All Blog Posts (229)

Homer's Odyssey on Twitter

I'm laughing so hard I can hardly breathe!! Check out this version of The Odyssey done in Tweet format! Some inappropriate comments but would SO be a hit in a HS classroom:
http://cdn.holytaco.com/www/sites/default/files/images/ithacarulerdotcom_twitter1_sized.jpg

Added by Kelly Farrow on April 9, 2009 at 8:15am — 1 Comment

NCSS' New Policy Statement on Media Literacy

Media educator Jeff Share, a past member of the NCTE Commission on Media, has asked me to share this news. The National Council for the Social Studies has recently published a new position statement on media literacy. It is a very important move that NCSS has both recognized and recommended media literacy be taught as part of social studies instruction. The statement, which Jeff helped write, can be found here. Please consider… Continue

Added by Frank W. Baker on April 5, 2009 at 1:16pm — No Comments

We Are Everywhere Youth Summit

My students are organizing a youth summit that will combine hip-hop, social activism and social movements, and any unconventional arts integration. The summit is titled "We Are Everywhere", motivated by the book with the same title about anti-globalism movements around the world. The event will be held at our school, the Multicultural Arts School in Chicago, on May 21 and we are hoping to attract 300-500 youth from the Chicago area. One of the projects that my Popular Kultures classes is… Continue

Added by Raven on April 5, 2009 at 11:18am — No Comments

Teaching Watchmen at the High School Level

Recently, I wrote an Op Ed piece on Graphic Novel Reporter about my experiences teaching the Watchmen. Some exciting things have happened as a result of my teaching the novel here at Williamsport Area High School. One of the other English teachers will be borrowing my class set and teaching Watchmen for herself. And last weekend, my cousin took her daughter to Hot Topic, and some Watchmen fanatic started talking to her. He said that he heard some guy was teaching the book at the high school. My… Continue

Added by John C. Weaver on March 17, 2009 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

Barack Obama Poster Parodies

Everyone, by now, has seen the famous, colorful Barack Obama poster that debuted during the election season. But how many of us have seen the various parody posters that were created, as a result of the original? I invite you, once again, to surf over to The Media Literacy Clearinghouse for a look. Frank Baker

Added by Frank W. Baker on March 10, 2009 at 8:00pm — 2 Comments

new column: teaching with comics

I guess I'm sounding a pretty one-note tune here: self-promotion and comics. But hey--go with your strengths, that's what I always say.

This month's column at Comixology is a reflection on some of the issues raised at my NYCC panel, "Graphic Novels and Academic Acceptance." That session forced me to rethink even more the recalculations about how comics fit into curricula, a process begun at the Graphica conference at Fordham in late January.…

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Added by Karen on March 6, 2009 at 9:19pm — 4 Comments

Visual Grammar lesson for HS history

This amazing lesson on deconstructing WWII posters is British but would be a great additional to a HS (or advanced MS) history class: http://aspirations.english.cam.ac.uk/converse/movies/visual_grammar.swf . Kids get to look at WWII propaganda posters and decide which emotions are being appealed to (excuse the passive voice!!) by each one.

Added by Kelly Farrow on March 5, 2009 at 3:31pm — 5 Comments

Gcast - instant podcast from your classroom!

Have your students give a daily recap of what they learned, podcast directly from a field trip, or say pretty much anything on an insta-podcast! All you need is a cell phone. Check it out at gcast.com. I plan to use this w/ my first-grade gifted and talented program; at the end of each session, one lucky kid will get to give the daily diary of what we did, plus one other shout-out they feel like doing!

Added by Kelly Farrow on March 4, 2009 at 7:08pm — 3 Comments

Graphic Novels, Movies, and Recap of Media Literacy at Comic Con

Just a quick potpourri here to let everyone know what I'm up to; I'm really heartened by all the graphic novel and film folks here -- as well as all the great resources that Ryan and others keep posting.

1. First, I have a new piece in Screen Education magazine that's for primary and middle level educators: "Using Genre as a Springboard: A New Approach to Critical Analysis." If you're unfamiliar with this magazine, it's absolutely amazing -- wish we had something like it in… Continue

Added by Peter Gutierrez on February 21, 2009 at 8:44am — 4 Comments

Inspiring Interest in Literature With Manga

Teacher Angela Youngman examines how Manga novels might be used to inspire children in school towards an interest in literature.

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 18, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Video Games in The English Language Arts Classroom

Michael Dezuanni, a media literacy educator at Queensland University of Technology (Australia), writes on his blog about the use of videogames as another multi-modal text ELA teachers should consider.

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 17, 2009 at 8:56am — No Comments

Call for Proposals: International Visual Literacy Association

Critically Engaging the 21st Century Learner in Visual Worlds and Virtual Environments

41st Annual Conference

International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA)

www.ivla.org

CALL for PROPOSALS

Proposals due: March 21st 2009

DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois- USA

October 6-9, 2009

You are cordially invited to submit a proposal for the 41st Annual Conference of the International Visual Literacy… Continue

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 15, 2009 at 10:53pm — No Comments

New/recommended book: Television and American Culture

Fellow media educator Jason Mittell sends along this announcement about his new book, just published by Oxford University Press. You can find more info at the companion website , and the official OUP site , including how to request a review copy for faculty interested in adoption.

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 14, 2009 at 8:51am — No Comments

Call for Entries: NCTE Annual Media Literacy Teacher Award

The NCTE Commission on Media is proud to announce that it will award the fourth annual Media Literacy Award at the NCTE Annual Convention in Philadelphia. Previous award winners are profiled here. The deadline for applications for the 2009 award is Monday, June 15, 2009. The award winner will be notified by the end of August. The award will be presented at… Continue

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 7, 2009 at 9:31pm — No Comments

Stony Brook (NY) Summer HS News Literacy Institute Invites Teachers.....

The Stony Brook University’s Center for News Literacy is seeking applications from high school teachers for an innovative two week summer program in News Literacy. News Literacy is an emerging discipline designed to teach students how to use their critical thinking skills to judge the reliability of news reports. Funded by a grant from the Ford Foundation, the Center will select up to 50 fellows for the summer of 2009 to participate in a two-week program that will include a condensed version of… Continue

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 6, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Using Popular Magazine Covers to Teach Media/Visual Literacy/Informational Text Features

On my website, I have just uploaded a one page printable activity that you might consider for your students. Let me know what you think. Frank Baker PS There is a similar activity on the media/politics page involving TIME magazine covers of Obama and McCain.

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 6, 2009 at 8:44am — No Comments

a few takes on teaching with comics

I have a new column up today at comiXology, and I think it might be of particular interest to this group:

http://www.comixology.com/articles/186/Teach-Your-Children-Well

It looks at a few different takes on teaching with comics that I've come across over the past few weeks.

Enjoy!

Added by Karen on February 6, 2009 at 7:23am — 3 Comments

Hip-Hop In The Classroom (downloadable curriculum)

This might be of interest: Art Sanctuary, a non-profit organization out of North Philadelphia, has compiled an excellent Hip-Hop Curriculum Guide to teach students about writing, reading and critical thinking through an analysis on hip-hop culture. With units on language in context, genre, identity and media literacy, this is one of the most thorough and unique academic approaches to studying hip-hop. Best of all, it’s aligned to standards for language arts and social studies. Read through it… Continue

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 4, 2009 at 12:56pm — 3 Comments

Using WALL E in the Science Classroom

If you've seen the Disney/Pixar film WALL E, then you know the film has many implications for the science classroom. (If you haven't seen it, shame on you!) Anyway, the current issue of NSTA Reports contains a nice recommendation for how to use the film in a physics setting.

Added by Frank W. Baker on February 4, 2009 at 8:52am — No Comments

What would you text the President about Education?

Hello Curriculum-Poppers!

As a video producer at AfterEd TV, I've been torn between having to put out a video every 3 weeks (or so) and wanting to integrate my reflections and critical reflection on media, technology and computer-mediated communication. What role do ICT and mobile media play in the lives of our students? How do they see barriers and divides between their out-of-school media-rich life and the slightly sheltered, firewall-rich in-school… Continue

Added by Doug Beacom on February 3, 2009 at 8:27am — No Comments