Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Are we all just opinion mongers?
Early on in historical classes we learn that history is defined as Fact and Interpretation. Journalism is not so different. While reporters and media outlets contend that they are unbiased and deliver the undiluted truth, all reporters tell stories from a particular slant, based on their proximity to the story, timeliness or personal backgrounds.
Since September 11, Hurricane Katrina and the War Iraq the public is less trustful of the media than ever. A lot of Journalism tends to back off from drawing conclusion for fear of backlash from readers, listeners or critics. (NPR, 2006)
"Journalism is the first rough draft of history,” said William Graham, Washington Post publisher - perhaps defines best the complex and yet the fascinating relationship between history and journalism.
While both complement each other amid the constant “battle of importance” between events and processes and individuals and societies, modern day journalism and history - purely in terms of discourse - are also starkly different. (CNN-IBN, 2007)
This brings me to a part one of our study: Interpretation. There is always more than two sides to each story, therefore finding balance among all points of view is almost impossible.
In my introduction to Journalism class i would like my students to examine social networks to survey the varying points of view on just one topic. I think to give too many items or stories would inundate the learner.
But I would like students to examine these perceptions before they re-write a particular piece of wire copy. This is an exercise that doesn't have take place in the classroom. I think class time would best used in discussion and reflection.
Now we have to answer this question: Is balance real?
Here are some tools.
Summarizer
The Summarizer is a fun way to explore the things that connect the real-time web and other online publishers: people, places and things. It searches for tweets in the past seven days either by username or topic and returns a ranked list of the people, places and things mentioned that have matches in Evri’s knowledgebase of more than 2 million topics.
Know what you’re talking about. If the “real-time web” is a massive cocktail party conversation, then The Summarizer is the party’s authority. It semantically connects the real-time web and traditional media to one another with their common threads, entities and topics. The Summarizer is currently in Alpha, so please let us know your suggestions by clicking on the Feedback tab to the left.
ListiMonkey
Google Alerts meets Twitter Lists
Instead of being alerted whenever someone tweets something, with Listiti you can be alerted whenever someone belonging to a Twitter List of your choice tweets about something.
Now that we have found our varying points of view. I would encourage students to not only gather their own facts and sources; but using their own backgrounds to draw conclusions. Reminding them of the popularity of talk shows, and news talk radio; students will share their own perspectives.
Here's how we will share.
Deepmemo is a social networking site based around a simple concept: identifying quotes and useful information and then placing them in your profile (the company catchphrase is “social quotation service”). Install the Deepmemo toolbar and then you can add any text you encounter online by highlighting it and pressing the Deepmemo button. Since the user base is predominantly Eastern European right now, you might have difficulty deriving much value from the quotes saved by others, but it’s an interesting twist on the familiar social networking meme. I’d like to see a toolbar-free version to save on screen real estate too. Deepmemo is free, can be accessed with a Facebook, Google or OpenID account.
Since September 11, Hurricane Katrina and the War Iraq the public is less trustful of the media than ever. A lot of Journalism tends to back off from drawing conclusion for fear of backlash from readers, listeners or critics. (NPR, 2006)
"Journalism is the first rough draft of history,” said William Graham, Washington Post publisher - perhaps defines best the complex and yet the fascinating relationship between history and journalism.
While both complement each other amid the constant “battle of importance” between events and processes and individuals and societies, modern day journalism and history - purely in terms of discourse - are also starkly different. (CNN-IBN, 2007)
This brings me to a part one of our study: Interpretation. There is always more than two sides to each story, therefore finding balance among all points of view is almost impossible.
In my introduction to Journalism class i would like my students to examine social networks to survey the varying points of view on just one topic. I think to give too many items or stories would inundate the learner.
But I would like students to examine these perceptions before they re-write a particular piece of wire copy. This is an exercise that doesn't have take place in the classroom. I think class time would best used in discussion and reflection.
Now we have to answer this question: Is balance real?
Here are some tools.
Summarizer
The Summarizer is a fun way to explore the things that connect the real-time web and other online publishers: people, places and things. It searches for tweets in the past seven days either by username or topic and returns a ranked list of the people, places and things mentioned that have matches in Evri’s knowledgebase of more than 2 million topics.
Know what you’re talking about. If the “real-time web” is a massive cocktail party conversation, then The Summarizer is the party’s authority. It semantically connects the real-time web and traditional media to one another with their common threads, entities and topics. The Summarizer is currently in Alpha, so please let us know your suggestions by clicking on the Feedback tab to the left.
ListiMonkey
Google Alerts meets Twitter Lists
Instead of being alerted whenever someone tweets something, with Listiti you can be alerted whenever someone belonging to a Twitter List of your choice tweets about something.
Now that we have found our varying points of view. I would encourage students to not only gather their own facts and sources; but using their own backgrounds to draw conclusions. Reminding them of the popularity of talk shows, and news talk radio; students will share their own perspectives.
Here's how we will share.
Deepmemo is a social networking site based around a simple concept: identifying quotes and useful information and then placing them in your profile (the company catchphrase is “social quotation service”). Install the Deepmemo toolbar and then you can add any text you encounter online by highlighting it and pressing the Deepmemo button. Since the user base is predominantly Eastern European right now, you might have difficulty deriving much value from the quotes saved by others, but it’s an interesting twist on the familiar social networking meme. I’d like to see a toolbar-free version to save on screen real estate too. Deepmemo is free, can be accessed with a Facebook, Google or OpenID account.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Discovering My Own Web 2.0 Tools
Street Mavens: A more colorful and localized adaption of twitter I think has great teaching potential. Especially for a middle school or high school intro to journalism class or a newspaper sponsor it can be the new age of Community Journalism at it's best.
I've come to learn the impact journalism can have on a community.
Whether your community is a college campus, a small town with one traffic light, or a neighborhood in one of the nation's most populated and diverse cities, if you're connecting with your readers then you're already aware of the power your words can have in both constructive and destructive ways.
In our microwave society long hand, drawn out pieces are no longer the order of the day. Now short, concise bytes are what he consumer requires.
Story Something stories–first and foremost–features students in an active, positive way. So this isn’t just a English exercise but a lesson in social skills. Stories that describe students doing and seeing new things, accomplishing tasks, undertaking a new experience, etc. cast the principal character as the hero, and the personalization will allow a student to see himself or herself in that role.
The stories will include limited illustrations so the story will rest on the strength of its narrative.
The finished product will be sent deliverable to a computer or iPhone, etc. At this point Students will take the finished product starring them and rewrite the story in the first person. Students will take an active role in the writing process. From the brainstorming, writing first draft, rewriting, editing and rewriting.
Students will pass the link to their stories to a select group of students who will review and pass on their literary criticisms. Because students are their own strongest critics –they will provide honest and unbiased opinions.
Furthermore students will do their best with stories starring themselves, ensuring their best work. Parent involvement will be key, with this being online parental involvement will be a percentage of the grade. Like this blog parents will be able to comment and stay on their children to complete the assignment successfully.
Flickr offers a view into the unknown
Chiefly Flickr is an amazingly easy system of not only archiving your own photos, but locating great photos of places and events that you might never see in real life.
One such exercise can be used in a History or Geography class; locating pictures of a region being studied and producing a comprehensive slideshow with the students findings.
For example if studying the the geography and culture of the Middle East students can find pictures of architectural marvels or even of religious paraphernalia and acts. Teachers can go as far as to ask students to construct a photo essay reflecting the meaning and timeline of the holy month of Ramadan.
For many students this will be as close as they can get to the Pyramids at Giza or deep sea creatures. We can learn from the paths that others have blazed for us. During periods of fiscal crunch, educational budgets and resources are severely limited. The arts, extracurricular activities, music and field trips are normally the first to go.
Done right, field trips can be a powerful component of a well-rounded instructional program. (Educational Leadership Magazine, 2007) While trips often get tacked onto the back end of the school year, with the assumption that they are unlikely to directly support the reading and math skills that show up on high-stakes tests, they can bring important balance to the curriculum.
Even virtual field trips can offer a balance to traditional lesson plans.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Anti Teaching
Just as my new one size fits most Ed Hardy hat retailed at $70 at Macy’s hardly fits my head, so is standardized educational standards hardly befitting to most students. We have recently learned of the importance of personal learning environments and how in concert with student’s respective multiple intelligences amplify knowledge retention.
While each passing year brings forth new technological advances, technology alone cannot fix our severely broken educational system. Only when technology and solid teaching practices are bridged can we hope to produce lifelong students and problem solvers.
Agreed that there are a number of tried and tested levels of education that must be met. I contend that we should do away with one of the devastating portions of our education system…standardized testing.
Growing up I went to school in both Texas and Louisiana. In Texas the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Test was priority. I became a proficient test taker. And that is about it.
In Louisiana we had longer grading periods, stiffer grading scales and fewer tests. Not saying that it was light years past Texas but I must say I learned my critical thinking skills early on.
Chiefly, I believe that access to technology is key. While all households cannot afford groceries much less a laptop and internet access, but at least access to computers at school should be sufficient. Not just computer days where you get to go to a lab and peck at antiquated MS-DOS prompts, but full emersion, paperless environments, the works.
Like computers, students must be reprogrammed. From their major concerns being an upcoming exam to real life application. On whatever scale students should realize topics and skills in the classroom are being focused on for a future goal or target and not just because the teacher said so.
I believe Wesch is correct in his theory that teachers must cease from managing the learners, and begin managing their environments.
While each passing year brings forth new technological advances, technology alone cannot fix our severely broken educational system. Only when technology and solid teaching practices are bridged can we hope to produce lifelong students and problem solvers.
Agreed that there are a number of tried and tested levels of education that must be met. I contend that we should do away with one of the devastating portions of our education system…standardized testing.
Growing up I went to school in both Texas and Louisiana. In Texas the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Test was priority. I became a proficient test taker. And that is about it.
In Louisiana we had longer grading periods, stiffer grading scales and fewer tests. Not saying that it was light years past Texas but I must say I learned my critical thinking skills early on.
Chiefly, I believe that access to technology is key. While all households cannot afford groceries much less a laptop and internet access, but at least access to computers at school should be sufficient. Not just computer days where you get to go to a lab and peck at antiquated MS-DOS prompts, but full emersion, paperless environments, the works.
Like computers, students must be reprogrammed. From their major concerns being an upcoming exam to real life application. On whatever scale students should realize topics and skills in the classroom are being focused on for a future goal or target and not just because the teacher said so.
I believe Wesch is correct in his theory that teachers must cease from managing the learners, and begin managing their environments.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
BP5_2009December1_Social Bookmarking
While the term, Social Bookmarking, is new to me the exercise has been around for quite sometime. And actually implementing this in the classroom or corporate training sessions never caught my attention.
Until now that is.
The idea that the Internet, as expansive as it is, can be in essence compartmentalized a great number of ideas, resources and trends into a much keener perspective.
Just like in the real world classes can be assembled into working groups and given research projects. Tags will allow them to work seamlessly and lower the rate of misunderstandings that commonly occur. Collaborative groups could share an account, or create a unique tag so that all members could have access to what the others have bookmarked. (O’Conner, 2008)
In a paperless environment (especially good for corporations looking to be environmentally friendly or cost effective) A professor or trainer could save readings for a class this way, too. Since each tag has it's own URL or RSS feeds, so students who use a news aggregator can see new postings automatically.
There are also social bookmarking services aimed at specific people or formats. Flickr is a photo service with some neat annotation features. (Hedreen, 2005)
As with all online services, users are advised to read the Terms of Service.
Most sites' Terms of Service agreements include a warning that they allow the posting of links to third-party websites. The linked websites are not under the control of the bookmarking site and they do not accept responsibility for the content of any linked website or any link contained in a linked website. In accessing the Site and Services or following links to third-party websites you may be exposed to content that you consider offensive or inappropriate. You agree that your only recourse is to stop using the site and service.
Teachers are advised to read the individual Terms of Service agreements and trial bookmarking sites before using them with students. (Dept of Education, 2009)
Until now that is.
The idea that the Internet, as expansive as it is, can be in essence compartmentalized a great number of ideas, resources and trends into a much keener perspective.
Just like in the real world classes can be assembled into working groups and given research projects. Tags will allow them to work seamlessly and lower the rate of misunderstandings that commonly occur. Collaborative groups could share an account, or create a unique tag so that all members could have access to what the others have bookmarked. (O’Conner, 2008)
In a paperless environment (especially good for corporations looking to be environmentally friendly or cost effective) A professor or trainer could save readings for a class this way, too. Since each tag has it's own URL or RSS feeds, so students who use a news aggregator can see new postings automatically.
There are also social bookmarking services aimed at specific people or formats. Flickr is a photo service with some neat annotation features. (Hedreen, 2005)
As with all online services, users are advised to read the Terms of Service.
Most sites' Terms of Service agreements include a warning that they allow the posting of links to third-party websites. The linked websites are not under the control of the bookmarking site and they do not accept responsibility for the content of any linked website or any link contained in a linked website. In accessing the Site and Services or following links to third-party websites you may be exposed to content that you consider offensive or inappropriate. You agree that your only recourse is to stop using the site and service.
Teachers are advised to read the individual Terms of Service agreements and trial bookmarking sites before using them with students. (Dept of Education, 2009)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Choosing RSS Feeds that work for ME
Firstly a feed to my own website that I am responsible for updating. This primarily will serve as a reminder for me to get on my job, but also allow me to see RSS Feeds as you do. This helps me in my online headline writing—which is far different from print slug writing.
http://www.focusdailynews.com/clients/focusdailynews/headlines.rss
The Diversity at Work Blog hosted by the Poynter Institute is an important one for me. While race isn’t all that matters, but with minorities at an all time low in the newsroom (NABJ, 2009) A voice discussing the issues that matter to me in my own point of view. Especially with the massive layoffs affecting my coworkers and peers.
http://www.poynter.org/media/rss/journalism_with_a_di.xml
In the beginning my strongest point was on the visual side. Photography and Page Design was key for me in securing employment where my other classmates focusing on sports, or entertainment failed. The Visual Voice also by the Poynter Institute keeps me abreast on topics in design, typography and photography. What print redesigns worked and which ones didn’t. It helps me learn from others, without the pain.
http://www.poynter.org/media/rss/the_design_desk.xml
Strange News from the Associated Press is exactly what it is. Quirky, weird, unbelievable tidbits that make for good water cooler conversation or maybe just give me a break from the hard news that could make you a bit cranky.
http://hosted.ap.org/lineups/STRANGEHEADS-rss_2.0.xml?SITE=VOICESD&SECTION=HOME
The RSS FEED from the Texas Press Association is a feeding frenzy if you will. From opinions/editorials from local journalists on issues affecting our community. Some sections include shared advertising revenue opportunities, etc.
http://texaspress.com/index.php?format=feed&type=rss
http://www.focusdailynews.com/clients/focusdailynews/headlines.rss
The Diversity at Work Blog hosted by the Poynter Institute is an important one for me. While race isn’t all that matters, but with minorities at an all time low in the newsroom (NABJ, 2009) A voice discussing the issues that matter to me in my own point of view. Especially with the massive layoffs affecting my coworkers and peers.
http://www.poynter.org/media/rss/journalism_with_a_di.xml
In the beginning my strongest point was on the visual side. Photography and Page Design was key for me in securing employment where my other classmates focusing on sports, or entertainment failed. The Visual Voice also by the Poynter Institute keeps me abreast on topics in design, typography and photography. What print redesigns worked and which ones didn’t. It helps me learn from others, without the pain.
http://www.poynter.org/media/rss/the_design_desk.xml
Strange News from the Associated Press is exactly what it is. Quirky, weird, unbelievable tidbits that make for good water cooler conversation or maybe just give me a break from the hard news that could make you a bit cranky.
http://hosted.ap.org/lineups/STRANGEHEADS-rss_2.0.xml?SITE=VOICESD&SECTION=HOME
The RSS FEED from the Texas Press Association is a feeding frenzy if you will. From opinions/editorials from local journalists on issues affecting our community. Some sections include shared advertising revenue opportunities, etc.
http://texaspress.com/index.php?format=feed&type=rss
Story Something: Personalizing the Writing Process
Story Something is an Internet and mobile platform that was originally designed to provide parents with personalized, interactive stories for children 2 to 8 years of age. The service asks parents to supply their child’s age, gender, family information, some information on his or her interests and favorite story categories, and allows parents to instantaneously receive personalized stories of approximately 500-850 words.
But with dismal literacy rates in the United States (U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 2003) I thought this would be a keen exercise for older students.
Story Something stories–first and foremost–features students in an active, positive way. So this isn’t just a English exercise but a lesson in social skills. Stories that describe students doing and seeing new things, accomplishing tasks, undertaking a new experience, etc. cast the principal character as the hero, and the personalization will allow a student to see himself or herself in that role.
The stories will include limited illustrations so the story will rest on the strength of its narrative.
The finished product will be sent deliverable to a computer or iPhone, etc. At this point Students will take the finished product starring them and rewrite the story in the first person. Students will take an active role in the writing process. From the brainstorming, writing first draft, rewriting, editing and rewriting.
Students will pass the link to their stories to a select group of students who will review and pass on their literary criticisms. Because students are their own strongest critics –they will provide honest and unbiased opinions.
Furthermore students will do their best with stories starring themselves, ensuring their best work. Parent involvement will be key, with this being online parental involvement will be a percentage of the grade. Like this blog parents will be able to comment and stay on their children to complete the assignment successfully.
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