August 26, 2012

A new idea? Double Journal Entry #1

Quote:
A major challenge in developing critical media literacy, however, results from the fact that it is not a pedagogy in the traditional sense, with firmly established principles, a canon of texts, and tried-and-true teaching procedures.”

Response:
From this reading I believe that technology presents unprecedented challenges in creating curriculum.  In the past, many aspects of “new” educational opportunities were limited in scope.  For instance in the 1950s and 1960s developing and adapting Home Economics curriculum was challenging, but fairly mainstream.  I have spoken with a retired teacher from that era and she felt that adapting was easy because it was “technology” that was in everyday life for all.  Today’s technology advancements are far less uniform and consistent.
In the race to introduce technology to students it has been thought that more technology sooner is better.  For instance, providing laptops to 3rd grades students who have not yet mastered penmanship has been popular in the Lewis County, West Virginia school system.  Yet, little to no consideration has been given to ensuring that students are adequately prepared to not only utilize the keyboard properly, but that they have the skills necessary for maintenance and care of equipment.
As in many subjects, technology education comes with no clear guidelines.  The once certainty is that all students learn at different rates and in different ways.  With the rapid advancement of technology as a teacher finds a new tool, develops new curriculum, and perfects the skill to be able to teach it, the technology will be on the way to being obsolete.

Supporting Resource:
In the paper by Ernest Morrell he focuses on the development of curriculum, for urban youth.  His discussion and outlook are relevant, but only to a specific population.  Will his theories working in different economic settings?  Are his ideas adaptable to other socioeconomic environments, and if they are they sustainable practices that will last longer than one or two years?
He puts forth the challenges of creating pedagogy in a particular environment yet summarily relies upon a recommendation from 1951 on the development of critical media literacies through curriculum.

Sources:
Kellner, D., & Share, J. (2005). Toward critical media literacy: Core concepts, debates, organizations, and policy. (3 ed., Vol. 26, p. 369). City: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. Retrieved from http://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/essays/2005_Kellner-Share_TowardsCriticalMediaLiteracy.pdf
Morrell, E., & Duncan-Andrade, J. (2005). Popular culture and critical media pedagogy in secondary literacy classrooms . (Vol. 12). Melbourne, Australia: Common Ground Publishing. Retrieved from http://www.ernestmorrell.com/images/International.Journal.Learning.2006.pdf

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Howdy, Hello, Hola!, Hiya

Another semester is underway.  Hard to believe that just 5 short Augusts ago I was beginning my educational journey.  Now I'm working towards my Masters in Education - who would have thunk it!

I'm settling into a new home in Fairmont and enjoying a 3 mile commute.  The space, peace and quiet are wonderful.  I keep busy with 2 jobs that I love.  I recently received an appointment as a Graduate Assistant at the Frank & Jane Gabor WV Folklife Center where I'm finishing up a project in the library that I've been working on for almost 2 years.  It's a great feeling to be almost done.  How many people can say "I created a library."  I've had some wonderful folks to work with over the last couple of years and have some incredible memories of the experience.

My short term educational goal is M.Ed. Dec. 2013 and then MLIS in 2015.  Then, well, I'll have to see if I'm ready to take some time off or perhaps continue on the educational path.

Animoto was fun.  I was delighted with how easy it was to use.  Here is a little about me.