Teaching Persuasive Writing/Awareness Using Spam Emails

A UK teacher writes: "As an English teacher, it was important to zoom in on the persuasive language techniques used in spam emails. By the end of the unit pupils could tell you that spam emails use terms of endearment to hook in the recipient, include hyperlinks to news articles to make their stories more plausible, describe accidents or impending threats to generate sympathy, and specify tight deadlines to make the deal seem juicier."

■Social media enhances classroom interaction, communication

Jonathan Golding, a University of Kentucky psychology professor, in this blog post shares his experiences using Facebook to create a sense of community in large classes. Facebook changed the rules of communication in his class, Golding writes, by creating interaction among students and by providing him with a way to communicate with students outside of class. "Also, for the first time with my large class, I had a similar sense of community as I have enjoyed when teaching a small class," Golding writes.

Getting Started With Media Literacy: It's Easier Than You Think

Here is another one of the occasional essays I have been writing for the education blog of USA Today.

Campaign 2012, The Media, & Media Literacy

Colleague Peter Guiterrez writes the pop culture blog for School Library Journal and this week, it's part one of an interview about the presidential campaign, media literacy and how library/media specialists can get involved in media education.

New Media Curriculum Announced: Adobe Youth Voices Essentials

The Adobe Foundation and Discovery Education have announced ADOBE YOUTH VOICES a partnership to provide curriculum and resources to help educators weave digital media making into their teaching practice and actively engage students in gaining critical technology skills. Curriculum includes: Video Narratives; Techniques for Capturing Quality Audio; Animation and more.

Filmmaking As A Classroom Tool

A Howard County (MD) teacher works to integrate filmmaking into the curriculum for all interested students, not just those taking gifted-and-talented classes, to stimulate creativity and self-expression.

Remembering Barry Duncan

Media educator Barry Duncan is recalled and honored in this and other postings.