Somni Porta
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”
― Malcolm X
When I first began to read this article, this quote first came to my mind. In the day of age that we live in, technology is taking over… scratch that.. Technology is not taking over, but working side by side with humanity to make a more productive society (hince the birth of Digital Literacy). Just as we have different generations growing up with different resources; this surely applies to this generation of learners growing with technology.
For this week’s reading, it dives into the idea of accepting the use of social media in the context of education and understanding students. Be open as an educational professional, we must try to accept different forms of education that is lattered out for our youth. With that said, preparing and encouraging our students to use their digital platform to both obtain and distribute is what we want to see as educators.
The idea of “open learning” was first introduced in the reading with this quote: “They argued that the educational agenda should focus not on getting things into kids’ heads but on supporting contexts where kids could belong participate, and contributed.” The idea of voice (which was theme in my final project for last semester’s Writing Theories and Practice course). The reading then goes on to talk about how to subscribe to progressive learning. I take this as giving learning for practical uses. If the technology is around us anyway, why not use it?
Ito uses this word, “positive deviants”, I just found it so delightful! Even though we are just make good with our students and the age technology; the idea of try to combine the media world of our students into the classroom makes us in this movement somewhat of deviants. At least that is the way I see it. But to go on, it most obvious of what we as educator what not to enforce, but encourage for our students in the age of the tweets, posts, and open net learners: we need to make them resourceful young people to take their based learning and connect it to in-school, civic, or career-relevant settings (chpt 4 pg 93). Being a student in the M.A. English Writing Studies Students, I have been able to grow, learn, and use my digital citizenship in a way that is productive for both my classroom discuss setting and career building. Thank you Dr. Zamora!
Getting to the latter parts of the article, we get on the on going debate of the us of Wikipedia in the academic setting. As must know, Wiki be edited by just about anyone; hence why most educator are not confident in the use of it when gathering information for research. But most interestingly enough, the reading talks about a select students who had use Moby-Dick and Wiki to make something must scholars would dream to make; open resource and information. I was not so much interested in the topic, but what the students produced and what they learned from this experience. Gaining that confidence and skill to contribute to on going community of curious readers and produce of education is the environment and feeling that we want our students to delve in. Using the knowledge and education as passports that get ready to be our future scholars of today and on!
The Culture of Grabbing Your Attention!
That word Participatory culture has been used a lot within our Net Narr class. Just to classify for my non Net Narrians of what Participatory culure is:
Participatory culture, an opposing concept to consumer culture, is a culture in which private individuals (the public) do not act as consumers only, but also as contributors or producers (prosumers) (Wikipedia) .
When reading this article, I wish Katie Salen was in my coming of age in the fandom of anime! Us “games and geeks” needed this opens of accepting to what we felt was important to give to the community. I am actually happy to see these being implemented into an educational space, ready to produce this into the world. Working in STEM targeted extracurricular setting, the openness and support of games, fandom, and special interest are supported. One class that I had the please of teaching was Girls Who Code, where the girls use the open web to support and distribute their unique fandom. Whether it was the latest anime, Korean Boy Bands, obsession with manga, and then some, it was very interesting how deep these young ladies with into research when they truly enjoyed the topic of research. Why can’t this same energy be transferred into a traditional classroom setting?
To go even further, as I was continuing to make edits to my blog post, one my very intuitive students watched me as I was adding more media to this blog post. He saw that I was uploading a video on my YouTube channel, he proceed to tell me about his YouTube channel (mind you, this kid is only in the 2nd Grade!). He was enthusiastic about the working I was doing that he wanted to tell me more about his channel. I decided do a short voice recorded interview with him, enjoy!
To go on, I did a bit of outside reading to delve deeper into transferring Participatory culture into the classroom:
This article was a great way to tie in both this reading and the second reading. When want our students to be active in the information that is being introduced into our online society, but we must gear them to do so. The same way we teach them the essential skills they will need to go into society and be productive citizens, what makes the online life any different? Please take an extra read at the article I have hyperlinked above to get an more in depth understanding of the quote.
Another interesting point that was brought up into the topic of conversation is the compensation of creating content online as Participatory online citizens. I am not exactly sure when this article was written but it brings up the content of YouTube. In the day of age that we live in currently, many people actually making a living from creating videos on YouTube. Becoming these famous YouTubers. They are paid by how many subscribers and views they have. Wow! What a way to make money. The reason behind my interest in this matter is that our student can be among this community but in an educational contribution. A prime example I can give is my own YouTube page! Between my graduate and scholarly work, I upload content that would be most beneficial to those seeking knowledge in my content of study. Who’s to say we cant do that with our students now?
Interactive Art Practice as Connected Learning: An Artist Critique
Even though the readings were very engaging and very much needed! I truly enjoyed seeing my love and new interest brought to life; an art installation describing the on going connections from the past, present, and bright future! The takeaway I took from this piece is how the red thread represents the the connections and warmth through the way communication works. Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. But for the sake of this piece, I see the red focusing on energy, strength, power, and passion that forms when connecting with others. As for the intertwine of the sting, it truly represents that communication and connects do not haw a uniformed or particular way in which they are formed.
Open Street Map Haiku: Haiku of a Jersey Girl
I also wanted to add in this cool video I made using the Open Street Map Haiku application. It was so cool that I thought I should share it on this post!
One reply on “Empowering Our Youth to be Productive Digital Citizens.”
There is Ms. P again engaging her students in a fun, innovative way! Part of the interactive participatory culture. The haiku video is also indicative of how you immerse yourself in art and culture and put your technological spin on things and the music really enhanced the experience.