Scrutinizing the Cybersell outside of the class context
First of all, I want to say how much I like the fact that all of our readings seem to converge in really interesting ways. As I was reading Crovit’s article, it made me think of many of the new media literacy skills that Jenkins lays out in the White Paper. For Jenkins, as well as Hobbs and Crovitz, thinking critically about the media is not enough: we must get our students to produce their own media in response to the media that they critically engage.
Although I really liked the fact that Crovitz has his students do projects which teach the class about deconstructing various student targeted websites, I think that they could take it to another level. What about developing an online magazine, akin to Adbusters, in which students could publish multimodal articles and media which will critique the cybersellers? How about creating satirical ads which lampoon those specific sites, and posting them on youtube?
There are just so many ways to get students involved in the world beyond the classroom that we should almost be embarrased if we just have our students working on projects to be done only in class.
I think you have a good point about taking the student projects to another level. I really like the ideas you suggest. They would definitely get the students producing something real and interesting to them!
Hi Jon, yes, a great idea! Do you have any plans for your own students to make their own PSA or like video re: the bead project? KES
Great ideas here, Jon! I imagine many students would be really excited to be given the opportunity to do the kind of work you suggest. I hope you take off and run with some of your ideas with your students. Just from what we’ve witnessed with their work thus far with the bead project, I imagine they could do some really amazing things.
Amanda
Jon,
I agree with you (and all of us who have commented) that a critique of cybersellers is a great project to develop with students. I don’t know that we can teach media literacy without teaching media critique, and what a perfect place to start! Good luck with implementing that. Sofia