When I was a student, current events meant reading the “Week in Review” and clipping an article to share with the class. Students aren’t just consumers of information any longer; they can easily contribute to the making of news reports.
“Traditional broadcast media (television and radio) are in a time of transition. Broadcast is being pushed in new directions by the increasing ease of producing compelling material, and by the interactive and social nature of the internet. Blogs and other internet based social networks have given rise to an audience that is eager to engage with and participate in the creation of media.” from the description of a course entitled Producing Participatory Media at NYU
Howard Rheingold asks, “Might teachers
enlist these young people’s enthusiasm for using digital media in the service
of civic engagement? I propose one way to do this: help students communicate in
their public voices about issues they care about.” Will Richardson writes, “I want my own children to know how to participate
effectively in the issues of their day using the way beyond local connections
that are now possible. It would be great if they were being taught that in school.”
“Whether it is audio, video, photo,
or text, iReport is about the user producing content for the world. I wonder if
educators, administrators, and stakeholders notice these things, these changes.
If they do, are they making connections with the classrooms and the current
learning environment?” (Four Eyed Technologist)
CNN
through the I-Report is encouraging readers and viewers to contribute to the
news; they have made it easy for readers and viewers to contribute using
available technology. In Colorado, 9News encourages viewers to contribute to Your Show by emailing in questions or videos for their show. Local newspapers offer opportunities to write letters to the editor and submit them online. Never before has it been easier for students to have authentic opportunities to contribute write about, create videos and audio files on, and become engaged in current events, civics, and the world.
I encourage you to share your experiences with students and contributing to the news in the comments to this post. We all learn by sharing ideas and thoughts on what has worked.
