"I think education is power. I think that being able to communicate with people is power. One of my main goals on the planet is to encourage people to empower themselves." -Oprah Winfrey
I chose this quote for many different reasons. For one, I think its a beautiful quote and so true, it relates a lot to this class. I also chose it because last class we had a heated discussion on Oprah and everything she has done for the world and education. In terms of this class, our main goal is to understand the importance of media communication in education. As the world is changing technologically, our perception of communication is too. Being able to communicate to people all over the world and use the internet is extremely empowering and amazing. Knowledge is extremely powerful, something that no one can take away from you. It excites me that one day I can share knowledge with young people and give them the empowerment that they deserve.
As far as the Oprah debate, I personally agree with both sides of the argument. She is an amazing human being and to criticize all that she has done for the world is ignorant. Sometimes her choices are questionable and it seems that she could do more with less publicity. However, it is that publicity that motivates others to help. She truly does encourage people to empower themselves through her teachings and her actions.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Popular TV
Before last Monday's class, I had never thought about the types of TV shows we watch, and how they are mostly about rich and spoiled people. I have to admit that I love all those shows. I religiously watch Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Sex and the City, The Hills, The City, and a bunch of other unrealistic shows. After class, I really thought about why TV shows focus on this lifestyle. Someone in class said that they thought it helped people get away from their problems and live in a dream world. To some extent I agree with that, I think that watching rich people on TV allows you to pretend for an hour that you are apart of that world; live out a fantasy. People always envy what they don't have and want to lead the lives that they watch on TV. In all the shows we watch, the characters have the most beautiful clothes, cars, and houses, all the materialistic items, which people think that they want. Although, it's not bad to fantasize a little about that lifestyle, it is sometimes taken a little too far. People can become too obsessed with the way the characters look in these shows, which is not realistic. Many of the actresses in the shows are extremely skinny and don't eat. Young girls are very impressionable, and it's unrealistic to want to look like the characters. There is also a big emphasis in these shows about sex and partying, which is scary for parents. I don't think anyone wants 14 and 15 year old girls and boys to think that everyone is having sex and drinking alcohol, staying out until all hours of the night. That lifestyle just isn't realistic and should not be something that all teens think is normal and acceptable.
One of the positives about many of these TV shows, is that they portray many of the characters as being sad and depressed. That shows that money doesn't buy happiness, and many of the plot lines revolve around that specific topic. I personally think that that is an important lesson for all children to learn. People, especially children can be very envious and it is important to know that living a certain lifestyle does not guarantee a good life. There is definitely a dark side to the affluent lifestyle.
What I am getting at, is not that these shows are bad because I personally love them, but that children can't take them too seriously. Parents should be aware of what their children watch and monitor it. I don't think that a 12 year old should watch sex and the city but they can certainly watch Greek. Children should also be aware that these shows are exaggerated and most people don't live in those conditions. It would be nice if more shows were about average and realistic families but that just doesn't seem to sell.
One of the positives about many of these TV shows, is that they portray many of the characters as being sad and depressed. That shows that money doesn't buy happiness, and many of the plot lines revolve around that specific topic. I personally think that that is an important lesson for all children to learn. People, especially children can be very envious and it is important to know that living a certain lifestyle does not guarantee a good life. There is definitely a dark side to the affluent lifestyle.
What I am getting at, is not that these shows are bad because I personally love them, but that children can't take them too seriously. Parents should be aware of what their children watch and monitor it. I don't think that a 12 year old should watch sex and the city but they can certainly watch Greek. Children should also be aware that these shows are exaggerated and most people don't live in those conditions. It would be nice if more shows were about average and realistic families but that just doesn't seem to sell.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Responce to Reading (ch.1)
I personally believe that the media has an enormous control over everyone's life. In order to be successful today, it is vital to understand the ongoing phenomena. Our world is all about the media, between TV, movies, Google searching, and facebook, you can receive everything you would ever want and need through media technology. Living in a dorm as a first year student, I am able to do everything through my computer, whether it is watching all my TV shows, listening to my lectures, video chatting with my parents and friends, checking the weather, news reports, and staying connected with all my professors. There is hardly a need to leave my room, which is both scary and exciting. What is scary is that children are sometimes overtaken by the media and are not taught the harms and affects it can have. On the contrary, new technology is innovative and exciting, it allows you do explore and become much more informed.
As a person and a future teacher, I believe that media literacy is extremely important and should be a core class starting in early elementary school. There is so much more to media and technology than simply instant messaging and facebook, the Internet and different forms of media allows people to explore different ideas and problems, which face the world. To ignore the importance of media literacy is to completely ignore the world we live in. I personally don't have a protectionist view to media literacy education, although I do feel that proper media literacy must be taught to prevent abuse. If the media is used correctly, it won't be abused. The Media Arts Education approach is important, although I agree that it focuses too much on the self. Students need to learn to challenge the media, which will give them empowerment. Technology is an excellent way for both teachers and students to learn and understand different interpretations and viewpoints.
I also strongly agree with the point that media literacy is an excellent tool in the progression of democracy. The media shows people the importance of freedom of expression, especially the youth, whose ideas must be heard. Media provides "significant statements or insights about the social world, empowering visions of gender, race, and class" (17). Children need to find their own voice within the media and that can be done within the schools. With so much of our world revolved around technology, we can't ignore its vital place in schools.
As a person and a future teacher, I believe that media literacy is extremely important and should be a core class starting in early elementary school. There is so much more to media and technology than simply instant messaging and facebook, the Internet and different forms of media allows people to explore different ideas and problems, which face the world. To ignore the importance of media literacy is to completely ignore the world we live in. I personally don't have a protectionist view to media literacy education, although I do feel that proper media literacy must be taught to prevent abuse. If the media is used correctly, it won't be abused. The Media Arts Education approach is important, although I agree that it focuses too much on the self. Students need to learn to challenge the media, which will give them empowerment. Technology is an excellent way for both teachers and students to learn and understand different interpretations and viewpoints.
I also strongly agree with the point that media literacy is an excellent tool in the progression of democracy. The media shows people the importance of freedom of expression, especially the youth, whose ideas must be heard. Media provides "significant statements or insights about the social world, empowering visions of gender, race, and class" (17). Children need to find their own voice within the media and that can be done within the schools. With so much of our world revolved around technology, we can't ignore its vital place in schools.
Monday, January 12, 2009
January 12th, 2009
Hello All,
Today we began class by introducing our names and explaining why we wanted to take Media, Technology, and Education. Then we spoke about the Mac setup and the control panel at the bottom of the screen. Afterward, we began to make our blogs for the semester, which I will use to post thoughts and analysis of readings and movies in class. This blog will be a useful tool as a teacher and helpful in the classroom.
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