The new media and participatory culture provide many platforms for those who have access to share and search content globally from the palm of their hand. As educators it is our duty to ensure the education our students receive applies to the current state of society, therefore incorporating digital tools and a knowledge and understanding of participatory culture is necessary (Reilly, 2009). One way to do this is incorporating social media activities into lessons. I have personally been in a class that has used social media as a way to retell a story. We had the option of using Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat etc; to retell or remix the story in any way we liked. This activity was a lot of fun, and could also be used as a springboard for a discussion on online safety and image. Introducing students to this paradigm of social media storytelling will allow them to see how these tools can/are used to tell their story, preparing them for a “complex mediascape where average citizens have the ability to seize control over the media technologies and tell their own story in powerful new ways.” (Jenkins, 2009). Cultivating these connections in students is critical for their development in using technology appropriately.
Failing to arm students with digital literacy skills is doing them a disservice. Educators must use the media tools available in the classroom as a means of communication, presentation, and as a basis for analysis and critical thinking. These relevant concepts can be used to deepen student understanding of the tools themselves, or a concept taught through these means. For example, students may study a commercial for a cell phone company. From this they can create their own commercial communicating the message of their phone company, they can present their digital project, or critically analyze this commercial for marketing strategies, bias, target audience etc;. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to learn how to use these tools safely, and how to use them to portray their desired online image which is a major key to success in participatory culture. As an extension, learning with media and digital literacy tools gives opportunities for students to extend their learning in ways that are not possible with traditional teaching methods. Students now have access to countless platforms for researching and presenting their ideas, fostering their individual creativity and presenting it in a way of their choosing.
The new media and participatory culture are an exciting addition to our classrooms, creating new opportunity for student voice and creativity while encouraging development of critical analysis.
Works Cited:
HDCMediaGroup. . (2009, September 21). Henry Jenkins [Video file]. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibJaqXVaOaI.
Reilly, E. (2009). What is Learning in a Participatory Culture? Threshold. Retrieved from http://dmlcentral.net/wp-content/uploads/files/THSpring09WhatisLearning.pdf
Failing to arm students with digital literacy skills is doing them a disservice. Educators must use the media tools available in the classroom as a means of communication, presentation, and as a basis for analysis and critical thinking. These relevant concepts can be used to deepen student understanding of the tools themselves, or a concept taught through these means. For example, students may study a commercial for a cell phone company. From this they can create their own commercial communicating the message of their phone company, they can present their digital project, or critically analyze this commercial for marketing strategies, bias, target audience etc;. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to learn how to use these tools safely, and how to use them to portray their desired online image which is a major key to success in participatory culture. As an extension, learning with media and digital literacy tools gives opportunities for students to extend their learning in ways that are not possible with traditional teaching methods. Students now have access to countless platforms for researching and presenting their ideas, fostering their individual creativity and presenting it in a way of their choosing.
The new media and participatory culture are an exciting addition to our classrooms, creating new opportunity for student voice and creativity while encouraging development of critical analysis.
Works Cited:
HDCMediaGroup. . (2009, September 21). Henry Jenkins [Video file]. Retrieved February 24, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibJaqXVaOaI.
Reilly, E. (2009). What is Learning in a Participatory Culture? Threshold. Retrieved from http://dmlcentral.net/wp-content/uploads/files/THSpring09WhatisLearning.pdf