WELCOME TO MY CLASSROOM
2021-2022
DIGITAL MEDIA COURSE INFORMATION
The Digital Media program this year will be limited to one course: Digital Media I because I have added a CCP speech course for seniors completing ENGL 1105. For those taking 1101, the digital media course will feature multimodal storytelling, including podcasting and video storytelling. as well as some game theory and production. Other projects include the development of digital escape room puzzles for subject-specific classroom application and experimentation with new apps for academic and entertainment purposes. All projects will be posted to individual student websites and the high school website. Please contact me if you have any questions. I will maintain the description for DM II here for future reference should that class be added.
Digital Media I
Google Classroom will be the source for all assignments this semester, but be sure to check out the top of this page for various new announcements. Due dates are posted for the assignments on Classroom as well.
The major projects for Digital Media I will be: create a Wix website, record a two-three week podcast, do a photo essay, create a video introduction of your website, a Pecha Kucha, and a screencast, among others.
COMM 110
For Digital Media II, the major projects include using the skills from DM I to identify a cause and use technology skills to create infographics, create a series of podcasts, and discover ways to improve the circumstances of those affected by whatever issue you have identified. We will also do 20 percent projects, create a curated collection of resources with annotations for the media center, do a digital story, a 2-minute explainer video, a digital escape room for the Digital I students, and others as time allows.
College Prep English III
The first nine weeks will consist of reading the 2007 novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini, a novel about Afghanistan. The story reveals a country and a culture left behind technologically, economically, and socially - trapped by conflict and fundamentalist traditions. Assignments for this novel will include writing, group work, and presentations, and will test students' ability to think maturely and critically about difficult issues.
No one who reads this book remains unmoved. Even years later, former students recall the reading experience as powerful and transformative.
The second semester will continue the literary theme, examining the evolution of the short story, beginning with Poe and ending with present-day authors of flash fiction. Students will create their own short story using an app called Book Creator as the final project for the quarter. This app can be accessed from the school website via the Clever Portal.
S1
NOVEL & WRITING
S2
AMERICAN LITERATURE: SHORT STORY/NON-FICTION
Plans & New Information
National Honor Society
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Induction date:
May 14, 2021 @ 9:o0 am: Seniors Only
May 14, 2021 @ 10:00 am: Junior Induction
Minford High School Gym
National Honor Society Induction of junior members will be held Friday, May 14, at 10:00 am in the high school gym. We will also hold a recognition ceremony for senior members at 9:00 am the same day. Information regarding arrangements for social distancing and the number of people we will be allowed to have in attendance will be posted here and on the school's website in April. Our hope is that we will be able to host all family members, but we will have to follow the rules and guidelines from the state health department.
Below you will find the organization's handbook that includes detailed information on the four pillars of the society.
I am pleased to announce that last year's president of National Honor Society, Even Wheeler, will be our speaker for both ceremonies.
What You Need to Know - Now
AI Assistants
Artificial Intelligence is the future. However, today and for the next five years, emphasis in businesses will be on using this technology as an aide rather than replacement of key personnel roles. Algorithmic decision-making poses ethical dilemmas that are still being debated by governments and businesses alike.
Integration will be the focus in jobs like journalism, where AI will complete investigative tasks, freeing up reporters to work more efficiently in the field and take on more complex topics.
With data and templates, automated writing to create summaries and store them in cloud databases will be the primary jobs for AI in business.
Source: Deleuse, A. (2019). The Future of Media: Key Trends for 2019 and Beyond. Business Wire.
Monetizing Information
Consumers both want and need to find trustworthy, objective news and are willing to pay for premium options. Much like streaming movies, streaming news outlets will offer more in-depth analysis and information at a cost.
In addition, big business sees your data as their data to sell all or part to other businesses, and more companies are uploading this data to the cloud, so data science and analysis will play an enormous role going forward.
New career choices in digital media will certainly be driven by data manipulation - the protection and storage of it as well as the monetization.
Source: Iverson, H. K. (2020). What to Expect in Data and Analytics in 2020. TDWI.
Digital Media Jobs Focus: Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a growing and constantly evolving career choice for communications majors, as well as marketing majors. Individuals who host blogs and podcasts with a significant number of followers will find themselves popular candidates for branding opportunities with companies.
Analysis of marketing trends predicts that emphasis will be less on celebrities and more on micro-influencers (individuals that have between 1,000 to 1,000,000 followers/audience members and are considered experts in their fields). Check out this article if you are interested in this growing career.
Source: Anderson, M. (2019). What Are Micro-Influencers & Why Are They So Effective? IMPACT.
tools of the trade
video production
While you may have created videos for fun, a more professional job requires a little more planning and style, not to mention a bit of technical know-how.
Storytelling
So you have a great story: compelling, socially relevant, not to mention entertaining. How can you make it special without paying an arm and a leg? How about some free tools?
podcasting
Podcasting includes a range of recording options that depend largely on topic and audience. But, the basic setup + having the right equipment can make it easy.
commercials
Your group will decide on a product to sell online and create a commercial that will appeal to the target consumer. Before your group decides on a product, read the attached article linked below.
“It’s not about you. It’s about your audience, and if they’re not listening, it’s your fault, not theirs.”
McCleese, paraphrased from Steve Jobs.
According to the Ohio Department of Education, students who graduate from high school should possess more than basic digital skills and knowledge. This course will cover most of the Ohio standards for grades 9-12, omitting those that specify the use of technology we do not currently have.
Jason Brown, a Worldwide Microsoft Student Ambassador In 2016, offers a student view of the uses of technology in education, specifically in the classroom.
Source: Tedx Talks. [Jason Brown]. (2016 March 29). Redefining Learning & Teaching using Technology. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOTEQVYDPpg
I chose Wix because of its simplicity. For beginning website developers, Wix offers a ‘drag and drop’ feature that will also make the development of a website far more time efficient.
Students: After you choose your design and content, and become familiar with the program, you will move to the advanced editor and make more complex design choices.
Source: Wix. (2019 July 24). Wix Tutorial For Beginners 2019 Create A Wix Website In Minutes. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaM9Rz61mTs
First semester focused on ‘audience’ as the KEY element to a successful essay. I’m here to tell you, it’s not over. The focus is still your audience, and Matt Chan, creator of the TV series “Hoarders,” explains why.
Another resource we will use in creating digital stories can be found here, a website at the University of Houston. This website delineates the seven basic elements of digital storytelling and goes into detail on the uses of the practice.
Source: TEDx Talks. [Matt Chan]. What Great Storytellers Know: Matt Chan at TEDxSeattle. [Video file]. Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04DJ3UPe2p8