pedablogical

@newsfromtengrrl for 2010-05-20

May 20

By Traci Gardnernews Comments Off

• CollabTech 2010: Keynote: Social Media, Participative Pedagogy, & Digital Literacies by Howard Rheingold http://bit.ly/aXo7mU via @ncarbone #
• Designing an Image to Represent a Character | Tengrrl.com » http://bit.ly/9JJyzo (spinoffs on Seale's literary tattoo assignment) #

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Designing an Image to Represent a Character

May 20

By Traci Gardnerclassroom activity, lesson plan, Literature, visual rhetoric analysis, assignments, critical thinking, Shakespeare Comments Off

Tara Seale posted details on a fun visual rhetoric and writing activity she recently used with students on the NCTE Secondary Section Blog. The activity, inspired by a similar task described by Shelbie Witte, asks students to design and explain a tattoo for a character from Romeo and Juliet. The blog entry includes links to the assignment sheet, the rubric, a sample essay, and a number of sample tattoo designs.

Connecting to Other Literary Tattoos

The assignment can be easily linked to one of the Literary Lists of “Ten Best” from the UK newspaper The Guardian, which I wrote about earlier this month.

Share Ten of the best tattoos in literature with students, or a few of the items listed in The Guardian article with students to get them warmed up. They may know of other literary tattoos to add to the list. This evening, I happened to remember Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo. Surely that’s a worthy patch of ink to add.

Other Assignment Possibilities

Naturally, the assignment could be completed for any work of literature. No reason you have to stick to Romeo and Juliet. Nor do you have to stick with characters from a work of literature. What about tattoos for some of the authors you’ve read in class?

If tattoo design isn’t appropriate for the students you teach, just modify the activity. Witte‘s original activity described the tattoos as a mind of modern family crest. Just have students design crests if tattoos would cause uncomfortable conversations with family or administrators.

If you still want the modern-day edge to the activity, have students design a personal logo or icon for a character. Ask students to think of the kind of image someone might post in place of a photo on a Facebook profile or a similar website.

In terms of publication, you can follow Seale‘s technique and have students submit images and an essay, but if you have the resources available, you can try a more technological bent:

• Students might create Powerpoint presentations that layer the different portions of the image together and include text or audio explanations of the items. For instance, for the image in the photo above, the presentation might start with the basic outline of the heart, then shade red, add the flame, and finally add the dagger—each on a separate slide.
• Using basic mouseover Javascript and pop-ups, students might make a webpage which features the image and explains the reason behind different aspects of the design when the viewer drags the mouse over them.
• Use an image maps with alt text, but the length of students’ explanations would be quite limited. Javascript pop-ups would give them more room.
• Publish the designs on Flickr and have students use the “Add Note” feature to identify specific portions of the image and then include related explanations.

No matter what option you choose, the assignment pairs visual aspects with critical thinking and communication. It’s a fun activity that can be used with students from kindergarten to college. Just adjust the requirements to fit students’ abilities and the pedagogical goals of the class.

[Creative Commons licensed Flickr photo by Mykl Roventine]

@newsfromtengrrl for 2010-05-19

May 19

By Traci Gardnernews Comments Off

• Are video games the answer to college counseling shortage? | eSchoolNews.com http://bit.ly/9PSY9J #
• Cub Scouts’ Video Game Pin Sending Wrong Message? – School Library Journal http://bit.ly/ceBZJJ #
• Why Grading Is Part of My Job – Inside Higher Ed http://bit.ly/9xpRE0 (op-ed) #
• The DNA Assignment at Berkeley – Inside Higher Ed http://bit.ly/b3xaP9 #
• HS program focuses on college readiness – The Boston Globe http://bit.ly/aT4rvo #
• A Library in Your Pocket | American Libraries Magazine http://bit.ly/bECxaF #
• Community Colleges' Unfunded Mandate – Inside Higher Ed http://bit.ly/cpGzMF #
• A field trip to the Internet Archive | Washington Post » http://bit.ly/aoKdNk #
• For Children, a Social Network With Training Wheels – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/b3mI3i #
• Students design tattoos for Romeo & Juliet characters — http://bit.ly/axRMPj #
• Wimbledon appoints its first official poet | The Guardian http://bit.ly/cVCEDT #
• Fridge Poetry Moves Online | Seattle PI » http://bit.ly/9nEORl #
• Failure to communicate – The Boston Globe http://bit.ly/bVnZHp (op-ed) #
• Retired Teacher Memorizes 'Paradise Lost' : NPR http://n.pr/bZTgve #
• A Revolution in Learning: Reading With Pictures is Coming | Publishers Weekly » http://bit.ly/cjIcvJ #
• Does your iPad prevent you from sleeping? | CNET News http://bit.ly/dybB0O #
• In defense of women's colleges – Salon.com http://bit.ly/d66VfB #
• Critical Thinking Is Essential in Every College Class | Joseph Smigelski for The Huffington Post: http://huff.to/aXhZQr #
• Cheating in college classes easier than ever – WQAD http://bit.ly/b07RYt #
• Ex-Harvard student accused of living a lie – The Boston Globe http://bit.ly/cr1B4b #
• Sync.in – real-time collaborative word processing | Jane's Pick of the Day: http://bit.ly/cgGhOg #
• A Festival of Curiosity and Affection": Reflections on the Writing Marathon | NWP Radio: http://bit.ly/9FM6Wb #
• Google Wave Has Officially Opened Its Doors – Wired Campus – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/aHGDjq #
• Catcher in the Rye Mind Map | YourEnglishClassDotCom » http://bit.ly/9ARLFF #
• Using Interfolio to Manage Your Professional Documents – ProfHacker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/auLIEs #
• Teachers Are the Center of Education: Writing, Learning & Leading in the Digital Age – National Writing Project http://bit.ly/btnFPn #
• 10 Academic Associations Issue Statement Condemning Arizona Law – The Ticker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/brNjB1 #
• Why universities should hate the iPad – Fortune / CNN Money » http://bit.ly/bYdFQU (via @ncarbone ) #

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@newsfromtengrrl for 2010-05-18

May 18

By Traci Gardnernews Comments Off

• Students at U. of Florida Use Facebook to Find Tutors – Wired Campus – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/cVomPO #
• Book Review: Fresh Takes on Teaching Literary Elements – National Writing Project http://bit.ly/cLinQS #
• Adjunct Who Commented on a Judge's Arrest Is Fired, Then Rehired – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/aJeZ9o #
• What Era Do You Wish You Had Lived In? – The Learning Network Blog – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/aklXd8 #
• Facebook is a major influence on girls, says survey | BBC News – http://bit.ly/cfTfnM #
• Banning, Opposition to a Book Inspires More Art — on Adam Rapp’s “The Metal Children” – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/a1YSQA #

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10 Things You’ll Want To Read This Summer

May 18

By Traci GardnerChildren's/YA Lit, Education, NCTE Inbox Comments Off

Whether summer means time to read for fun or to prepare for teaching in the Fall, I bet you’re beginning to gather that reading list.

You probably know where to find details on the year’s award-winning children’s and teen books. You probably have a few articles lying around you mean to get to, and I bet you plan to check out the resources on ReadWriteThink.

Maybe you’re looking for something different though? Check out the ten must-read online resources I’ve included in this week’s NCTE Inbox Blog.

[Creative Commons licensed Flickr photo by Mr.Thomas]

@newsfromtengrrl for 2010-05-18

May 18

By Traci Gardnernews Comments Off

• New York State Library Cooperative Can't Sustain Itself, Will Shut Down – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/af7V0X #
• Open Dictionary Is a More Reliable, Cleaner Urban Dictionary – Lifehacker http://bit.ly/cNwllU #
• Great Debate: Developing Argumentation Skills – The Learning Network Blog – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/b3nlnq #
• Taylor Momsen Did Not Write This Headline – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/bmkOjx –Headlines are now written to get search engines to notice. #
• YouTube, Now 5, Shows Signs of Growing Up – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/dsbYMO #
• An Online Game to Entice the Movie Audience – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/cD6wr8 #
• Capture Full Page Screenshots Entire Web Pages as a Continuous Image – Lifehacker http://bit.ly/bpwU2H #
• Texting During Meetings is Definitely Noticed, Seen as Rude – Lifehacker http://bit.ly/cPwkQQ –fodder for prof comm class discussion #
• Ad Slogans Become Beatnik Poetry – Adrants http://bit.ly/92UfFj #
• Arizona officials go after Mexican studies program | Washington Post » http://bit.ly/aBfj8x #
• Tech language a plus for communication | The Sydney Morning Herald » http://bit.ly/9QzKg1 #
• Notes on Organizing an Unconference – ProfHacker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/dDg5h6 #
• Take a Minute to Collect Your Thoughts with Evernote – ProfHacker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/csgE3v #
• Hefty wait lists shield colleges but unsettle students | Washington Post » http://bit.ly/cnKxq9 #

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@newsfromtengrrl for 2010-05-16

May 16

By Traci Gardnernews Comments Off

• The Twitter Spelling Test Quiz – The Oatmeal http://bit.ly/cyymUI #
• My Hero, Emily Dickinson, Outlaw of Amherst – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/bshTf8 #
• Area events planned to mark 50th anniversary of 'Mockingbird' | Montgomery Advertiser http://bit.ly/d1BcYV #
• The worth in writing | The Sentinel Online » http://bit.ly/cIaYOo #

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@newsfromtengrrl for 2010-05-15

May 15

By Traci Gardnernews Comments Off

• The Education of Diane Ravitch » Book Review – The Death & Life of the Great American School System | NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/czirn7 #
• Claudia Ricci: Go to College to Study… Happiness? | Huffington Post » http://huff.to/df3y2q #
• Is College for Everyone? – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/dldGT3 #
• Literacy Kudzu | Washington Post » http://bit.ly/aGGml3 #
• Kennesaw State Case Prompts Question: Should Admissions Enforce Immigration Law? – Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/9bmLpm #
• Symphony Space Presents Works From Literacy Program – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/b5ZG6r #
• College for all? Experts say not necessarily | The Associated Press: http://bit.ly/bdNpFZ #
• How To Live Tweet A Conference | Inflexion » http://bit.ly/9ahaiz #
• CyberCemetery UNT Digital Library http://bit.ly/b07Qb0 –an archive of retired/dead govt websites #
• The Missing Latinos – Inside Higher Ed http://bit.ly/cqtSBo –Latinos not represented in intro polisci textbooks #
• The New Twihards – Inside Higher Ed http://bit.ly/8XkmhS –on Twilight in the classroom and scholarship #
• Power Play – Inside Higher Ed http://bit.ly/cd2Feo Albion College’s decision to ignore tenure status in firings #
• Creating a Network Like Facebook, Only Private – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/cZhJKx #
• Could Twitter Data Replace Opinion Polls? | Mashable http://bit.ly/c93w2r Study says Twitter yields same results as a public opinion poll. #
• eBook restrictions vex users | eSchoolNews.com http://bit.ly/aDY2zF Digital rights mgt cd hold back widespread use of eBooks in education #
• 'Tech Transfer' – Inside Higher Ed http://bit.ly/bSCOxT (critique of new book by Daniel S. Greenberg) #
• Not So Special – Inside Higher Ed http://bit.ly/9oikmp (Does higher ed still influence technology development and innovation?) #

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@newsfromtengrrl for 2010-05-14

May 14

By Traci Gardnernews Comments Off

• Ten of the best visits to the cinema | Books | The Guardian http://bit.ly/dvH8Lc #
• Taking Back School Reform: A Conversation Between Diane Ravitch and Mike Rose – National Writing Project http://bit.ly/bESugD #
• International Curriculum Blasted as Anti-American | Education Week: http://bit.ly/du0P2I #
• Electronic Literature Directory Redesigned as Interactive Resource – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/cjZrsh #
• 'Lost' reading list: Literary influences, from Stephen King to Flannery O'Connor | Los Angeles Times http://bit.ly/ailLye #
• Google Gives Students a Portable Voice – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/cniw0O #
• Why Do Educators Keep Putting Dunce Caps On Our Kids? | FOXNews.com – http://bit.ly/96BDn8 (Critique of program that teaches via rap music) #
• Stephen's Sound Advice: How To Ace The SAT's – THE DAILY RIFF – http://bit.ly/bzRyLC #
• Effective Summer Planning – ProfHacker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/aaYdN9 #
• A New Facebook? Collegiate Nation Offers Private Alternative for Students Only http://bit.ly/aJ4RdY #
• The Price of Facebook Privacy? Start Clicking – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/9NDJUc #

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@newsfromtengrrl for 2010-05-13

May 13

By Traci Gardnernews Comments Off

• Native American students learn 'their' literature | ASU News http://bit.ly/dp4zXp #
• Kids Literature About Iraq | New Hampshire Public Radio | Word of Mouth http://bit.ly/9Coa85 #
• Special Report: The Trouble with Teen Texting – WHNT http://bit.ly/bNBaI5 #
• Text-speak: What tongue is this? | Philadelphia Inquirer | http://bit.ly/bmoki1 #
• Citing Individualism, Arizona Tries to Rein in Ethnic Studies in School – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/9XcoCl #
• Ira Glass on the Building Blocks of Storytelling – Common Craft – http://bit.ly/c8yZLC #
• Indian Education for All: Grounded in Place and Culture – National Writing Project http://bit.ly/bV5haB #
• Modeling Civility and Use of Evidence in the Classroom – ProfHacker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/cKCbYZ #
• Writer's Boot Camp: Inspiration Edition – ProfHacker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/90hf7T #
• Writing to Read: A Collection of NWP Articles – National Writing Project http://bit.ly/cVy4ha #
• How to Hack Your Inbox – ProfHacker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/9MsM13 #
• How to Back Up Your Cloud – ProfHacker – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/9seVik #
• Colleges 'Freaking Out' Over New Facebook Community Pages – Wired Campus – The Chronicle of Higher Education http://bit.ly/9M7SgU #
• Writing to Explain: Creating How-to Scripts and Demonstrations – The Learning Network Blog – NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/db5e0o #
• Arizona gov. signs bill targeting ethnic studies | Washington Post » http://bit.ly/cTVYsu #

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