A2 Media Homework Assignment

An MYP Design Tech project by students in Shanghai was recently brought to my attention by a 21st century tech teacher blogger who I follow on Twitter.  The Design Tech students in Shanghai "were asked to design and develop an authentic...advertisement ."  Each student student is looking for 50 useful and productive comments on their ads.  

Since this semester our focus has been Media and Culture, this is a good opportunity for you to examine and respond to the work of these students.  Go to the Design Tech blog page and choose 5 blogs/adverts to look at and comment on.  Remember...

• Be honest, yet polite.
• Use appropriate language.

Quiet! Please!!

I've been of the mind lately that it would be really good for me to have a taste of my own medicine. In this case the "medicine" to which I refer is student assignments. Yes, I've been thinking that I should complete the assignments that I ask my students to do. Not a novel concept by any stretch of the imagination. Modeling how it's done is always good for students. Now that I'm here, I find this self-imposed challenge slightly daunting. Well, here goes...

The latest assignment is of a progressive nature. It's ongoing. I like to call it the IME: the Independent Media Exploration. I can't help it, I like to give assignments important-sounding names. I am fully aware that most students see right through my grandiose verbage, but what the heck?! Shouldn't I get to have some fun, too?? I digress...

The IME offers students three options for the exploration of the effects of the media. The objective is universal but students can either demonstrate their deeper understanding through 1) article analysis, 2) media log, or 3) blog. Not surprisingly, several students have gone for the blog idea. I have only seen the blogs of two of them so far and I must say I'm pleased (especially when they are both so excited by their first blog posts that they share their urls so that I can check them out toute de suite). Bravo!

As it turns out, both students have touched on a common thread in their posts written independently of each other. In her first blog post, titled I can't hear myself think, Anmar identifies the intrusion of the media in her life.

"I go to sleep, and when I wake up in the morning I get a million BBMs (oh the next best thing ever:)) asking me what I’m doing and telling me what they’re doing (I think if I cared, I’d ask). Then, I receive a thousand emails informing me about the latest gadgets and the hottest restaurants; when we all know that in a few weeks something new will come along and it’s just going to be “so 10 minutes ago”."

Explained with stereotypical teenage hyperbole and sarcasm, she captures the attitude of many of us, young and older-than-young, who are inundated by all of the media that is available for our consumption whether we want it or not.

There's nothing worse than trying to be productive, think deeply, and create with all of the endless interruptions: text chime, email alert chime, 6 tabs (minimum) open in the browser in order to keep an eye on Facebook, Yahoo! headlines, YouTube videos, Turnitin.com to (maybe) read/score student essays, a live stream playing in the background from my hometown NPR affiliate, Google search results, and foodgawker (just to gawk, of course!). This is just a normal day of trying to get things done in my little world of too many distractions. (Yes, I know. I can turn them all off anytime I want to.) If I'm planning a teaching unit, need some information for a lesson, well...the possibilities for browser tabs become virtually infinite. Choice is a good thing, but too much choice is hard to manage!!

As a result of overload, I am need of alone time at some point, many points, ANY point!!! Alone time. Time to think, reflect, plan, veg, chillax, read, even sleep! Too much media and not enough quiet time makes for a very cranky and run-down me. Even my family recognizes this simple fact and they allow me time to honor the quiet.

I often worry that today's youth don't get enough time to sit quietly and think deep thoughts. Of, even if they do, that they really don't see the value. Time is precious and there's always something to demand it from us. Much to my relief, both student bloggers identify this need in their posts. YEAH! Teenagers do recognize that it's useful to just turn it all off and be alone. Anmar's opening words seem like a confession of sorts.

"Sometimes, I need a break. From everything. I mean… EVERYTHING! Yes, technology and media too."

Bader's post focuses on how he uses the medium of music to find a way to "be alone with [his] thoughts." An instrumental background does have a way of helping to guide us within ourselves as do meditation, yoga, and running (among many other activities). So, in essence, we can quell the imposing and distracting elements of the media with those that are more relaxing and quiet. Use the media to create a quiet place within ourselves to escape from the noise created by the media. Brilliant!

Moot Camp

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Elements of a Plot Diagram

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Singapore Math Podcast

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What is a Shakespearean Sonnet?

Here is an enhanced podcast that will help you to learn, or review, the important elements of a Shakespearean sonnet.

Shakespearean Sonnets

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Four Steps Podcast

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Mrs. Botbyl - Intro

Identity Book Entry #3: PERSONAL TOTEM

Totem poles are an Aboriginal form of art. Totem poles were once carved and raised to represent a family clan, its kinship system, its dignity, its accomplishments, its prestige, its adventures, its stories, its right and prerogatives. Contrary to belief, they were never used for worship or have any religious significance but were used to record history for those who had no written language. A totem pole served, in essence as the emblem of a family or a clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry.

In general, a totem pole means:

“This is who we are; these carvings symbolically show what we stand for.”

“Groups of faces and figures piled one on top of the next, woven into patterns with repeating shapes combine along the height of the totem pole to produce a mystical portrayal of something wondrous.” The figures that make up the totem have their own significant value and story. The top figures on the pole are last significant while the bottom figures are the most significant. Likewise with size; the larger figures are more important than the smaller ones.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

Your task is to create a “personal totem” in two-dimensional form. This totem must be a symbolic image of you and your life. The totem must have a minimum of four levels but you can choose what you want to represent. Remember that totems are symbolic so use your imagination when creating it. You may want to draw it or use cut out shapes and pictures. Here are some category ideas you may want to represent:

• Accomplishments
• Academics
• Family Traditions
• Family
• Friends
• Values
• Interests
• Dreams/Goals
• Philosophy of life
• Others???????

Be sure you put the most important aspect of your life on the bottom and the lesser important on the top. Think about using size, shapes, colour, lines, texture, balance, and focal points to create meaning.

Once you have created your totem you must provide a written explanation of each level. Explain the symbolic significance of each object and the significance of the colour, shape, lines, texture, and balance. All of these techniques produce meaning. (This is called being metaphorical).

I am not expecting a grand artistic masterpiece. We are not all artistic. I am looking for your ability to think symbolically and metaphorically.

Identity Book Entry #2: Me in a Song

Songs are a form of poetry that speaks to people through words and music. We all have songs that touch us deeply for whatever reason; maybe they remind us of a situation we have been through or maybe they remind us of ourselves. Your assignment is to find a song that does just this. The whole song may speak to you or just a few lines may really affect you.

This assignment will have 2 parts: ID Book entry and oral presentation.

This is what you need to do for the ID Book entry:

1. Find a song that speaks to you and type out the lyrics. Type these lyrics into your ID Book.
2. Add visuals around the lyrics that reflect the meaning of the song.
3. Write a response (minimum 300 words) to the song explaining why you chose this song (i.e. what is it about the song that makes you reflect on your life?). In your response, refer to specific lines as you write and discuss the meaning of those lines. Be sure you put quotation marks around any lines you quote. In your response, you need a topic sentence a detailed discussion and a concluding sentence.
4. Paste the response on the following page and add a variety of visuals that reflect what you have written down. You may want to add mementos and pictures.
   

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This is what you need to do for the oral presentation:

1. Put the lyrics onto an overhead transparency (font 16) or a power point presentation and have these displayed as you present.
2. Begin your presentation by reading the lines from the song that are significant to you OR if the entire song is significant begin by giving the class a brief summary of the song.
3. Present your response to the class. Do not read from your paper. Know what you have written well enough that you only have to use your notes as a guide.
4. This should be no longer than 3 minutes. If your response is longer than this you will need to cut out some parts for the presentation.

ID BOOK - ENTRY #1

Identity Book

IDENTITY BOOK - Entry #1: Who am I?

Part 1

Write a response to the general question: “Who am I?” The response should be at least one page in length, typed and single-spaced. I am looking for well-organized paragraphs that deal with the different aspects of who you are.

Include details about your physical appearance that are easy to describe and not too personal (i.e. age, sex, height, hair color, eye color, etc.). You should also include descriptions of things that make you unique – your smile, your walk, the kind of clothes you wear and the things that your friends identify with your personality. Try to be as specific as you can.

Furthermore, include information about your goals, achievements, ambitions, and dreams. What are the things that you have done that made you proud and what do you plan to do next? Mention your hobbies and strengths. Also, mention your beliefs and your insecurities. All of these things make up your personal identity.

Do not simply just list your traits. Go into depth about your dreams and goals. Why are your hobbies interesting and valuable to you? Where do your beliefs originate and how do they shape your personality? These are the types of questions that in-depth writing will address.

The written section will be checked for completion next class.

Part 2
Add creative and visual elements to your written response to the question above. This entry is not complete until it includes visuals that add to your answer to the question,

”Who am I?”

You can use visuals that represent your progress through life to this point. Get pictures from when you were a little kid or baby up until now. Include some pictures of places you have lived and people you have known, plot them on a “life map”! Start with birth and carry on past now as long as you like – even include your future. Do not forget to include lots of color, dates, special occasions, places, people, pets, clothes, toys, vacation, and stories!

HELPFUL HINT! Do not use too big of a piece of paper or you will take forever trying to fill it! Instead, gather all of the images that you are going to use on your map first, then spread it all out and sort of arrange it – this should help you see the size of paper to use! Place the images around your written section, or put them on a different page. You decide!

When completed, this entry will form the first entry in your Identity Book

To the students of E.T.U.

Greetings aliens!

Here is your task...

1. Imagine that you are an alien who has justed landed on Earth. You have had no previous contact with human beings or their society. You only had time to study English language before your journey.
   
2. Upon arriving on Earth you are eager to learn as much as you can about this society. Your first resource in understanding happens to be a section of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. You read it thoroughly.
3. After reading this first resource you must report back to the citizens on your home planet. Based on this reading selection you must make some assumptions about what human beings are like, what their daily life is like, what their feelings and opinions are, how they treat each other, any impressions or judgments that you have based on what you have learned by reading A Christmas Carol. Tell your friends back at home what you think! (One page/about 250 - 300 words/double-spaced/12 point font)

Enjoy!

P.S. Do NOT send me your assignment via email or this blog!

Animal Farm Response 1

Greetings Dear Students,

Thank you for checking in as instructed.

For your first 'blog' assignment, you will need to respond to the following question...

• In your opinion why did the animals rebel against Farmer Jones and mankind in general?
• If you are new to UAS and did not read "Animal Farm", give your opinion about why people rebel against governments.
  

Your response should be in the form of a paragraph. How many words? 30 - 50.

Please post your response by clicking the 'Comment' option at the end of this post. A new screen will pop-up which will allow you to type and edit your response much like using any word processing program.

Your response must be posted before 7:45 a.m on Sunday, September 2, 2007

Enjoy!

Greetings + Summer Readings

Greetings UAS 9th grade English students!

Thank you so much for stopping by the class blog. Here you will find some resources that, I hope, will help you with your summer reading assignment. You should have read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Animal Farm by George Orwell. I will deal with each of these works below.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Firstly, you can access a free e-book version of this work online at the project Gutenberg site, or here is a free downloadable pdf version that will require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you prefer to hold a real book in your hands you'll have to find it at a bookstore in Kuwait or see me since a have a couple of copies.

I am going to refer to you comprehension questions that you can use to guide your reading and to check your own understanding of your reading.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

I have also found a free e-book version of Animal Farm that you can read online. Downloading e-book versions is not free, but can be done for about 1KD here.

Here are some useful comprehension questions to guide your reading and to check your understanding of your reading.

In general, these stories are not difficult reading. If you pace yourself and spend 20 - 30 minutes reading each day, you should easily have your summer reading finished well before the school year begins. Waiting until the last minute (like the night before school begins!) will create stress in your life. Avoid this stress by doing a little bit of the reading every day.

If you have any questions about summer reading or 9th grade English, feel free to contact me and I'll help when I can.

Enjoy your summer reading!

Values and Beliefs

The chapter 2 lesson/discussion explores the ways in which personal/societal values and beliefs are used by characters in the novel to further their own ends.

How can interpretation of values and beliefs alter the way in which a society progresses into the future?

Nuclear Holocaust

Perhaps one of the biggest concerns of modern time is the use of nuclear weapons. Movies have been made depicting life after the explosion of an atomic bomb in a major city. World history of the past 75 years records the actual use of and consequences of such weapons.

What do you know about the history of nuclear holocaust? When have nuclear weapons been used? What have the consequences been of nuclear weapons? Some ideas to jog your memory: Hiroshima, Chernobyl, World War II...

(Hint: In this question the word "holocaust" is used to mean trauma, devastation of a serious magnitude NOT as a title for what happened in Germany during the 1940s!)

I, Robot commentary

Please post your general comments, reactions, thoughts about the world represented in the I, Robot selections that you have read for class.

Modern Day Utopias

In reflecting on our discussion in class on utopia and dystopia works (literature, movies, etc.), can you think of any modern day attempts to create utopia? What are the implications? Indications of dystopia?