"Impressionable Minds, Indelible Images" was a good article, but where do we go from here? i suppose we could find ways of mirroring advertising tactics to those utilized in class presentations, arguments, and thesis statements. But that sounds boring even to me! Any ideas? Maybe i could create a brand of literature-based fashion and reward students with them and create some elaborate extra credit plan in which you are rewarded for wearing my lit clothes....
"Moving My English Class to the Computer Lab" was another good article. I was surprised by the survey results... i actually thought fewer kids would've read for pleasure and more would have been busier texting. Hooray, Youth! i really liked the example Tarasiuk offers with setting up a wiki-site; though i must admit i have no idea how to do this. i guess there's no choice but to learn, to offer these kids any assistance they need. i really liked the final project too. i think there are very few kids ( despite their apparent apathy ) who do not truly enjoy being creative. and this desire will often lead them to do double the amount of work they are required to do.
Whether it's fashion or sports or school projects i feel students are always looking for a way to be creative and to express themselves...even if that is creativly pretending that they are so bored with like school and like reading and all the like drama of high school and then rush home to facebook, text, and watch Jersey Shore. And we think we as teachers have a tough time:)
You make a good point. Students are craving a way to express themselves. Maybe incorperatiing technology in the classroom may be a way to do this. Unfortunately this also may stifle some students creativity.
ReplyDeleteThe wiki idea....I think that I like this idea ONLY if the concept that this is a site in which ANYONE can write ANYTHING down, and submit it is known...I did have to do a wiki page two years ago for my Astronomy class. I learned a lot from doing it, and it was something different, which interested me.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by the survey results as well. I thought the same thing by the amount of students who read for pleasure. I work at a daycare with school age kids. Out of all the kids I have, I only see about one or two kids who read for pleasure.
ReplyDeleteOur students will be looking for ways to be creative, just like the way they express themselves through what they wear. Incorporting technology (like the wiki-sites) will allow for creativity and individuality, but we have to do it in a way that involves both the new and the old. We can never forget about the contemporary concepts because they are just as important.
"even if that is creativly pretending that they are so bored with like school and like reading and all the like drama of high school"
ReplyDeleteHahaha. Good laugh. I agree, though. I do think students crave creativity. And who knows, if we (the teachers) provide creativity in the classroom, students may be less likely to seek out Facebook and Jersey Shore for their "creativity."
As I read your last paragraph, I couldn't help but think about how books series like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars can reach high school students. Before becoming popular teen drama shows on television, they were best selling books series. When I worked at the public library in high school, those two particular series were always checked out. Now of days, famous reality show stars like Lauren Conrad and Jersey Shore cast members have books out. I think of the best ways to reach students is to give them material that they are interested in.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, kids always want to express themselves, and even if they don't realize it, it is done through creativity. I think by emphasizing more creative lesson plans into the curriculum, it will get students attention instead of them rushing home to do all of the things you mentioned. Yet nothing will ever eliminate that fully. HA. Image and branding plays a big role in our students lives, and if some how we can incorporate that into the classroom, (technology, etc) we could just get our students more involved. Each step matters, especially how you said you didn't know much about wikis, (neither do I), yet you are willing to learn in order to enhance your students creativity!
ReplyDeleteI love this post..I like really love it...
ReplyDeleteJust an idea for a cool project, allow students to create different "brandings" from Feed for the fashions, mals, cars, etc. that are constantly posted on the FEED..they could create whole advertising plans and the kids could have funny money that they use to purchase things from the FEED based solely off of advertising..it would be fun!
I was also really surprised by the amount of students who read outside of class for fun! It was a pleasant surprise though, because I know even has a book-lover I don't have a lot of time to read what I want to read!
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