FINAL BLOG FOR MEDIA, TECH IN EDUCATION

Students can help fellow classmates in media labs; which in turn makes the experience rewarding for everyone concerned.

Working in any computer lab can often be challenging, but at the same time an interesting and rewarding experience for all students concerned. With technology being implemented more and more into the classroom setting, it is imperative that students become technologically literate.

I decided to write my final blog about the media video that I have been working on for the past month. I now how a new appreciation for people who work in the film industry. I found it incredibly easy to do the filming for our production, however the editing has taken me forever to complete. I suppose it does not help that my partner has been very sick for almost two weeks and the video editing has fallen on my shoulders.
I really think that the assignment has taught me a lot about Imovie, and I am now very confident about doing any work under this program. However, I must say that had it not been for my wonderful T.A. (David R.) I had in my media lab, I would not have been as successful as I have been in putting the finishing touches on the video.
I have heard from many of my classmates that there has not been enough time spent in class to teach students how to use this program in an effective manner. My suggestion for the next time that this class is being taught, please make sure that the T.A.'s and the instructors know what has to be done, in terms of this assignment. Also, it is important that there is enough time spent in lab making sure students are able to do what is being asked of them. Many students are concerned that they will get low grades on this video because of their lack of knowledge when using Imovie. This could be attributed to the very little time that was spent in many labs teaching how to use this important program.

CHAPTER 37 - QUEER THEORY

I clearly feel that there is (as the image says below) absolutely NO PLACE FOR PREJUDICE. Regardless of your gender and sexual identity, you are a human first and foremost. However, media does not necessarily depict gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders as human beings. Often they are portrayed as something less than human. However, that depiction is slowly changing. Look at the show Brothers and Sisters, clearly this is a family of the year 2009, openly accepting their children for who they are. This show sends a positive message. By media sending a message of acceptance, society as a whole will begin to see these people as just human beings, with all their differences. Regardless, whether they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

More and more it is becoming socially acceptable to see two-parent families that are either headed by two men or two women. Perhaps, this could possibly be due to the fact that the media is beginning to be more socially accepting of everyone.

The lecture on Monday, March 23rd, 2009 about Queer Theory really drove home a lot of points for me. I found part of the lecture offensive (I might add through no result of what the professor had to say). Rather, I found it offensive the way Kosofsky and Butler constructed their Queer Theory. They state in the textbook that this theory promotes the self as a non-conformist, and that gays are odd or unusual. How sad that they see gays this way. I do believe that it is not just Kosofsky and Butler that view gays this way. I would say a large part of society (although not as many people as you would have seen forty years ago), believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, just do not fit into society. I believe strongly that now more than ever they most definitely do fit into society because of the way we have grown to accept people of difference, and in particular those with gender and sexual identity issues.

The professor brought up a question in class that made me think a lot. "Why are lesbians more tolerated than gay men?" As one student mentioned in the class, "men have a fantasy about lesbians having sex in front of them." As well as the fact that society as a whole, does not regard women as unusual because they kiss each other in public, it is more common to see women kissing their friends. Whereas, men clearly will not demonstrate this kind of affection to their male friends. It is just unheard of. Perhaps this answers the question why lesbians are more tolerated. However, I pray that the future will bring a world that is accepting of all differences, as my son is gay, and he is definitely not odd or unusual. I love him the way he is, in all his beauty! I know that media will play an important role in making our world become a better place-what a wonderful reality to think about!

CHAPTER 42: RAGING AGAINST THE MACHINE

Pictures like this that are found on the internet, enables media to make suicide a glamourous issue. As the quotation under the word suicide states; "Because the world is better off without you". Teens who are vulnerable to suicide might see this photo with the quote and decide, "Ya, you see, the world can be a better place with me". Then bang as quickly as they have seen this photo, they have ended their lives. I believe that media has a very strong role to play in terms of teens ending their lives through suicide.

What does the typical school shooter look like? Take a look a this picture and you will see. Usually they are white, teen men. Why are they killing others and then themselves? Self-esteem plays an important role, but so too do issues like; "School never really addresses anything that I am interested in" or "Everyone one at school thinks I am a loser, so I will show them what kind of loser I really am". School shooters have many issues. Quite often we never really find out why someone would kill their classmates and then turn the gun on themselves. However, it has been suggested that these teens have problems that stem farther back then school and coupled with the difficulties that they often experience in school turns them into this

mass-murder.

Our lecture on March 16th on Chapter 42: Raging Against the Machine addressed a very important issue in our society today and that is suicide, but more importantly teen suicide. Some of the questions that we discussed in class were; "Describe your typical suicide victim, Describe your typical school shooter, and Why are teens killing themselves?" Teens unfortunately kill themselves and others for a who host of reasons however, some of these are:

• Stereotypes (LGBT, race, sex)
• Consumption
• Suicide is cool
• Educational models

I believe that society as a whole needs to address this very sensitive issue and help teens to forget about these thoughts. As a future educator I need to be sensitive to each and everyone of my students needs. In doing so, we help to model a new generation that feels good about themselves, regardless of stereotypes, and role models that are in their lives.

CHAPTER 35: JUST LIKE LIZZIE: CONSUMERISM, ESSENTIALISM, AND THE DOMESTICATION OF REBELLION IN DISNEY [...]

My eldest daughter's favourite Disney movie - Mulan.

My youngest daughter's favourite Disney movie - Toy Story

My son's favourite Disney movie - The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He actually owned this exact doll that is shown in this picture.

The lecture for Monday, March 9th, 2009 was extremely interesting. We talked about how Disney movies and other types of media affect young girls, and in particular girlhood/feminity. Some of the things we touched on were the fact that young girls often see themselves as the characters they view in these different types of media productions. Many little girls love pink, being the mom, having a husband etc. However, as many of us stated in the lecture does this truly reflect what we become as young adult women? I do not think it really does. I remember when I was a little girl just loving Cinderella. It didn't mean I was going to grow up to be like her. I think in retrospect, what these types of movies do for little girls (as I once was) is give them someone to look up to. More recently, there are all kinds of movies that little girls can watch and use as role models. I think as young girls we do learn some things from what we have seen in the Disney movies (etc.) and that does not mean that it is negative. I think as young children we need to be able to pretend, live in fantasy lands etc. when we play. Many of these movies make young girls (and boys too) have a means to draw from to initiate that play. I think we are getting too hung up on what is politically correct in what we view in the media. Why can't children just watch a good Disney movie for the sake of a good movie, and not get caught up in the fact that maybe the role models are not what we want our young children to be seeing. I know I have three children and I love the fact that they all loved Disney movies. My eldest daughter who is now 24 years old loved the Disney movie Mulan. Did if affect her as she was growing up? No, in fact I think the movie was an incredibly well done movie, addressing the issue of Natives of North America. Also, my youngest daughter used to love the Disney movie Toy Story, in particular "Woody" who was a toy cowboy doll, that a little boy played with in the movie. She owned her own Woody doll and played with it all the time. Did it make her want to grow up to be a cow boy? No, in fact it allowed her the most essential part of childhood - fantasy. Also, my son who is 17 years old loved the Disney movie "Hunchback of Notre Dame", it taught him a very valuable lesson in life - love thy neighbour, and the willingness to accept differences in people. To me Disney has done a wonderful job with their movies for children. Each one of my 3 children are an example of this.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

The movie "Slumdog Millionaire" is a very interesting movie that everyone should experience.

The movie "Slumdog Millionaire" reminds us that one can fall in love against all odds.

Our class lecture on Slumdog Millionaire was a real eye opener for me. I almost went to see the movie on the weekend with my eldest daughter. I am still interested in seeing it, but will view it in a more critical eye than I was originally (which was going to be purely for entertainment). After our class discussion I thought about many aspects of the movie.

The way that the people in the movie were portrayed saddened me. It is horrible to think that in the year 2009 we can still have women so repressed and children who are fighting just to obtain an education. The women were portrayed as people who had little or no worth at all. The men I really hated. They all seemed mean and were totally in control of everything and everyone. The children impressed me the most. They were portrayed as fighters, trying to get ahead. More importantly, that against all odds-you can get an education even out of the classroom. Most of these children receive little or no education. So, to see a child make it on "Who wants to be a millionaire" is a feat onto itself.

Sadly, many people live in the slums in India. There have been many protests as a result of this film winning several Oscars, at the Academy Awards this year. It is hurtful for the people who live in this kind of life. That people would actually pay to see a story about a poverty stricken life. But, isn't that what Hollywood thrives on!? Seeing the poor guy get ahead and then living happily every after!? However, if you approach it from another angle, one could look at the viewing of "Slumdog Millionaire" as giving awareness to the people who pay to see it. To those of us who live in Canada, and can appreciate what a beautiful life we have here-this movie makes sense! It can make us more sensitive to the hardships that so many people in India face every day. Yet, against all odds the movie shows us that these people can succeed - no matter how hard that might be!

CHAPTER 4 - TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP

Technology Leadership In Schools: The use of technology in schools has come a long way since the early days of the one-room school house. Technology has become an integral part of the education system. Giving both students and teachers a new way to think, learn and teach.

The white board is one form of "new technology", although it is not a computer, it has virtually taken over where the old standard - the chalk board left off.

Smart boards are perhaps the newest form of technology integrated into the 21st century classroom. It is interactive and is used both by the teacher as well as the students. This wonderful form of technology makes learning fun and takes it to a whole new level.

Rethinking Technology in Schools: Chapter 4: Technology Leadership:
In terms of technology leadership; in the United States of America it is stated that "as of 2007, the No Child Left Behind Law requires all eighth graders to be tested for technological literacy" (Domine, 2009, p. 79). Although we do not have the same sort of law here in Canada, it still brings home the point that many students are advanced in terms of technology leadership. Parents are from the generation that lacks the same sort of technological leadership that their children have.

Chapter 4 also addresses the idea of Media Ecology. The term Media Ecology is a "field of study concerned with the impact of technologies on other environments, such as; family, government, business, and education" (Domine, 2009, p. 79). In other words, Media Ecology looks at how "environmentally friendly" a specific technology really is.

The author also goes on to say that "Media Ecologists are interested in how technology has been adapted, institutionalized, and used, and by whom" (Domine, 2009, p. 80). For example, paper is saved by using on-line banking to pay your bills. A consumer no longer requires the use of a paper bill to pay a bill, thus, making the idea of on-line banking environmentally friendly.

CHAPTER 3: PEDAGOGICAL STAGES

Access to different types of technology to help students learn is an integral part of the education system. It affords students with varying disabilities the same opportunities as those students who do not have disabilities.

In our reading for this week from Rethinking Technology in Schools, Chapter 3, Pedagogical Stages. I found something that really stuck out to me in terms of the information that I read in this chapter. On page 61 the author talks about technology, to be more specific, portable devices and their efficiency in terms of school. One very powerful statement impacted me the most and it was; "e-books (electronic books) can assist struggling readers and students with disabilities by supplying them with access to texts that were previously inaccessible"(p. 61). I have three children all with varying types of learning disabilities, and my eldest daughter has severe dyslexia. The very notion that portable technology, as well as technology in general aiding in the education of students such as my daughter is absolutely correct. I believe that had it not been for technology like e-books, computer assisted devices like the program WINN my daughter perhaps would have never graduated from university.

The WINN program is a computer assisted reading program that can scan whole textbooks and read them back to the student. It can highlight the words as it reads the text to the student making the learning not only auditory, but visual as well. This program is offered to students that have learning disabilites at McGill University. My daughter was fortunate to have had the opportunity to use it during her three years of study here. She graduated from McGill with her B.A. in Social Work in May of 2008.