The Role of Media Literacy in the Clasroom!
Hello, my name is Rogelio Quiroga and I'm a student in the FYI/JYI Program at CSUN. I am currently pursuing my single subject credential in English. I enjoy reading comics, webtoons, and manhwa. My hobbies include: basketball, running, and walking. I enjoy any form of cardio or exercise as I think it's fun. My favorite game is Pokémon Mystery Dungeons Explorers of the Sky, as I think the story is well written and the gameplay is fun for me. I'm an English Major, because reading and writing have always been what I liked to do!
I think media technology is an excellent resource for teaching, but like every resource it has a time and place for everything, and like any tool media technology is impactful and useful when it is at the right place and the right time.
I've seen how ineffective it can be, where student plays games, watch videos, or text their friends using technology intended for education purposes. I know how ineffective it can be, because I was a student who did this. I noticed it was detrimental in college, especially during the spring semester where everyone is burned out. I was struggling to start assignments and turned in what I had. I eventually had to download an app called minimalist phone, which blocks the apps on my phones for hours, days, and even up to a month. I can also schedule blocks such as from 3:00am - 5:00am. When school starts I block it for a month, but during summer a lot less. I block it from 3:00am-5:00am, since that was when I used to wake up because I'm used to my school schedule, however, waking up at the time when I don't need to is bad for my sleeping habits. I am super happy I found this app, especially, because it keeps me on track for schoolwork and sleep. It's sad to think, however, that we are so addicted our screens that we need a supplemental service to keep us from getting addicted.
I've also seen how effective media technology can be. I've encountered multiple unique methods of using media technology for its intended educational purposes. One unique method is where a teacher has the students write drafts, brainstorm and write on paper first. After all the work is completed, the teacher explains to the students to choose 5 sections, where they can use Artificial Intelligence. The teacher then tells the students to ask A.I on how to improve their writing. I think another application of creative media technology usage is students reading webtoons or manhwa. I don't think I've seen this in a classroom yet, but I do see that a lot of the students enjoy reading these digital comics books, because an episode is about 3-5 minutes of reading and there are over 300 episode of certain series, so they in certain cases reading more than a novel. I think these will eventually be taught and become mainstream taught like graphic novels. I think another creative use was Minecraft teaching edition. It allows students to create stories and narratives when problem-solving. The teacher can easily create a narrative for the students to interact with NPCS to make literature interactive and fun. You can create an assignment about inference and assumptions, and have the students play detective in the game. They're still building ELA skills, but they are having fun learning.
Hey, how’s it going? I love the post! It’s so cool you are a writer as well, and to be honest, I think you are right in a sense of one media ring only going towards a specific type of community and engagement. Some of these things are provided in games and anime, such as everything suggests that people are targeted to a larger group with the same interests. Also, that’s cool that your favorite game is a Pokemon game, my fav is Pokemon Soulsilver, it’s just a sick generation and just dope Pokemon in general. Overall, the general media base for gaming in general is just a main force of introducing new players to new gaming platforms but also to new identity’s they can find within themselves. So technically speaking, this side of technology can be used for more engaging and collaborative activities rather than foul harm within mental health.
ReplyDeleteHi Rogelio! I think your final line is extremely poignant. Learning should be made fun because learning IS fun. Learning allows us to touch the stars, make new elements, and create masterpieces of art and fiction, and this knowledge does not always have to come from stuffy textbooks. The source of the knowledge does not matter so much as retaining it, so if a student learns about Hamlet from Minecraft better than they would from Kenneth Branagh’s film or a printed manuscript, all power to them. I also think your journey with discovering the focusing app (I use Forest sometimes, myself) is demonstrative of how we sometimes need to step away from technology to fully function as humans. Your mention of AI is also interesting. I have used it sometimes to help review my own essays, uploading the rubric, prompt, and my essay to identify possible weak spots (never using it to write, though, and always using common sense to determine how helpful the AI's commentary is), so seeing teachers tell students to do this is eye-opening.
ReplyDelete- Heleyna Guardado
ReplyDeleteHi, I noticed your Minecraft video and found it extremely interesting. I have recently started a new world in the game as of this week so it immediately caught my attention. I found the video to be quite entertaining as well. With that being said I also enjoy a lot of physical activities and agree with your example about students, in regards to the use of AI. I think improvement for writing development can go a long way. I wanted to say I found this extremely informative and resourceful.