New Online Masters Program in Media Literacy

Webster University School of Communications (St. Louis, Missouri-USA) will offer an Online Master’s Degree in Media Literacy beginning January 2011. For more information contact Tyann Cherry cherry@webster.edu

It's NOT about the technology: it's about learning

The senior editor of ISTE's Learning & Leading with Technology (November 2010 issue)
examines what we mean when we say 21st century learning. (NOTE: this essay becomes active on November 1) There's a multitude of great ideas and resources in each issue of L&L: you might want to consider joining ISTE and subscribing.

Constructing Digital Commonplace Texts Using Diigo, VoiceThread, VideoAnt, and YouTube Annotations in the Classroom

Nice instructional video presentation by Professor Richard Beach.

Media literacy focus of Summer Conference in Philly

Mark your calendars: The National Assn of Media Literacy Education's 2011 conference is coming to Philadelphia in July.

What's there to do in Philly? Plenty !
Take a look: http://namle.net/conference/philadelphia-information/
The Call for Proposals is open (until January 7)
Submissions here: http://namle.net/conference/call-for-proposals/
Hope to see you there

NCTE Webinar: Looking Deeper At Informational Texts- November 3

I hope you might consider joining me next Wednesday (November 3) when I host LOOKING DEEPER AT INFORMATIONAL TEXTS, a webinar for NCTE. With more emphasis being placed on informational texts in the NAEP annual assessments, I will be showcasing a variety of texts for teachers to consider using in their classrooms. In considering what types of texts to use with students, I suggest thinking “outside the box.” One suggestion is to retain the “junk mail” that the post office delivers almost every day.

Novels on Tiny Screens

Sales of smart phones and electronic reading devices are strong as ever in Japan, and one literary genre in particular continues to capture the heart of middle school girls.

Calls for Pediatricians to Promote Media Literacy & Reading

"Pediatricians need to become educated about the public health risks of media," say the study's authors in a new policy statement. "Given the impact that media have on the health of children and adolescents, AAP chapters and districts, as well as medical schools and residency training programs, should ensure that ongoing education in this area is a high priority."

This story was posted on the School Library Journal website.

New Media Gallery @ NCTE 2010

You’ve heard of blogs, wikis, and nings, but you’re wondering how to use them in your classroom? We have some exciting possibilities on exhibit at our New Media Gallery, Friday, November 19, 2010 from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in the Coronado Resort, Monterrey Room 1. Sponsored by NCTE’s Commission on Media, the New Media Gallery can be your “one-stop shopping” location for all things related to new literacies.

List of sessions here. Help us promote the gallery: download and post this flyer.

A How-to When Using Wikis With Elementary Students

Some elementary-school teachers are using wikis to manage classroom projects, facilitate student collaboration and as a portal for parents to view students' work. The technology provides a medium for allowing students to develop content with a broader audience in mind, one teacher said. "That's pretty powerful, and it prompts them to be more conscientious about the quality and depth of their writing." But wikis pose challenges, requiring teachers to keep an eye on the content students are posting and track multiple passwords. (Source: T.H.E.Journal)

FOCUS ON PHOTOGRAPHY: A CURRICULUM GUIDE

From the International Center of Photography: The FOCUS ON PHOTOGRAPHY: A CURRICULUM GUIDE is an exceptional resource for those at all levels of experience in teaching and in photography, designed to inform educators about the many possibilities and interdisciplinary applications of photographic education in school and after-school settings (grades K-12). (NOTE: revised with new link to resource above)

(Some) Schools Embracing Students' Mobile Tech

News story documents the promises, practices and challenges of cell phone use in schools

Copyright, digital media literacies and preservice teacher education

This article considers copyright knowledge and skills as a new literacy that can be developed through the application of digital media literacy pedagogies. Digital media literacy is emerging from more established forms of media literacy that have existed in schools for several decades and have continued to change as the social and cultural practices around media technologies have changed. Changing requirements of copyright law present specific new challenges for media literacy education because the digitisation of media materials provides individuals with opportunities to appropriate and circulate culture in ways that were previously impossible. This article discusses a project in which a group of preservice media literacy educators were introduced to knowledge and skills required for the productive and informed use of different copyrights frameworks. The students’ written reflections and video production responses to a series of workshops about copyright are discussed, as are the opportunities and challenges provided by copyright education in preservice teacher education.

Digital Storytelling 101: Tools, Rubrics & Storyboards

It’s always a struggle to decide how to grade creative projects, so thankfully the folks at Discovery Education have already thought about this and provided some fine options for grading digital storytelling.

17 Digital Storytelling and Literacy Resources for Kids

Here is a column, written by an ESL educator,and posted on a Tech Learning website, that is designed to inform teachers of some of the best websites for teaching digital storytelling and literacy.

Five Ideas for How to use Flip cameras in the classroom.

Ideas from educators from a recent issue of Scholastic's INSTRUCTOR magazine.

Student-Generated Video Web Site Teaches Visual Communications Skills

Teachers have free access to virtual field trips and other digital educational resources through Meet Me at the Corner, a repository of educational videos that's moderated to ensure relevance and educational value. It also helps train kids to produce their own video podcasts and create documentaries they can share with their peers around the world. (THE Journal)

Is there still room for using with the print newspaper in a digital world?

The Newspapers-in-Education intitiative still has legs in some Missouri/Iowa/Illinois classrooms and teachers explain why.

Ideas for Using Flip Cams In Instruction

You can begin creating a 21st century learning environment today with one of the easiest and least expensive to use technologies out there...the flip camera.