Journal #6

"There are other news pitfalls that media-literate students should be ready to identify. Reporters operating under a time crunch may overly rely on controlled information from a press briefing managed by the press secretary. Or, because of a lack of expertise in economics or science, news reporters may use a press release composed by a corporate publicist without checking the information through other sources."(Abilock)
   
     According to this statement, there are times among our media when those who are reporting it are knowingly giving out information that could be inaccurate. This surprised me because I've never given that concept any prior thought. Whenever i have had issues with the media, it is usually because i disagree with whatever opinion that a speaker or reporter is sending to the audience. There have been times in my life when i feel that a politician is taking another politicians words out of context, in order to suit his own dogma. For myself, i suppose I've always have had a blind trust that a reporter would do their job, and make sure the information he/she is sending into the public is correct. I've always assumed that to do otherwise would result in someone finding error in the publication. Wouldn't a journalist want to avoid this to save themselves embarrassment?

 Abilock, Debbie. "A Seven-Power Lens on 21st-Century Literacy." . MultiMedia Schools, 2003. Web. 26 Feb 2012. <http://www.infotoday.com/mmschools>. 

This video discusses some of the issues we have been discussing. This deals with how the media isn't always accurate and acknowledges that the information we receive is usually biased.  

How the News Works. Youtube, 2007. web. 26 Feb 2012.

Media Literacy meets ISTE-NETS

The first standard expresses that teachers must inspire students to learn and be creative. Furthermore, Part B instructs that we, by using digital tools, should promote an understanding of real world issues.
     Media Literacy could assist this standard by the instructor having access to unlimited information about about political and economic issues that are relevant towards a particular part of study. An instructor who has knowledge of Media Literacy could easily find reliable and unbiased information pertaining to a particular subject. Furthermore, the instructor would be informed of any inaccurate information, and refrain from exposing students to media that has motives towards fear mongering or any other political agenda.
The second standard expresses that instructors should use modern tools to insure students are receiving information that can later be evaluated. Part B of this standard instructs that teachers use technology to allow students to explore individual interests.
     Media Literacy is an asset to this approach because having it allows instructors to guide their students to credible websites or databases to help them find the most useful and scholarly resources. For example, in most of my classes that required a research paper, we we shown how to properly navigate through databases to find articles most relevant to our searches. This was helpful because it allowed one to find articles that were easily assessable.
     Media literacy is important in this media age because we are essentially overloaded with information coming from those who wish to persuade us to their way of thinking. I find it essential to know the difference between opinion and fact. By being literate towards the media, one can filter the information that is important to the individual.   



   

Journal Entry 5

"For example, historians regularly quote both other historians’ writings and textual sources; filmmakers and visual artists use, reinterpret, and critique copyright material; while scholars illustrate cultural commentary with textual, visual, and musical examples.(Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education)

     The scope of our Digital Story project is exactly covered in the quotation above. Our assignment was to create a video that represented our West Virginian culture through the means of pictures, text and copyrighted music to create a emotional response. We, as a group, borrow copyrighted material and used it to create something of our own, and in this way we were following the guidelines of the Fair Use policy.
     Even though I intended no copyright infringement through my video, it was removed from public viewing on youtube. I have concluded that this must have been a flaw in my crediting. I mean to fix this issue promptly.

I received this information from: http://mediaeducationlab.com/sites/mediaeducationlab.com/files/CodeofBestPracticesinFairUse_0.pdf

Class Activity: Code of best pratice in Fair Use for Media Literacy.

1. What is the difference between Media in Education vs Media Literacy Education? According to the article, Media Literacy is "the capability to access, analyze, evaluate and communicative messages in a wide variety of forms." While Media in Education is simply using the media as a means of education. 
2. What social bargain is at the heart of Fair use? According to the text the bargain is "we as a society give limited property rights to creators to encourage them to produce culture; at the same time, we give other creators the chance to use that same copyrighted material, without permission or payment, in some circumstances."
3. Why is Fair Use more important today? According to the article Fair Use in more important today because "As copyright protects more works for longer periods than ever before, creators face new challenges: licenses to incorporate copyrighted sources become more expensive and more difficult to obtain—and sometimes are simply unavailable."
   
   
4. What are the two key questions judges use to determine Fair Use? There are two questions judges ask when determining fair use. The article lists them as: "Did the unlicensed use “transform” the material taken from the copyrighted work by using it for a different purpose than that of the original, or did it just repeat the work for the same intent and value as the original?" and "Was the material taken appropriate in kind and amount, considering the nature of the copyrighted work and of the use?"
   
5. A teacher shows a movie of The Lion King and asks student to notice how the animals in the movie reflect racial stereotypes? Is this Fair Use? Why? Yes, because the copy righted material is being used for educational purposes.
6. Which principle relates most strongly to the digital story you created in class? Explain. My Digital Story would fit under the first principle I was attempting to "transform" the material to tell my own story. 
7. Are there limitations to the amount of pictures, length of music, or video that can be used in a multimedia project? This article does not seem to specify. 
8. Do you need to request permission from the original creator in order to use copyrighted material in multimedia project for school related assignment? no. 
9. Should educators try to change the policies in their school in they are not in line with Fair Use doctrine? Of course. The law is the law, right? 
10. What common myth about Fair Use surprised you the most? Probably the one that expressed that a misconception is that if one isn't making money off something then it's fair use, and it's not fair use if it's the other way around. 

Digital story project

Journal #4

"It is interesting how many students are now being labeled "attention disordered." Years ago, only medical practitioners determined whether a child had an attention disorder, and the numbers were small. Now, teachers, relatives, and next-door neighbors are quick to point out the characteristics of ADD. Increasing numbers of youngsters are routinely placed on ”trials” of Ritalin, without first ruling out other factors that could be causing apparent ADHD symptoms" (Linksman.)

     This article is relevant to my own thoughts and I've engaged in conversations among like-minded friends about this particular topic. One may notice that there has been, without a doubt, a rise in those who are diagnosed with this disability. When I young, my teacher suggested my mother having me tested, and this resulted in my taking medication. I was on Ritalin until I reached High School, this is when I decided (as a slight form of rebellion) that i didn't need it and I wasn't taking it anymore. I don't consider myself a "Kinesthetic" learned by any means. I never was the type that felt uncomfortable sitting still. My problem was/is that I'm a day dreamer, and I tend to let my inner monologue dominate my consciousness.
   I believe that diagnostics for this condition need to be taken more seriously. It seems that some might forget that these drugs we are feeding our children are narcotics. The drug Adderall is highly addictive and is abused among college students around the country. What's worse is that it probably wouldn't take much to convince a doctor to prescribe it to any of us!

 Linksman, Ricki. "The Fine line between ADHD and Kinesthetic learners." Association for Comprehensive NeuroTherapy. 1998: n. page. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. 

 Barkley , Russel. Internet Videoconference Interview

Journal #3

"The standardization of English spelling began in the 16th century, and although it is unclear at exactly what point our spelling became set, what is certain is that ever since it happened, people have complained that the rules of spelling, such as they are, just don’t make sense." (Shea)


I have considered the idea that our language is more difficult than others because our rules of spelling greatly differ. For example "rough" and "dough" look like they should rhyme, but sound nothing alike.   I have very little knowledge on the linguistic aspects of this, but i assume that our language was created this way for a reason. I have heard that other languages don't operate this way, that spelling rules are less confusing. It seems to me that these complaints might actually be an excuse, in order to justify those who have trouble spelling. In all honesty, I'm really not sure, but i don't see an abrupt change being possible. If there was to be one, it would definitely have to be gradual. I'm not the only one who doesn't like change! As for myself, i don't have problems spelling, and i find the English language beautiful. Though, i must admit that i'm simply biased because it's the only language I've ever known.  


Shea, Ammon. "The Keypad solution." New York Times. 2010: n. page. Web. 5 Feb. 2012

Bell, Masha, perf. "Why Improve English Spelling?." youtube, 2009. web. 5 Feb 2012

Comix Strip