Chris Sperry and Ithaca Field Trip

I really enjoyed going to the alternative school in Ithaca last week. Chris Sperry's presentation really got me to better understand the importance of using the media in the classroom. I remember when Chris said he was going to pop in a video and have us analyze it. At first I was thinking to myself, this goes against a lot of what we have spoken about in class. However, as he added in the importance of analyzing a film using different vocab and terms, I realized that this was a great idea. I was quite interested in answering the questions that he had to ask and it actually became very fun. I think this is a great way to allow students to think critically using a media source. It incorporates class discussion, personal opinion, active learning, critical thinking, etc...Overall, I was very impressed with his presentation as well as his plan.

Another very useful technique that Chris incorporated into his lesson, was the importance of finding/using credible internet information. Teaching students at a young age that they cannot rely on the internet for credible information all the time is very important. He again mentioned the Martin Luther King Jr. website which at a glance would appear to be a credible source. Certainly it is important to monitor the sources in which our students are using.

The exercise that Chris also showed us dealing with his class text and Islam was also interesting. The main goal of that exercise is to have kids decipher the difference between text and internet sources. The book that Sperry uses in his classroom is different than another book I used to use when I was still in school. The whole idea of teaching at an alternative school is something that I really am considering after going to see Sperry. It would really be a great thing to not have to worry so much about censorship and using material that may be a bit too riskee for an every-day-classroom. I am somewhat torn now because I would really love to teach novels and have a course with a decent amount of paper involved. On the other hand, the new media literacies that are available in today's day and age is also very intriguing. I would like to teach a class with a direct combination of both of these elements. That way, I feel, students would literally be receiving the best of both worlds. It surely is something to think about.

After Sperry's presentation, a few of us went out to dinner at the Lost Dog Cafe. We really had a great time, and I ate until I nearly exploded. Phil was the only guy and he was a good sport, and Karen let me eat her sweet potato fries so it was all in all a very fun evening. Thanks again girls (and guy) for coming out to eat. It was nice to have a chat outside the classroom and get to know more about each of you. We'll have to do it again sometime!