Check out the nickname project. I tried to embed the video in this post, but WordPress wouldn’t cooperate.

Download Video: Posted by scttwisdom at TeacherTube.com.

Doll Face

This video relies entirely on the reader to infer the rhetorical message. As we move toward our persuasive unit this year, I’m looking again at making media literacy the focus of study. It’s a challenge for some students to see that images alone have the power to intentionally convey messages. I hope this clip might serve as one compelling example of how images have the power to communicate complex and sophisticated persuasive messages. I may havee my students write what they perceive as the narrative to this and several other persuasive narratives in place of a persuasive essay for their portfolios this year. This would call for a synthesis of persuasive and narrative, as well as responding to a “text.”

Related to the topic of self-image, I found this documentary film last year entitled “Thin.” For a preview (movie clip) click on the following link: http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/thin/. I may suggest self-image as a topic for research, or combine research with the media literacy… I’m still not sure of the best way to work it.

On another note, related by not entirely the same — I’m also toying with the idea of having them read websites. To alleviate the problem of blocked sites, I may capture screenshots (press the “Function” key–a.k.a the “Fn” key on some keyboards–and “Prnt Scrn” which is another key on the keypad) and assemble them for student review. D gave me the idea with his GCTE presentation last year. Here’s the PowerPoint from 2007 for those that are interested: cyber-selling-gcte-2007-v1.ppt.

Various PSAs and Responses to Eating Disorders 

News Broadcast: Eating Disorders  

Media Messages: Body Image

One Girl Speaks Out: Nicole Richie=Skeleton

The Affects of Anorexia: Personal Stories

Thin: HBO Documentary (Trailer)

Thin: HBO Documentary (Episodes)

Intervention: Kim

Have I mentioned TeacherTube at all? Have I mentioned that I won a laptop from TeacherTube? Have I mentioned that I am continually uploading videos to TeacherTube?

Digital Storytelling Resources:

• Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
• These Stories in These Pictures: An Easy Guide to Storytelling from the Images We Collect in our Lives
• Center for Digital Storytelling
• Tech Head Stories: Digital Storytelling Web Sites
• MultiMedia & Internet Schools: Digital Storytelling Finds Its Place in the Classroom
• Digital Directors Guild

This post features various versions of the familiar “Shift Happens” video I first saw in my technology education course. Might be a useful tool for discussing the various features, drawbacks, etc. of the digital medium, audience needs and expectations, and technical, narrative, and persuasive writing/communication.  

A sampling of kinetic or motion typography projects… many have overt connections to personal narrative, genre switching, and digital literacies. 

A Lesson in Typography

Abbott and Costello–Who’s On First? 

Eleanor Rigby, the Beatles

unPerfect Girl

American Beauty

Car AcciDent

Nostalgia