IATE+Conference+2008

Lessons Learned: 1. Include more visual/media literacy: documentaries, ads (see "Visualizing the Argument" and AP handout for how to do rhetorical analysis, style analysis, fallacies, propaganda synthesis through documentary film) (see Christel's handout about "Fostering Critical Thinking" look at to evaluate a source for "presentation" (really, argument.. authority, experts, hard info, soft info, bias); use film to teach "style analysis" and "moood"; teach "active reading" by "active viewing" (that is, introduce "annotation" by film) 2. We need to plan less specific calendars if we're going to be accurate assessors... there needs to be flexibility to go back and reteach 3. Compare/Contrast is a building block of the thinking skill Synthesis

Friday **"Visualizing the Argument - Deconstructing Persuasive Strategies in Print and Documentary Film" (Mary Christel and M. Elizabeth Kenney; Stevenson HS)**

1. "Visual Rhetoric" has 4 basic premises: all messages are constructed; they have a commerical purpose; they contain values and ideologies; each medium has it's own aesthetic language. (written text is just one of them). 2. Stevenson has a media studies class at the 12th grade. 3. Advertisement is the gateway to media literacy -excellent for studying persuasion-kids can't reflect on their influence that ads have on them (we're more vulnerable when we're not aware) 4. We looked at 4 ads from the Marines published in different places, talked about the intended effect, where the eye is drawn, what the implied argument is, what the "story is"; this could turn into an analysis paper "what's the best approach to..." 5. Places to look for short documentary films: Independent Lens (on PBS); P.O.V. (on PBS). Don't show entire films. 6. In studying Triumph of the Will, teacher shows the first 13 minute segment 3 times... giving students a particular viewing focus each time. 7. Goebbels "Entertainment is the best form of propaganda." 8. Handouts (see IATE binder) - Taxonomy of an ad (shows how ads have many kinds of explicit and implicit logical, ethical, and emotional appeals) - Seminar Handout -- including definition of media literacy, film ideas, resources for documentaries, book ideas, a page for "using media texts to Foster Critical Thinking Skills", sample student viewing guide for Triumph of the Will. - AP English Language and Composition: Using Documentary Film as an Introduction to Rhetoric (Christel has a chapter) (how to do rhetorical analysis, style analysis, fallacies, propaganda synthesis through documentary film)

Here are some texts to look at "Media Literacy Resource Guide" Ontario Ministry of Education Considine, David __Visual Messages: Integrating Imagery into Instruction.__ 1992 Golden, John. __Reading in the Reel World: Teaching Documentaries and other Nonfiction Texts__ Lesson Plans for Creating Media Rich Classrooms Krueger, Ellen and Mary T. Christel. __Seeing and Believing: How to Teach Media Literacy in the Language Arts Classroom__ Documentaries: a history of the nonfiction film