Blog Entry #2

For my MMP, I really wanted to focus more on what technology is currently being utilized in the classroom and more importantly what is coming in the future.   Technology has been growing rapidly for the past couple of decades, but it seems like technology in the classroom is always trying to catch up.  Technology has the ability to alienate individuals, however it also allows for a lot of collaborative work to occur.  Students are able to express themselves in different ways rather than just be restricted to essays and/or written exams. 

By joining Google + communities devoted to education and technology, I am already completing the analysis portion of the ADDIE model.  The three communities that I enjoyed are TED,  E-Learning and Digital Cultures, and Technology and Innovation in Education.  TED "is a nonpartisan nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks," (TED.com).   TED Talks are one of the greatest things on the internet. While it is not specifically meant for educational purposes, there is so much one can learn that can be applied to the classroom.   There are videos covering almost every topic from clean water solutions to the use of virtual reality in sports.  TED Talks are helpful for the second two parts of the ADDIE model, design and development.  Viewers can see how scientists and researchers are trying to develop solutions to issues facing different groups around the world. 

Technology and Innovation in Education is perfect for my topic choice.  The community is designed a space to talk about, "the intersection of research and practice relating to innovation in teaching and learning," (Technology and Innovation in Education).  This community not only talks about how to use new technology in the classroom, but also general technology news.  It offers a lot of insight as to what is being constructed for use in the classroom in the near future.

The final community I decided to join was E-Learning and Digital Culture because I have taken many classes as a student online.  Teaching an online class is something that is very interesting to me and something I would like to do in the future.  This community discusses what it is like to teach in the digital age and the problems that come with it.  By hearing other people's testimonies, I can see what works and what are some things that I should avoid.  The community seems to be very supportive and a great place to share new ideas.

Work Cited

Technology and Innovation in Education. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://plus.google.com/communities/117631661795101086867

TED: Ideas worth spreading. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2017, from https://www.ted.com/

Discussion Prompt #1

   It is clear that multimedia has overtaken print in popularity, especially with younger people.  With teachers already fighting to keep students' attention, it is important to implement multimedia in the classroom.  While working as a teaching assistant at Rutgers, I can see that almost 90 percent of students choose to use a laptop over writing notes by hand.  When the professor is lecturing, there are students who are listening, but more so paying attention to something else on their screen.  However, when the professor shows videos, students appear to be engaged with the content.

Multimedia allows teachers to go a step further with students.  Instead of just reciting back information, students can get a deeper understanding of concepts.  Daley writes, "One 'creates' and 'constructs' media rather than writing it, and one 'navigates' and 'explores' media rather than reading it," (Daley, 36).  Literacy has definitely taken on a new meaning since the explosion of technology.  It is a required skill that almost all job applicants are proficient in some aspect of computers.  Due to this, it is important for students to learn and understand multimedia and how it can be used.

       I have a lot of experience using multimedia in an education sense.  I have taken many of my graduate classes through eCollege and while it is very different than a traditional classroom environment, that is not a bad thing.  It gets students to communicate with one another and collaborate on ideas to create projects.  Instead of just listening to a teacher lecture, online courses forces students to read material and actively participate in class discussions. Daley adds the point that previous work presented by students was kept private, only for the student and teacher to see.  With multimedia, however, students are able to share their work with whoever they want.  I took a class last semester called ePortfolio which was basically to make an online portfolio of our best work.  This was a way to stand out on the internet in an attempt to attract potential employers.

       I definitely think students should be encouraged to work with multimedia.  Besides the value of learning, students are In a 2010 study conducted by Tariq M. Khan, children with learning disabilities benefitted from using multimedia in the classroom.  By incorporating multimedia in the classroom this could be an opportunity for students who may not learn as fast as their peers a chance to shine.  It can help students who are not strong writers, be able to express their ideas to their peers and others.  

Daley, E. (2003). Expanding the Concept of Literacy. Educause, 33-40.

Khan , T. M. (2010). The effects of multimedia learning on children with different special education needs. Retrieved January 26, 2017, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042810007305 

Blog Entry #1

Eminem & Motor City

The purpose of Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" commercial was to say never judge a book by it's cover.  There are very negative connotations about the city of Detroit, including that it is a very poor city that was abandoned by the auto industry, however a lot of beautiful and great things have come from the city of Detroit.  One of the most notable people from Detroit is rapper Eminem who is very vocal about being from the city of Detroit.  Having him in the commercial served as an additional reminder of the great things that the city of Detroit has produced.

The target audience of this commercial are people who are likely familiar with Eminem's music so people who are above the age of 18 and below 60.  This is also the audience who is likely seeing this commercial because it ran during the Super Bowl.  It is also the age of people who are likely going to need to buy a new car at some point in the future. This is conveyed by the use of Eminem's hit song "Lose Yourself"which was popular over a decade ago.

At first, the city of Detroit is shown how many who have never been to the city of Detroit would perceive it.  As the commercial progresses, however, the people of Detroit are portrayed as strong, talented, and capable of anything.  The narrator goes on to compare "The Motor City", Detroit's nickname, with New York City and the "Windy City", Chicago's nickname to show it can compete with the biggest cities in the country. With Chrysler being made in Detroit it is aligning its brand with that message that it is can compete with other luxury car brands.  The video tries to incorporate all of the different people who currently inhabit the city of Detroit.

Overall, this commercial is very appealing to the eye.  In the beginning, while discussing the negative connotations associated with the city, the camera appears shaky and of low quality.  As the commercial progresses and starts talking positively about the city, the video quality improved and brightened.  This was done on purpose to help fit the storyline that Detroit is better than what you might have heard about it.  This was the correct medium for this commercial because the audience watching the Super Bowl is the target audience for Chrysler.  People who know Eminem and remember the song "Lose Yourself" will remember this commercial when thinking about what car to buy.

Photo Credit: Muller, J. (2011, August 11). Eminem's Super Bowl Ad For Chrysler Had CEO Worried. Retrieved January, 2017, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2011/02/07/eminems-super-bowl-ad-for-chrysler-had-ceo-worried/#53db834910ba

Hello everyone!

Hi everyone! My names is Ashleigh Binder and I am currently in my final semester of the Master's in Communication and Information Science program.  Currently, I am a teaching intern for Dr. Faw's Comm 300 class.  I was a teaching assistant last semester for the same class with Dr. Faw.  I decided to take this course to better understand how to use multimedia in the classroom.  I have long thought about becoming a teacher one day so this course could be very useful when that day comes! I am also the owner and head editor of an all female sports blog, SportsAsToldByAGirl.  The site was started in 2012 as a personal blog and has blossomed into a place for other women to voice their opinions on the latest news in the sports world. I am looking forward to a great semester with everyone!