Today we discovered how to use a smartboard. I had seen one already but never had an explicit tutorial on one. We saw how to interact with it and how we can use it with students in classes. We discovered how to navigate internet, write on it, and various other applications that come with it.
The board is pretty big but luckily, we can adjust the height and thus make it more accurate, as we saw in class. We can also put it in computer mode, video mode or in another mode which basically allows you to plug in your laptop. It is a mixture of a white board/computer/television.I think that students are going to be more interested in a classroom where a smartboard is available since they will be able to interact with it. Getting students to move and work on the smartboard will increase their motivation and engage them. I have found a short video of a smartboard used in a classroom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t0oZP7tJjA
This new technology equipment fully engages the student and takes learning to a whole new level.Smartboards are fairly recent and thus they are not available in the everyday public classrooms. However, I think that with time, it will make its way into many more classrooms.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Exploring Media Project: Social Representation
BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images.
"Beauty" images
In today's society, true beauty has lost all its meaning and has been replaced by a fake ideal promoted by media. To be socially accepted and considered beautiful in our society, women have physically mutilated themselves through anorexia, bulimia, and many other health related problems. This unhealthy portrayal of "beauty" imposed new standards that women believe that they have to follow in order to be considered beautiful. The media promotes these views of beauty through ads, news and TV shows to name a few.
For example, if you look at various shows such as Grey's Anatomy, House MD or Bones, which are popular American TV shows, most actresses are tall, slim and viewed by others as beautiful. Our society is imposing new beauty standards through media which has a direct impact on our everyday life. Whenever we use a form of media, we are constantly reminded of these fake standards and what we should do to follow them. Internet promotes this fake beauty through the many pop ups that pollute our screen while we browse internet sites. Television is not better than internet, as it promotes it through TV shows, ads, etc.
One TV show that struck me more than any other show was “America’s Next Top Model” where young women basically compete against each other to win the ultimate top model prize. All of these women are thin and preoccupied about their image and about their weight because, ultimately, the prettiest, thinnest and most top model-like will get the prize. They are taught how to conceal their “fat” and imperfections in order to have the “best” picture. Here is an example of this show and what it promotes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLK2Z2hUJzs
2 moments that stroked me most are:
- 1min. 04sec until 1min. 10sec.
- 2min. 11sec. until 2min. 29sec.
There are many more examples in this TV show. Unfortunately, many models suffer from anorexia or bulimia. As a result, they are extremely thin and suffer from health problems. As you can see in the pictures that I have posted, many models and celebrities are so thin that we can see their bones. In my opinion, skinny is not beautiful.
Moreover, beauty standards and expectations have even reached the image of children. In the last Olympics, in Beijing, a cute little girl sang the Chinese national song. The only drawback is that that cute little girl was lip singing. The real little girl that sang was not pretty enough to represent china so they decided to take a cuter one. Our fake beauty standards pushed some people to conceal the true identity of the singer because she did not fit them. In my opinion, this is inconceivable.
Fortunately, many women are proud of their body, no matter the social representations and standards that are imposed on them. The Dove picture represents women who are happy with the way that they look; this picture is free of photoshop and any other social expectations.
They are beautiful.
"Beauty" images
In today's society, true beauty has lost all its meaning and has been replaced by a fake ideal promoted by media. To be socially accepted and considered beautiful in our society, women have physically mutilated themselves through anorexia, bulimia, and many other health related problems. This unhealthy portrayal of "beauty" imposed new standards that women believe that they have to follow in order to be considered beautiful. The media promotes these views of beauty through ads, news and TV shows to name a few.
For example, if you look at various shows such as Grey's Anatomy, House MD or Bones, which are popular American TV shows, most actresses are tall, slim and viewed by others as beautiful. Our society is imposing new beauty standards through media which has a direct impact on our everyday life. Whenever we use a form of media, we are constantly reminded of these fake standards and what we should do to follow them. Internet promotes this fake beauty through the many pop ups that pollute our screen while we browse internet sites. Television is not better than internet, as it promotes it through TV shows, ads, etc.
One TV show that struck me more than any other show was “America’s Next Top Model” where young women basically compete against each other to win the ultimate top model prize. All of these women are thin and preoccupied about their image and about their weight because, ultimately, the prettiest, thinnest and most top model-like will get the prize. They are taught how to conceal their “fat” and imperfections in order to have the “best” picture. Here is an example of this show and what it promotes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLK2Z2hUJzs
2 moments that stroked me most are:
- 1min. 04sec until 1min. 10sec.
- 2min. 11sec. until 2min. 29sec.
There are many more examples in this TV show. Unfortunately, many models suffer from anorexia or bulimia. As a result, they are extremely thin and suffer from health problems. As you can see in the pictures that I have posted, many models and celebrities are so thin that we can see their bones. In my opinion, skinny is not beautiful.
Moreover, beauty standards and expectations have even reached the image of children. In the last Olympics, in Beijing, a cute little girl sang the Chinese national song. The only drawback is that that cute little girl was lip singing. The real little girl that sang was not pretty enough to represent china so they decided to take a cuter one. Our fake beauty standards pushed some people to conceal the true identity of the singer because she did not fit them. In my opinion, this is inconceivable.
Fortunately, many women are proud of their body, no matter the social representations and standards that are imposed on them. The Dove picture represents women who are happy with the way that they look; this picture is free of photoshop and any other social expectations.
They are beautiful.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Being careful with news in the media
Since this class is all about media, I thought that I'd share this short video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0AL4yml3bw
It basically warns people about false media representations/news. It is the story of 2 reporters who were fired because they refused to lie to the public. The report that they had done endangered an important corporation. This company did not want to truth to come out and be told to the public.
I think that this would be an excellent video to show to students and begin a class discussion with it afterwards. It would also encourage them to think critically about media and about the news that we are fed everyday. They would also be encouraged to reflect on what is true in the media and what they can do to find out the truth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0AL4yml3bw
It basically warns people about false media representations/news. It is the story of 2 reporters who were fired because they refused to lie to the public. The report that they had done endangered an important corporation. This company did not want to truth to come out and be told to the public.
I think that this would be an excellent video to show to students and begin a class discussion with it afterwards. It would also encourage them to think critically about media and about the news that we are fed everyday. They would also be encouraged to reflect on what is true in the media and what they can do to find out the truth.
new tech in class
Last weekend, I went to SPEAQ, along with classmates, and discovered a new technology gadget that teachers can easily use in class. In the first conference that I attended, I was introduced to Clickers. For those who are not familiar with this, the teacher has a remote control that controls a powerpoint presentation. In this presentation, the teacher can put questions for students to answer. Every student has a clicker, which is a small remote control with which students can select an answer to the teacher's question. They are very easy to use, but hard to explain without a clear visual. Here is a link to youtube that explains it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G0WzfitDBA
I think that clickers are very useful and easy to set up before a class. I would use it in a classroom, considering the fact that, among other things, it is a good conversation starter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G0WzfitDBA
I think that clickers are very useful and easy to set up before a class. I would use it in a classroom, considering the fact that, among other things, it is a good conversation starter.
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