picture
Monday, December 12, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Technophile
Your Impressions
WebQuest | Strengths | Weaknesses |
Grow School Greens | There are lots of clickable links. The pages are bright and colorful and there are many pictures and animations | No observable weaknesses. |
Where is My Hero? | Good use of real world photos Each hero has a clickable link into an external website | Even though there are extra sources, this doesn’t give students a chance to explore the internet themselves; everything is laid out for them. |
Underground Railroad | Good amount of external links for research. Some good pictures. | The site wasn’t very eye catching or colorful. Printable organizers don’t give the students any opportunity to incorporate technology. The evaluation isn’t very useful when it comes to incorporating technology and there is no opportunity for self-evaluation. |
Ice Cream | The page is colorful | There are no links to external websites. Everything must be printed and completed, there are no online based activities The final poster is not completed with the aid of technology. There doesn’t even seem to be a reason to have this website, the teacher could simply print out the worksheets and tell their students what to do. |
Ancient Egypt | Teaches students how to collaborate two different computer programs to create a project. Many external links for research. Everything is web-based The website itself is easy to navigate. | No observable weaknesses |
I believe the two best web quests are the "Ancient Egypt" and the "Growing School Greens". I think this because they both encorporate technology in a way to help students learn something new while still creating the atmosphere of fun. Both of these sites were colorful and had plenty of examples and external links.
I believe the two worst web quests are the "Underground Railroad" and the "Ice Cream" quests. These web quest sites were not well put together and used very little web-based technology to acomplish the task. There were not many pictures and the projects could have been done without the use of a computer at all.
To me, the best web quests are ones that appropriately use the internet and technology available to engadge the students into doing something they wouldn't normally without the aid of a computer. Good web quests are ones that are eye catching, have many pictures, and have lots of external links to help the students learn web-based research skills. The worst web quests are ones that dont't use technology and could be done in the classroom without the aid of a computer.
Group Choices:
2 Best: "Ancient Egypt" & "Grow School Greens"
2 Worst: "Where is my Hero" & "Underground Railroad"
Sunday, November 13, 2011
DEJ week 12
Quote:
"Today we work with the written or spoken word as the primary form of communication. But we also need to understand the importance of graphics, music, and cinema, which are just as powerful and in some ways more deeply intertwined with young people's culture."
Reaction:
I completely agree with this statement. People today live in a visual and emotional world. We need to allow students to express themselves using all forms of media, not just with writting or speaking. A lot of students in today's society have a hard time expressing themselves on paper. However, if we give these students a computer, or a video camera, we can truly see how deep their understanding of the world goes. I believe all media can be powerful and the key to unlocking expression in students is allowing them to use everything and anything available to them in the learning process. We as teachers have so many resources available to us and we usually just stick to the basics of pen and paper. Why? Not exploring all our creative options isn't only hurting students, it hurts a teacher's creativity as well. I believe a good teacher is one who works to unlock a student's potential and desire for learning. This can be done more effectively when students are doing something they enjoy which means branching out to find the interests of the students.
Related Source:
Citation:
Daly, J. (2004, September 4). Life on the Screen: Visual Literacy in Education | Edutopia. K-12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies that Work | Edutopia. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www.edutopia.org/lucas-visual-literacy
ordinary, A. l. (2010, March 27). Planet Earth « Daisy Chain Days.Daisy Chain Days. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://daisychaindays.co.uk/blog/category/heal-the-world/planet-earth-heal-the-world-2/
"Today we work with the written or spoken word as the primary form of communication. But we also need to understand the importance of graphics, music, and cinema, which are just as powerful and in some ways more deeply intertwined with young people's culture."
Reaction:
I completely agree with this statement. People today live in a visual and emotional world. We need to allow students to express themselves using all forms of media, not just with writting or speaking. A lot of students in today's society have a hard time expressing themselves on paper. However, if we give these students a computer, or a video camera, we can truly see how deep their understanding of the world goes. I believe all media can be powerful and the key to unlocking expression in students is allowing them to use everything and anything available to them in the learning process. We as teachers have so many resources available to us and we usually just stick to the basics of pen and paper. Why? Not exploring all our creative options isn't only hurting students, it hurts a teacher's creativity as well. I believe a good teacher is one who works to unlock a student's potential and desire for learning. This can be done more effectively when students are doing something they enjoy which means branching out to find the interests of the students.
Related Source:
Citation:
Daly, J. (2004, September 4). Life on the Screen: Visual Literacy in Education | Edutopia. K-12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies that Work | Edutopia. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www.edutopia.org/lucas-visual-literacy
ordinary, A. l. (2010, March 27). Planet Earth « Daisy Chain Days.Daisy Chain Days. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://daisychaindays.co.uk/blog/category/heal-the-world/planet-earth-heal-the-world-2/
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Double Entry Journal #11
Social-Networking Ban for Sex Offenders: Bad Call?
Questions:
Questions:
- Summarize the argument made in this article.
- What evidence is presented to support the argument?
- State and justify your opinion on banning sex offenders from social-networking sites.
Answers:
- The argument made in this article is that the recent Illinois ban on social-networking sites for sex offenders shouldn't be in place. The author believes that this ban would hinder social rehabilitation for these people and that most of the people on the sex offender list aren't people who have sexually abused children anyway.
- Larry Magid uses evidence from the Crimes Against Children Research Center and a study done by the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use to explain that the amount of predators who actually contact and form relationships with children over the internet is highly exaggerated. He also uses the argument that banning sex offenders from social networking sites would hinder their ability to gain access to resources that could help them in their careers which is an important part of rehabilitation. The author also references two articles to make the point that sex offenders aren't all molesters and rapists. There is a wide category range to who can be listed as a sex offender. Magid also goes on to point out that the most dangerous sex offenders are the ones who haven't been caught and registered yet.
- I personally agree with the author of this article. While in theory it is a good idea to limit the types of contact sex offenders can have with children, I believe it should be the responsibility of parents to know what their child is doing on the internet. I also don't think its necessary to ban some of these people who are on the sex offender list for reasons other than crimes like rape or molestation. Above all, I go back to my first point. It is the responsibility of the parent to monitor their child's internet usage. All a ban like this does is lull parents into a false sense of security. If a predator wants to get around this ban believe me, they will find a way. Parents need to teach their children about the dangers of contacting someone they don't know on the internet and how dangerous it can be to be "friends" with someone they don't know on a social networking site. Educating teens and children on the dangers of the internet should be as commonplace as teaching them to not take candy from strangers.
Yeti Crab
Wikipedia Reliability Worksheet
Article title:
Answer the following questions to see how reliable a Wikipedia article is.
Answer the following questions to see how reliable a Wikipedia article is.
- Start with the main page. Does it have any cleanup banners that have been placed there to indicate problems with the article? (A complete list is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Template_messages/
Cleanup.)
Any one of the following cleanup banners means the article is anunreliable source:
2. Read through the article and see if it meets the following requirements:
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wikipedia: Friend not Foe
1. Did the class activity about Wikipedia and this article change your opinion about the value of Wikipedia to society in general and education specifically?
No. I still believe that Wikipedia can be a very valuable tool in online research. I don't believe it should be used as a source of information specifically but it can be a TOOL to use as a jumping off point to research. I have used it many times to just get a general understanding of a topic and from there I either use the references in the Wikipedia article, or I use the information there to further elaborate my research. I don't think Wikipedia can ever be credible scholastically but it can be a good start to a good research project.
2. Describe how you might direct students to use Wikipedia in your future classroom.
First I would explain Wikipedia to the students so they have an understanding that it is NOT a credible resource because there is no filter on who can edit an article. Once they understand that I would teach them that it is useful for getting a general idea of a topic and it is a good source of REAL scholarly sources. Before beginning any assignment using Wikipedia I would prepare my students with a lesson on how to tell a credible source from an academic one. Once students know the fundamentals of being critical of sources I would have no problem with them using Wikipedia as a jumping off point to more research. As long as they don't use the article itself for their research.
Wikipedia Article
a. What is Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is a "web-based encyclopedia" that anyone can edit or create topics in.
b. How would you answer the question posed in this piece “How reliable can a source be when anyone can edit it?”
I don't think something that anyone can edit can be very reliable. There are many commercial businesses for example that would take advantage of this for promotion. Not everyone who edits a posting in Wikipedia is doing it for pure educational purposes.
c. Who do the creators of Wikipedia place their trust in when it comes to weeding out misinformation?
They place their trust in the masses or "the wisdom of the crowds".
d. Why did founder Larry Sanger leave Wikipedia?
He left because he thought Wikipedia should give more credit to experts than just average people.
e. What would abuse or vandalism look like on a Wikipedia page?
Someone could maybe post or edit an article to have vulgar or inappropriate language or topics. Or something that is blatantly untrue just to mess with people.
f. What do the statistics quoted in the third paragraph of this piece reveal?
They reveal that Wikipedia is used a lot and by many people. It’s a worldwide tool.
g. Why do you think Wikipedia is so successful?
I think it is successful because its easily accessible and is usually the first thing that pops up when you run a search topic through a search engine. Most people only go to the first 2 or 3 sites they see when they are looking for information and Wikipedia is usually one of them.
h. Why might Wikipedia’s creators not want to accept advertising?
Advertising may devalue the educational aspect of Wikipedia. If there are ad banners everywhere they will look more like an unreliable site and I believe that they have enough trouble with that already.
i. How does Wikiscanner help increase the reliability of Wikipedia entries?
It uncovered those editors to Wikipedia that had self-interests or interests for their company or business. Basically it helped eliminate some of the people that edited Wikipedia articles for non-educational purposes.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
DJE #10
"Words failed, Then Saved Me"
Quote:
"We know now that dyslexia is about so much more than just mixing up letters — that many dyslexics have difficulty with rhythm and meter and word retrieval, that they struggle to recognize voices and sounds. It’s my profound hope that our schools can use findings like these to better teach children who struggle to read, to help them overcome their limitations, and to help them understand that it’s not their fault."
Response:
I have to say, I knew dyslexia was more than just mixing up letters but I didn't know the extent to which people struggled with it until I read this. People need to be more aware of the various types of learing disabilities. Especially if they plan on working with children. This is a very moving article and its amazing that the author overcame everything he did. I'm so happy we live in a world today where children with learning disabilities aren't looked at as "stupid" or "uninteligent". I hope that every child with a learning disability can find this kind of strength and determination.
I also believe that a lot of children with learning disabilities believe it is their fault they can't acheive the way their peers can. This means that as teachers we not only need to be encouragers of learning but also encouragers of spirit. We need to help student's understand that their difficulties can be overcome and to never give up on themselves.
Related Source:
]
Quote:
"We know now that dyslexia is about so much more than just mixing up letters — that many dyslexics have difficulty with rhythm and meter and word retrieval, that they struggle to recognize voices and sounds. It’s my profound hope that our schools can use findings like these to better teach children who struggle to read, to help them overcome their limitations, and to help them understand that it’s not their fault."
Response:
I have to say, I knew dyslexia was more than just mixing up letters but I didn't know the extent to which people struggled with it until I read this. People need to be more aware of the various types of learing disabilities. Especially if they plan on working with children. This is a very moving article and its amazing that the author overcame everything he did. I'm so happy we live in a world today where children with learning disabilities aren't looked at as "stupid" or "uninteligent". I hope that every child with a learning disability can find this kind of strength and determination.
I also believe that a lot of children with learning disabilities believe it is their fault they can't acheive the way their peers can. This means that as teachers we not only need to be encouragers of learning but also encouragers of spirit. We need to help student's understand that their difficulties can be overcome and to never give up on themselves.
Related Source:
]Citation:
SCHULTZ, P. (2011, August 3). With Dyslexia, Words Failed Me and Then Saved Me - NYTimes.com. The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Retrieved October 27, 2011, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/opinion/sunday/with-dyslexia-words-failed-me-and-then-saved-me.html?_r=1
D, D. (n.d.). Dyslexia: symptoms dyslexia | Glogster. Drequilla's Profile | Glogster. Retrieved October 27, 2011, from http://drequilla.glogster.com/dyslexia/
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Website Evaluation
Feline Reactions to bearded Men: A scientific study
http://improbable.com/airchives/classical/cat/cat.html
WHO:
Has someone taken responsibility for the content of this Web site?
-Yes. There are many people who have taken this responsibility.
Are there any links to in-depth information about the author or organization?
-Yes many.
Can you contact the company or author through a real world postal address or phone number?
-Yes, there is a "contact us" link with names, addresses, and phone numbers of real people you can contact.
WHAT:
Does the site's information seem thorough and well organized?
-Yes it does seem very well organized even though some of the content is more funny than scientific.
Does the site rely on loaded language or broad, unsubstantiated statements?
-There is a lot of scientific language that seems to camouflage some of the funnier statements about certain studies
Does the Web site offer a list of further in-depth resources or links to such resources?
-Yes. The study has a bibliography and there are other links to view different types of research.
WHEN:
Is it important that the information you're looking for be absolutely current?
-Since this site is about science I suppose it is important for the research to be current. There are dates on everything and links to where you can find this study in the magazine the website publishes.
Is a reference date provided to show when the material was put online, or when it was last updated?
-yes. There are dates showing when the study was published in the magazine the website sponsors.
Do the links work?
-Yes they all work. Even the downloadable content works.
Personal Evaluation
After examining this site I do believe it is a real and credible organization. the purpose of the site is to make science funny and to make people think about the validity and credibility of scientific studies. While I have my doubts about the feline reactions to bearded men study (it seems to be more on the funnier side than the true side), the purpose of the site is to make people think. the organization seems real enough and there are real publications and real people behind the research and company. Overall, while this is a very funny type of site with funny research topics, it seems valid.
http://improbable.com/airchives/classical/cat/cat.html
WHO:
Has someone taken responsibility for the content of this Web site?
-Yes. There are many people who have taken this responsibility.
Are there any links to in-depth information about the author or organization?
-Yes many.
Can you contact the company or author through a real world postal address or phone number?
-Yes, there is a "contact us" link with names, addresses, and phone numbers of real people you can contact.
WHAT:
Does the site's information seem thorough and well organized?
-Yes it does seem very well organized even though some of the content is more funny than scientific.
Does the site rely on loaded language or broad, unsubstantiated statements?
-There is a lot of scientific language that seems to camouflage some of the funnier statements about certain studies
Does the Web site offer a list of further in-depth resources or links to such resources?
-Yes. The study has a bibliography and there are other links to view different types of research.
WHEN:
Is it important that the information you're looking for be absolutely current?
-Since this site is about science I suppose it is important for the research to be current. There are dates on everything and links to where you can find this study in the magazine the website publishes.
Is a reference date provided to show when the material was put online, or when it was last updated?
-yes. There are dates showing when the study was published in the magazine the website sponsors.
Do the links work?
-Yes they all work. Even the downloadable content works.
Personal Evaluation
After examining this site I do believe it is a real and credible organization. the purpose of the site is to make science funny and to make people think about the validity and credibility of scientific studies. While I have my doubts about the feline reactions to bearded men study (it seems to be more on the funnier side than the true side), the purpose of the site is to make people think. the organization seems real enough and there are real publications and real people behind the research and company. Overall, while this is a very funny type of site with funny research topics, it seems valid.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Double Journal Entry Week #9
Internet & Anti-Social Behavior Theory Unfounded
Quote:
"First, internet users are relatively anonymous. Second, CMC is not face-to-face and therefore lacks the non-verbal features of communication such as tone of voice, facial expressions and other interpersonal features such as physical attractiveness. Much of the research in the CMC field explored how these two missing features affect social influence and interaction."
Reaction:
People are free to have opinions and be more open online than in any other form of social interaction. Because Internet users are somewhat anonymous, people have the freedom to share their opinions without being personally attacked or without the stigma of face to face confrontation. I believe that this helps individuals form stronger opinions and helps them define who they are as a person. When someone has the freedom to think and say what they want without repercussion they tend to become stronger individuals. Face to face interaction is however necessary in social interaction because we still live in a world where people need to know how to act in public. I'm just saying that I believe that the anonymity of being online can help people form opinions and express themselves in ways they wouldn't normally. The fact that physical attractiveness doesn't play a major role in online social interaction also helps people be more open online than they would in real life. This is especially true for teenagers. Teenagers can be mean and may not give someone who is deemed physically unattractive the time of day. But when this person is online they have people who will listen to them and allow them to express themselves. I believe the Internet can be a very valuable tool in helping people with social interaction.
Related Source:
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/eamabry/www/course/com813/anstey3.htm
I like this website because it compares social relationships that are face to face verses those that are completely online.
Citation:
Quote:
"First, internet users are relatively anonymous. Second, CMC is not face-to-face and therefore lacks the non-verbal features of communication such as tone of voice, facial expressions and other interpersonal features such as physical attractiveness. Much of the research in the CMC field explored how these two missing features affect social influence and interaction."
Reaction:
People are free to have opinions and be more open online than in any other form of social interaction. Because Internet users are somewhat anonymous, people have the freedom to share their opinions without being personally attacked or without the stigma of face to face confrontation. I believe that this helps individuals form stronger opinions and helps them define who they are as a person. When someone has the freedom to think and say what they want without repercussion they tend to become stronger individuals. Face to face interaction is however necessary in social interaction because we still live in a world where people need to know how to act in public. I'm just saying that I believe that the anonymity of being online can help people form opinions and express themselves in ways they wouldn't normally. The fact that physical attractiveness doesn't play a major role in online social interaction also helps people be more open online than they would in real life. This is especially true for teenagers. Teenagers can be mean and may not give someone who is deemed physically unattractive the time of day. But when this person is online they have people who will listen to them and allow them to express themselves. I believe the Internet can be a very valuable tool in helping people with social interaction.
Related Source:
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/eamabry/www/course/com813/anstey3.htm
I like this website because it compares social relationships that are face to face verses those that are completely online.
Citation:
Owens, L. (2009, April 23). Internet & Anti-Social Behavior Theory Unfounded: Facebook, MySpace, Online: Research Refutes Cyber Socializing Fears | Suite101.com. Laura Owens | Suite101.com. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from http://laura-owens.suite101.com/internet--anti-social-behavior-theory-unfounded-a111897
Ansty, S. (n.d.). Module 3: On-Line Personal Relationships. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/eamabry/www/course/com813/anstey3.htm
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Web 2.0 tools for the classroom
Prizes.org
screenshot of the prizes.org website
- This is a fantastic website where anyone can create a contest with a problem to solve and people can respond back in an attempt to win prizes!
- I would use this tool in my content area of Social Studies. Since Social studies is a social science, one of the goals of teaching social studies is to have the students solve real-world social science problems using the scientific method. This tool seems like a perfect medium to use to get students interested in the problem solving process. What's a better motivator for secondary students than prizes?
- I could easily use this web tool in a lesson in my future Social Studies classroom. One example of the content area in Social Studies I could use this for would be Sociology. After having a brief lesson on the similarities and differences of simple societies and complex societies, I would pose the question, "Which society would most likely have a healthier population, (physically, mentally, and emotionally) a simple society, or a complex society?" I would then create a contest on prizes.org and have my students create an account (with parental permission of course). Once the students have created an account and can access my problem they will be given the assignment to use the scientific method to answer the sociology question. The students who best answer the question using the proper scientific method will be given a prize of my choosing (not a cash prize) such as a free homework pass. I believe this would motivate the students to complete the assignment and put in a full effort in order to win the prize.
- Before using this tool in the classroom I would need to consider the age of my students. Since this site is not an educational site I would need to consider weather my students are responsible and mature enough to handle the content of the website. I would also definitely need parental permission to use this site in my classroom. I would also need to make sure when I create my contest that I created it under the "just for fun" tab. I think it is illegal to illicit a cash prize to students so I would need to create a just for fun contest and maybe come up with a prize of my own I can give my students. I would also need to make sure I created the contest so that only verified users can participate in the contest. I wouldn't want anyone other than my students making comments on the contest I create.
Overall I think this would be a very useful and fun tool to use in the classroom as long as I keep my student's age and maturity in perspective.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Double Journal Entry #7
Teaching Media Literacy
Quote:
Quote:
"Unlike reading assigned textbooks, reading online challenges students to make judgments about the reputability and validity of the information they see. Researchers who directed several hundred college students to three bogus Web sites about fictitious nutritional supplements found that half of the students lacked the skills to identify the trustworthiness of the information, yet most thought they had strong research skills (Ivanitskaya, O'Boyle, & Casey, 2006)."
Reaction:
Many people who believe they have the skills necessary to critically evaluate sources and data are mistaken. These skills need to be taught and since there are so many untrustworthy sources out there these days, it is getting harder and harder for even skilled researchers to find valid information. If we don't teach students how to research with a critical eye for validity, they can never be expected to learn these skills on their own.
Reading a textbook is easy from a researchers point of view. If something is in print, especially in an educational setting, we can be fairly sure that it has been reviewed and re-reviewed over and again by credible people. Therefore we don't really have to worry about the validity of a text book. However, more and more schools are opting out of using textbooks all together. In an attempt to engage the student's interest by using the Internet for information rather than texts, we have created a whole new problem of how to help those students distinguish the difference between what is credible and not.
In my senior year of high school in my World History/Civics class, we had a student who just didn't understand why he had to check out all his sources. Our teacher convinced a few students (including me) to create a false website with ridiculous information about the topic of this misguided student's research paper. He used the website we created as a source in his paper and once the papers were turned in our teacher revealed the plot against this student. The student was obviously embarrassed but he, and the rest of the class did learn a value lesson. Don't worry, the teacher didn't deduct a grade from the student since it was all a learning experience.
This un-couth way of showing students how valuable it is to have the skill to properly evaluate media is just an example (I'm not saying any teacher should publicly embarrass any student) of one way to make students aware of this growing problem in our ever changing technological society. We as educators need to make it our responsibility to teach students these valuable skills just like we teach any other skill in the classroom.
Related Source:
Citations:
David, J. (2009). Teaching Media Literacy. Literacy 2.0, 66(6), 84-86. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar09/vol66/num06/Teaching-Media-Literacy.aspx
Thomas, C. (n.d.). 12 shocking Eco-Truths with one small problem: they’re false | The Ethical Nag. The Ethical Nag | Marketing Ethics for the Easily Swayed. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from http://ethicalnag.org/2010/05/16/false-eco-truths/
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Deconstructing Arnold
Picture #1
1. What do you see? How does he look?
I see Arnold showing his arm muscle and looking mean. He looks like he's mad at something. I think they are trying to make him look scary and tough because of the kind of magazine this is. I also see red flames as Arnold's background. This gives the viewer a sense of anger and harshness. All the words on the cover are in capital, bold, letters which makes it look like shouting.
2. How does he make you feel?
This photo makes me feel put off. I feel like Arnold is someone who I wouldn't want to hang around. He is showing his muscle which makes me feel like he thinks he's something special and I don't like people who are full of themselves. I also feel like he is someone who is mean and tough which also makes me not like him initially.
3. What do you think about this person now? How does he make you feel?
I think he is a person who is cocky and full of himself. I also think he wouldn't be very pleasant to be around because of the scowl on his face.
4. How does he look? How do those "looks" influence how you feel?
He looks tough. He is wearing sunglasses which masks a lot of his facial features. All you can really notice on his face is his hard set mouth which makes him look like he is scowling. The way he is flexing his arm muscle just shows off his toughness more. This influences me to believe he is a tough guy and may be a bully. This photo sort of villainies him.
5. What lifestyles, values, points of view are represented or omitted?
This magazine cover obviously values toughness and fierceness. Only a target audience of people (probably mostly men) who want to be rough, tough, and muscular would be attracted to this cover. A lifestyle of body building is represented. Arnold is showing off his huge muscle which gives a representation that muscles are something to be valued and wanted. And since this is a muscle and fitness magazine I can assume that the people who would be reading this would value Arnold's physique and would want to look like him.
Photo #2
1. What do you see? How does he look?
I see Arnold showing his arm muscle and looking mean. He looks like he's mad at something. I think they are trying to make him look scary and tough because of the kind of magazine this is. I also see red flames as Arnold's background. This gives the viewer a sense of anger and harshness. All the words on the cover are in capital, bold, letters which makes it look like shouting.
2. How does he make you feel?
This photo makes me feel put off. I feel like Arnold is someone who I wouldn't want to hang around. He is showing his muscle which makes me feel like he thinks he's something special and I don't like people who are full of themselves. I also feel like he is someone who is mean and tough which also makes me not like him initially.
3. What do you think about this person now? How does he make you feel?
I think he is a person who is cocky and full of himself. I also think he wouldn't be very pleasant to be around because of the scowl on his face.
4. How does he look? How do those "looks" influence how you feel?
He looks tough. He is wearing sunglasses which masks a lot of his facial features. All you can really notice on his face is his hard set mouth which makes him look like he is scowling. The way he is flexing his arm muscle just shows off his toughness more. This influences me to believe he is a tough guy and may be a bully. This photo sort of villainies him.
5. What lifestyles, values, points of view are represented or omitted?
This magazine cover obviously values toughness and fierceness. Only a target audience of people (probably mostly men) who want to be rough, tough, and muscular would be attracted to this cover. A lifestyle of body building is represented. Arnold is showing off his huge muscle which gives a representation that muscles are something to be valued and wanted. And since this is a muscle and fitness magazine I can assume that the people who would be reading this would value Arnold's physique and would want to look like him.
Photo #2
1. What do you see? How does he look?
I see a well-dressed Arnold with a cheesy smile pointing at me. Why is he pointing at me? I don't like people pointing at me! I also see a seductive picture of a woman next to the picture of Arnold. I think this is maybe placed here to make Arnold look more appealing. He looks like he is trying to hard to be pleasant. The smile is way too overdone. He definitely looks like a politician which isn't appealing to me either.
2. How does he make you feel?
He makes me feel uncomfortable. Like I said before, I don't like people pointing at me. I also feel that maybe he has something up his sleeve. His eyes look like they know something I don't. He looks a little sneaky.
3. What do you think about this person now? How does he make you feel?
I think this person is like most other politicians. I think he is sneaky and an over actor. The fact that he is an actor just makes me think he is putting on this facade of pleasantness. I think he is trying way to hard to look nice and its coming off as looking a little scary. I think babies would cry if they saw his face looking like this.
4. How does he look. How do these "looks" influence how you feel?
He looks like he's trying to be nice and confident. He also looks like he wants me to do something since he's pointing at me. He looks well dressed. His hair looks a little messy. I think he is trying to make his eyes look seductive and appealing but they come off looking sneaky and over-confident. His looks give me an overall impression that he is a politician. Which is what he is so I suppose that is a successful representation of how he wants to look. I however don't like politicians, so I don't like how he looks in this picture.
5. What lifestyles, values, points of view are represented or omitted?
Since this is Esquire magazine, a wealthy and political lifestyle is represented. Arnold is very well dressed and is wearing a rather large diamond ring which also targets a wealthy upper class. Maybe that is why I don't like this picture, because I am not upper class and I don't value the things that an upper class would value. A wealthier class may value over-confidence which is something I do not value. The target audience for this magazine and photo is definitely a wealthy, and political minded one.
6. (For both pictures) What are the differences between the two covers? What techniques are used to attract your attention? Pay attention to body language, clothing, camera angles, lighting, color, eye contact, ect.
The differences between these photos are drastic ones. The first photo gives off a sense of fierceness while the second photo is trying to depict a niceness and confidence. In this first photo Arnold's body language is one of not caring about the audience. He is turned away and not making eye contact. In the second photo Arnold's body language shows he is trying to engage the audience bu looking at them, leaning in, and pointing to them. The clothing in the first photo is ragged and poor looking. It shows the viewer that once again, he doesn't care what they think because he knows he looks good. In the second photo Arnold is very well dressed which shows he wants people to think highly of him. The colors in the second photo are all bluish which gives a calm and pleasant veiw. In the first photo, the red coloring and bold letters give off an angry and feirce appearence.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Double Journal Entry #6
Seven Power Lens on 21st Century Literacy
Quote:"The tools of visual, media, and information literacy must be taught in school because they will (or wont) be used at home"
Reaction:
I think this statement is not only true of using the tools of literacy but of any skill a student can learn. Student's will learn for themselves how they feel comfortable doing any task. This includes how they surf the web for information. Just like our teachers had to teach us to analyze symbolism and rhetoric in books, we as teachers of 21st century learners need to teach our students how to analyze critically the information they obtain on the Internet.
As a future Social Studies teacher, I know it is my job to create citizens and teach citizenship in my classroom. An informed citizen in one who can be critical of the information and visual images being shown to him or her. Being able to critically analyze information is a skill, like many others, that needs to be taught to be understood completely. It is our duty as teachers to make sure students are well informed at school and in the real world. Teaching information and visual literacy skills is something we should take seriously if we expect to create an informed and critical future generation.
Related Resource:
Citation:
Photo Analysis
Photo #1
- From my analysis of this picture I can infer that Obama is confident of how he will handle this situation since he looks so confident
- The support system surrounding Obama tells me that he has plenty of people to help him with the situation
- The overall atmosphere of this photo is one of confidence. Seeing this picture would help me to believe that the president has the situation under control.
Photo #2
- From the strain on the President's face I can infer that he is confused about the situation and doesn't know how to handle it.
- The fact that Obama is alone in his office lets me infer that he is handling the situation alone which leads me to doubt the the effectiveness of whatever decision he makes
- The President looks pake in this picture which tells me he is worried about the situation which makes me worried about the situation.
The first picture definatelty makes me feel more confident of the president and gives me more confidence in the president's abilities because he himself looks more confident in this picture.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Double Journal Entry #5
Quote:
"Teachers will find that they cannot guide and evaluate students' multimedia projects as effectively as they can the text-based projects that they are used to. To help, we need more art teachers working across the curriculum with content-area teachers. The most pressing need right now is to develop design skills, graphic literacy skills, and skills that knit together pictures and words into unified presentations."
Reaction:
While I agree that this is an important first step into the education of digital literacy to students, I believe the content teachers themselves should be learning how to use the digital tools available to their students as well. As teachers we need to remember that one of our duties to our students is to constantly learn with them. As technology and the world changes, we have to be able to adapt to those changes in the classroom. Content teachers shouldn't rely on others to teach students how to express themselves. Art is becoming an important part of learning and to facilitate that new media we as teachers need to master the tools ourselves first and then teach them to students. A baby needs to learn how to use a fork before they can successfully (and neatly) feed themselves just like a student needs to learn how to use the tools of digital media in order to successfully express themselves using technology. Art is like any other subject matter, you have to learn the fundamentals before you can become great at it.
Teachers owe it to their students to be students themselves when it comes to learning new tools and technologies for teaching. Just because you aren't comfortable using a digital media tool doesn't mean that you should deprive your students from using it. Teachers need to teach themselves before they can ever begin to use any educational tool in the classroom.
"Teachers will find that they cannot guide and evaluate students' multimedia projects as effectively as they can the text-based projects that they are used to. To help, we need more art teachers working across the curriculum with content-area teachers. The most pressing need right now is to develop design skills, graphic literacy skills, and skills that knit together pictures and words into unified presentations."
Reaction:
While I agree that this is an important first step into the education of digital literacy to students, I believe the content teachers themselves should be learning how to use the digital tools available to their students as well. As teachers we need to remember that one of our duties to our students is to constantly learn with them. As technology and the world changes, we have to be able to adapt to those changes in the classroom. Content teachers shouldn't rely on others to teach students how to express themselves. Art is becoming an important part of learning and to facilitate that new media we as teachers need to master the tools ourselves first and then teach them to students. A baby needs to learn how to use a fork before they can successfully (and neatly) feed themselves just like a student needs to learn how to use the tools of digital media in order to successfully express themselves using technology. Art is like any other subject matter, you have to learn the fundamentals before you can become great at it.
Teachers owe it to their students to be students themselves when it comes to learning new tools and technologies for teaching. Just because you aren't comfortable using a digital media tool doesn't mean that you should deprive your students from using it. Teachers need to teach themselves before they can ever begin to use any educational tool in the classroom.
We must remember as teachers we should never stop learning.
Citations:
Ohler, Jason . "Art Becomes the Next R." Educational Leadership Magazine 58.2 (2000): 16-19. Google Docs. Web. 22 Sept. 2011.
LIFE. "senior on computer - Bing Images." Bing. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2011. <http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=senior+on+computer&view=detail
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