1# - Navigating the Digital World
From the second I had my hands on technology, I have been abundantly connected to "participatory cultures," as mentioned in the text, "Executive Summary, Needed Skills, and Enabling Participation" (Jenkins). The first form of media that I had joined was Instagram. Retrospectively, I joined a bit too young. At the ripe age of 12ish, I discovered Instagram as a way to create and share photos I found interesting. Through that, I found an outlet to express and share photos with the world (my 5 or so followers)! Later on, I adopted digital literacies such as Pinterest and Tumblr. More platforms that allowed for and encouraged creativity, expression, and individuality.
As I grew older, I began to dive into the digital literacy of editing. Video, picture, and movie editing were all the rage for me. I spent hours creating and inventing plots, stories, and videos into iMovie. This skill was something I enjoyed so much, I just had to implement it into all areas of my life.
In relation to the text "Cultivating Digital and Popular Literacies as Empowering and Emancipatory Acts Among Urban Youth," (Haddix & Sealey-Ruiz), bringing in digital literacies can have great benefits within an Urban ELA classroom. Digital literacies act as another method for culturally relevant teaching, as students can have a chance to implement their own stories using tools that they are likely already familiar with.
As represented by my middle school video project, I got the chance to dig deeper into a text, and explore it in a new medium. Therefore, as a future ELA teacher, I hope to offer opportunities to create projects using digital literacies that students may be familiar with such as Tiktok, so they too have the chance to bring in their own experiences in a way that is engaging and challenging.
I'm glad your teacher let you use another media format! As a student who chose (and still chooses) essay every time, it's encouraging to see how alternative assignments actually provide value to those who prefer different mediums.
ReplyDeleteAll this talk about participatory culture makes me reflect on todays pedagogy. Incentives on Pinterest are intrinsic, and rewards are typically the individual goals we have when we choose to use the platform at all. Yet, education today would place these exciting, motivating pursuits into the constraints of testing, standards, and due dates. I wonder: can we take away those constraints, foster hard work, and reap knowledge all at the same time?
Hey Melanie! Just like your Draw Your Life example, I have also participated in opportunities to dig deeper into a project and lead my own learning. I believe that allowing students an opportunity to participate through their own trial and error as testing the waters with technology will teach them more than any traditional route. With your example as proof, to this day you have not forgotten this lesson and it has lived with you forever.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience of creating a video project in middle school. It is insightful to hear about first-hand experiences with digital media in the classroom. I think that allowing students to have creative freedom with their projects is beneficial for their learning. Creative freedom creates excitement and is a great way to get students engaged in their learning.
ReplyDeleteHow creative and courageous of you to suggest an additional way to do the essay project. I'd love to see the projects you made if you are willing to share them. Your future students may love seeing them as well ;)
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