Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Reflections on NAMLE Part 2

When my husband saw my last blog post, he questioned the excessive length. I responded that this was actually just the first day of a three-day report and I had shortened it. Here is the second day of my NAMLE report.

Thursday, June 27, 2019 (9:15 am)

What We Don't Talk About: Race, Politics, Religion and Sexuality
Stephanie Flores-Koulish, Steve Goodman, Asad Muhammad, Tracye A. Matthews

Summary: (taken from program guide)

Race. Politics. Religion. Sexuality. We are living in times where the conversation about these important topics becomes contentious before it even begins. We have lost the ability to listen and digest information before reacting to it. The understanding that humans are flawed, complex and biased is not often acknowledged. As a community, we are struggling to engage around difficult topics. Teachers are nervous to talk about controversial topics in the classroom because of push back they get from administration and the community. College campuses, which should be a breeding ground for diverse thinking, have stopped inviting guest lecturers or speakers that the student body might find controversial. Comedians have stopped coming because they may ‘offend.’ This opening plenary session is a chance to explore the difficult conversations that we are seeing in our world, with the idea of creating a bridge for divergent thinking. Understanding nuance and its method for dialogue is vital. This opening keynote conversation will open the lines of communication while also pushing the proverbial envelope of what people consider to be a truth about themselves or other cultures, and spark a continued exchange in a space and place where the dialogue should exist – our nation’s Capital.

So What? Now What?

The opening session was held at the American University College of Law and my session was scheduled for immediately after in a different location. I chose to skip the opening panel so that I could have time to set up for my classroom demonstration. My AML colleagues Neil and Chelsea attended, so I didn't feel too bad about missing out.

Visual / Social Media Artifacts



Thursday, June 27, 2019 (10:30 am)

On the Air: Elementary Student Adventures in Podcasting and Radio Broadcasting
Diana Maliszewski

Summary: (taken from program guide)

Creating media texts is one of the most authentic ways to understand how conventions and techniques converge to create meanings for different purposes and audiences. What better way to elevate conversations and unify voices than through podcasting and radio broadcasting? In this classroom demonstration, not only will attendees tinker with planning and recording a potential podcast, they will discover some production perspectives via a virtual field trip to a real radio station and some mini-activities to prompt thinking about several key media concepts.

3 Key Points:
  1. Sometimes the process is more profitable (learning-wise) than the product. Students didn't create great podcasts in the end but realized a lot about planning and production.
  2. It doesn't take a lot of fancy equipment to create podcasts or broadcasts. A simple app, a quiet space and some good ideas might be all it takes.
  3. Give students the time and space to talk about things that matter to them.

So What? Now What?
At first, I worried that the session had immediately gone off the rail. No one could hear the "Milling to Music" song (which was "Video Killed the Radio Star") because it was too soft and the people in the room were too engaged with the conversations they were having. Then, I mentally gave myself a shake and told myself, "Isn't this what the conference theme is all about? Elevating conversations and unifying voices? Let it happen!" Thankfully, the pacing worked just fine and the participants had plenty to try, say and do. My favourite moment of the classroom demonstration was when Michelle Cannon and three other attendees got up to leave the room about five minutes before the official end of the workshop - I thought they were just departing for their next session. They weren't. Instead, they were locating a quiet spot for the four of them (each from a different country) to create a podcast comparing politics in their local spaces. I have to confess that I teared up when I realized what had happened. How powerful is that? My next step is to try and return to this idea somehow with my students - I said I don't repeat units, but maybe I should have a podcast club. My other next steps involve continuing to record "Mediacy" with Neil Andersen, Carol Arcus, Denise Colby, Stephen Hurley and VoicEd Radio.

Visual / Social Media Artifacts









Thursday, June 27, 2019 (11:45 am)

Visualizing Media Literacy
Theresa Redmond

Summary: (taken from program guide)

In this session, participants will engage in media literacy inquiry through visual methodologies and practice. With the proliferation of digital tools and devices for communication and creation, people of all ages and backgrounds may find themselves in the role of the ‘producer,’ authoring texts, images, videos, memes, and other media. Yet, what does production look like as part of media literacy learning? Using analog, digital, and transdigital methods, I have been innovating and investigating creative journaling in my college-level media literacy class. Preliminary findings suggest visualization exercises comprise a student-centered, democratic pedagogy that cultivates inquiry through multimodal expression.

3 Key Points:

  1. Black-out poetry can be used for other purposes too, not just for creative writing. Take a piece of academic writing and distill it to its core message via heavy markers.
  2. Use Telestrations to have students explore concepts in a group setting.

So What? Now What?

Theresa did not expect to see the large number of people attend her session, which I think threw her off a bit. That's unfortunate because she had good ways of using tried-and-true techniques in different ways to promote thinking and learning that didn't get conveyed as effectively. I know that my next step will definitely be to use both Telestrations (which I have a class set of 25 reusable journal pads) and black-out poetry for academic or content-driven purposes in my lessons for 2019-20.

Visual / Social Media Artifacts



Thursday, June 27, 2019 (1:45 pm)

What does the Internet know about you?
Julie Smith

Summary: (taken from program guide)

Our students have grown up online, it’s very difficult for them to understand that if they are using websites for free that they are not the customers, but the products being sold. This classroom exercise involves six different websites that the students visit which shows them how they are tracked online. I tried this for the first time with my students and I can’t describe how many “a-ha” moments there were! Would love to share this information with other teachers.

3 Key Points:
  1. Google is not God or gospel - two people doing identical searches can receive different results based on many factors that Google monitors and uses. Google Trends/Analytics is like the "digital truth serum" or cerebroscope, which gives us an honest view of what people are seeking.
  2. Netflix is so good at understanding what people like and want to watch based on the data they collect that supporting shows like House of Cards or Bird Box were almost "no risk" and they have even been able to narrow selections down to over 77 different "microgenres".
  3. Designers are very clever. Fortnite designers studied Candy Crush to learn how to keep players on for as long as possible. Dark patterns get users to act in the way businesses want. Amazon has created its interface to make it virtually impossible to delete your Amazon account .

So What? Now What?

Julie had a very entertaining presentation style and used many strategies to keep her audience engaged, with Kahoot quizzes and memes. Her sites, http://bit.ly/namledata and www.heyjuliesmith.com have great links that I can explore at length in the future. I also need to read "Everybody Lies" because both Julie and Neil recommended it.

Visual / Social Media Artifacts

Thursday, June 27, 2019 (1:45 pm) 

Digital Disconnect: Capturing a 24 Hour Social Media Fast
Timothy Molina

Summary: (taken from program guide)

This session will explore the results of a 24 hour digital media fast conducted during the first week of an Introduction to Mass Communication course. Students deliberate attempts to disconnect from all forms of media were captured and collected. These preliminary reflective responses captured during the intentional nonuse of media build on our understandings of the relationship we have built with a constant and pervasive media environment.

So What? Now What?

I spent a very long time talking with Timothy at his Idea Fair table. Our conversation spread from the digital media fast with his students to Texas culture. Based on what Timothy noted was the benefits and diminishing effects of the fast, I promised that I would do a 24-hour social media fast every two months so that I could semi-replicate the experience I had giving up Twitter for Lent this year.

Visual / Social Media Artifacts

Thursday, June 27, 2019 (1:45 pm)

Speed Friendshipping
Sydney Schoff & Lilly McCormick

Summary: (taken from program guide)

In a society where our phones are becoming our best friends, Speed Friendshipping can remind us that face-to-face interaction is important and should not be dismissed! This event encourages individuals to be more mindful of how their media use is impacting their current and future friendships. Speed Friendshipping allowed 30 college students to be placed in an environment fueled by physical conversation -- mirroring the conversations that were commonplace before technology was in our pocket. Participants stated in their exit survey that they were highly likely to be more mindful of their media use following the event.

So What? Now What?

I believe I got a great resource from Sydney and Lilly - all of their conversation starter slips! I like having these sort of talks with my own teen daughter and son (and we put a slightly different spin on it - we try to predict what the others will say so we can see how well we know the inner lives of our family members). The conversation starters will be a great addition to our own list of chat topics.

Thursday, June 27, 2019 (4:15 pm)

Media Literacy and Social Justice: Exploring the Promises and Challenges of Using Media Literacy to Work towards Social Justice and Educational Equity
Srivi Ramasubramanian, Jeff Share, Rashawna Sydnor, Asad Muhammad, Emily Bailin Wells

Summary: (taken from program guide)

In many ways, media literacy and social justice are inextricably linked. Both are emancipatory in nature: the practices and pedagogies that inform both media literacy and social justice seek to empower, amplify, and liberate through productive and often radical ways. In this town hall conversation, we will engage a selection of experts and audience members in discussions around the ways that media literacy education can be used to inform and achieve social justice and equity in both in- and out-of-school spaces. We will imagine what this might look like, what barriers we might face, and what some tangible next steps might be for the work we do in our own classrooms and educational spaces.

So What? Now What?

I couldn't summarize the talk into 3 key points. It wasn't that kind of conversation. I was really pleased with how the town hall coordinators for this section did an excellent job of ensuring that all the structures for facilitation were built so that all voices could be heard. For instance, Jeff outlined the "rules of engagement" (but this isn't the term he used) that were similar to guidelines like this (see http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/leadership/pdfs/TipSheetConversation.pdf) but then asked if there were any additions the room wanted to make. It actually led to a good mini-discussion about "offensive language" (which didn't mean profanity but denigrating terms). I've asked Emily (the moderator) for a link to the document. She has given it to me but asked me not to share it just yet until it gets preserved. I hope that it isn't just a nice little chat, but actually leads to some changes.

Visual / Social Media Artifacts

We passed on the Awards Reception so that Neil, Chelsea, and I could grab a simple dinner and deconstruct the day's events together in the common room at our dormitory. The conversations there were just as rich but also intensely personal and honest, so I'll refrain from giving a recap. Stay tuned for part 3!
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1 comment:

  1. Lisa NobleJuly 2, 2019 at 6:28 PM

    Okay, you are amazing. And that first keynote sounded astounding. I feel like I could pick your brain for days on all of this! Wow. And yes, an occasional deliberate social media fast is a really good idea.

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