Final Paper Abstract

My final paper is addressing the...

 <<educational disconnect between student life, their creativity, and learning >> 

I am offering a couple of ideas to use in the classroom.  

The paper included the series "Warriors" as symbolic to the core components of participatory culture:

• collaboration as the foundation
• exploration
• creativity
• interactive literacy
• open communication without judgement
• opportunities to participate
• multi-modal 

Literature that has interactive media available for students:

Warriors--> http://www.warriorcats.com/

This series is quest driven, 

((((something kids love)))) 

but affords opportunities to exlpore many critical issues 

(i.e. caring for the environment, social structures, etc.)

 

Diary of a Wimpy kid
-> www.wimpykid.com

 
Jeff Kinney is an author that speaks to the readers on a regular basis, embracing the participants, inviting them to become involved.

As an introduction, my students watched this video and then drew their own versions on the wireless tablet where they were projecting their fun activity on the board for the class to see. 

............................................................................................................................................................

The paper, with limit to space, decided to focus mostly on the blogging piece of these interactive websites.  

Blogging is one way for students to be reflective, practice literacy skills, participate with a public community, and be engaged.


ONE TEACHER'S EXAMPLE:

^^^SOOOOOOOOOOO   COOOOOOOOOOOOL 

IT is important to teach about blogs to students that are younger.

heart warming story-
 I work with students with emotional and behaviorial challenges.  This particular student had a rough start to life, experiencing many traumas.  Getting him to participate has not even been a priority, replaced by a need to keep him feeling safe first.  

I introduced blogging.  Honestly, I didn't even realize this student was listening.  A couple days later, he raised his hand super excited,   "Ms. Cole, do you know, Dog with a blog?" As I was unfamiliar, we began investigating through our technology as a class together.  I thought it was a blog itself.  After talking with him and finally figuring it out, we found a video.  He had watched the Disney show about a Dog that talks and blogs and we watched the trailer as a class (really funny BTW).  This kid was tantalized by the connection and so was I!!