Digital Media in Today's Classrooms: The Potential for Meaningful Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

by Dawn Wilson, Katie Alaniz, Joshua Sikora

Overview

Educators who engage with today’s students appreciate the impact digital media has on the lives of our younger generations. Learners of today consume, create, and publish multimedia content continuously, using a variety of devices such as cell phones, tablets, and computers. They generate original and innovative products through programs, apps, and the Internet as a means of communicating and representing their lives, ideas, and feelings. Unfortunately, not all students understand how to apply media literacy or media safety, and many lack knowledge of how to truly analyze media content for its value in society.
Today’s educators must learn to harness the enthusiasm students have for digital media (content that uses a combination of text, images, audio, animation, and video) into daily lessons in order to enhance student interest, engagement, motivation, and achievement in classroom environments. This book addresses these vital considerations, thereby empowering teachers and students to benefit from the application of digital media in their classrooms, both as a compelling assessment tool and as an engaging teaching strategy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475821062
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/08/2016
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	174
Sales rank:	963,312
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dawn Wilson taught middle school math for 16 years before becoming a full time faculty member and professor of educational technology at Houston Baptist University for the last 16 years. In this position, Dr. Wilson has mentored university and K-12 teachers as they learn how to integrate instructional technology in the classroom across a variety of disciplines. Her research and writing interests include coaching for technology integration, teaching online, and flipping classroom instruction.

Katie Alaniz is an instructor of graduate education courses at Houston Baptist University, where she works with undergraduate and graduate students seeking to make a positive impact in schools and society. As an instructional technologist and elementary teacher for over a decade in both public and private school settings, Dr. Alaniz developed an abiding passion for guiding and supporting fellow educators as they seek to meaningfully incorporate enriching and engaging digital tools within their classroom learning environments.

Joshua Sikora is the director of Cinema & New Media Arts at Houston Baptist University, where he teaches about cinematic theory, multimedia production, and developing technologies. An award-winning filmmaker and new media entrepreneur, Sikora is also the founder of New Renaissance Pictures, an independent production company through which he has produced a variety of feature films, TV series, and documentaries.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: Digital Media — What Is It, and Why Does It Matter?

• Who Are These 21st Century Learners?
• What Is Digital Media and How Does It Impact Learning?
• Digital Media: The Ever-Present Companion of Today’s Students
• How Can Teachers Enhance Students’ 21st Century Literacy Skills?
• How Do Educational Standards and Media Correlate?
• Essential Ideas to Remember
• References

Chapter 2: Research Findings and the Implications on Learning

• How Does Technology Impact Learning?
• How Does Multimedia Content Impact Learning?
• How Is the Role of Video Content in Student Leaning Evolving?
• Research Implications
• Essential Ideas to Remember
• References

Chapter 3: Essential Considerations in Using Digital Media

• The Growing Imperative of Media Literacy
• Suffering Not from Lack of Innovation, but Rather Lack of Education
• In the Digital World, as in the Physical World, Student Safety is Paramount
• Coping with COPPA
• Now Playing in a Classroom Near You…
• Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due
• The Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education
• Essential Ideas to Remember
• References

Chapter 4:Planning for Digital Media: Settings, Groupings, and Platforms

• First Things First
• The Understanding by Design Framework
• The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Model
• Bloom’s Taxonomy
• Classroom Instruction That Works
• Digital Media’s Role Within These Frameworks
• Sharpening the Axe: Crucial Factors to Consider When Planning for Digital Media Integration
• Ready, Set, Learn!
• Where to Begin?
• Essential Ideas to Remember
• References

Chapter 5: Using Digital Media to READY Students for Learning: Preparing Learners to Acquire Key Knowledge and Skills

• Readying Instructional Resources
• Readying the Learners: Activating Engagement, Motivation, and Interest
• What’s the Point?
• The Power of Prior Knowledge
• The Potential of a Focused Mind
• The Promise of Personal Interest
• The Potent Influence of Personal Motivation
• “TEASe”ing the Students to Impact Attention, Motivation, and Interest
• Essential Ideas to Remember
• TEASe Making Resources
• References

Chapter 6: SETTING Meaningful Learning: Supporting Students with Content Acquisition

• Why Reinvent the Wheel? The Benefits of Pre-Created Digital Media
• Lights, Camera, Action! The Enchanting Features of Film in Classroom Settings
• Learners as Viewers: Leveraging the Transportive Potential of Media
• Tapping the Riches of Pre-Created Digital Media Content
• Learners as Participants: Actively Engaging Students with Interactive Resources
• The Best of Both Worlds: Digital Media Options that Enable Students to Interact as Viewers and Participants
• Digital Media in Action: Examples of Digital Media Lessons in Classroom Settings
• Essential Ideas to Remember

Chapter 7: LEARNING with Digital Media: Empowering Students to Demonstrate Learning through Design and Creation

• It’s Not Going to Be Easy, But It Will Be Worth It!
• Positioning Students in the Driver’s Seat
• Putting the Pedal to the Metal: Encouraging Students to Lead the Way through Authoring
• What’s the Point? Driving Media Integration with Purpose
• Decisions, Decisions: Crucial Considerations for Successfully Implementing Student-Centered Digital Media
• Inspiration for the Journey: Examples of Student-Centered Digital Media Projects
• Essential Ideas to Remember

Chapter 8: Assessing the Use of Digital Media

• An Assortment of Assessment Types
• A Time and a Place for Every Assessment Type
• Assessing with Purpose
• Aesthetic Appeal: Stressing the Significance of Style
• Presentation Is Everything... Or at Least Highly Important!
• Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Fostering Classroom Collaboration
• Assessment in Action: Representative Rubrics to Guide the Journey
• Essential Ideas to Remember
• References

Chapter 9:Digital Media for Flipped or Distance Learning

• What Is Virtual Learning, and What’s the Big Deal?
• Blended Learning: The Best of Both Worlds?
• Flip It! Flip It Good!
• The Art of Flipping: Putting It into Practice
• Making the Most of Increased Class Time
• Tools for Creating
• Evaluating
• Analyzing
• Applying
• Understanding and Remembering
• To Create or Not to Create? That Is the Question!
• Think Before You Flip: Key Considerations Prior to Flipping
• Creating Screencasts with a Computer
• Creating Screencasts with an iPad
• The Challenge: Finding the Perfect Place to Store Resources for Sharing and Viewing
• Inspiration for Future Flipping Endeavors
• Essential Ideas to Remember
• References

Chapter 10: Looking Forward to What is Next: Future Technologies and Their Role in the Classroom

• Silicon Valley’s Influence
• Software-Supported Personalized Learning
• Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
• Changing Landscapes and Changing Students
• Essential Ideas to Remember
• References

Editorial Reviews

We often hear that we need to “meet students where they are”. With the ever growing world of technology and the understanding that the minds of the digital natives are developing differently than the digital immigrants, this statement is more true than ever! This book addresses the all facets of multimedia in the classroom by first answering the “whys” and then giving educators ideas to address the “hows”. The research presented is undeniable and really drives home the importance of both teacher centered and student centered technology. Multimedia as a “hook” or pre-assessment gives teachers the opportunity to quickly engage students, bring the new content to life while also helping to drive future instruction. As part of a lesson, it can enhance the learning through interactive media that touches on all styles of learning and, finally, when students create their own multimedia projects, their learning comes to life as they construct using their knowledge along with their own creativity.
In my experiences as a classroom teacher, former graduate student and now Digital Learning Specialist, when you allow students to assess their learning through creating their own products you are enhancing their critical thinking skills and letting them take ownership of their learning. More importantly, students become a consumer of what they learn which ultimately leads toward real life application and understanding. Isn’t that what we all want for our students? I highly recommend you read this book and really immerse yourself in the ideas presented for you as a teacher and the creations presented for your students. I think you will be thrilled you did!

Monica Crane

Digital Media in Today's Classrooms offers a complete look at the use of multimedia and technology in the classroom. Educators at any comfort level will walk away from this book with new ideas on how to use technology with their students. From the current research backing the use of technology in the classroom, to real application of technology, readers will find what they need to implement better technology usage at their school. Not only does the book offer specific technology tools to use in the classroom, but the thought process behind using technology appropriately and effectively.
Where ever you are in your journey with technology, this book can meet you there and guide you further!

Emily Morris

This book offers a compelling argument for multimedia as a tool that teachers and students can use to support instruction and learning. The authors provide a strong theoretical base to support their ideas. Important considerations such as guiding students in media literacy, safety and privacy concerns, and copyright are addressed. Several curriculum design frameworks are discussed, along with the role of multimedia to enhance instruction. The authors pose many helpful questions to be asked by teachers as they plan for the effective use of multimedia and emphasize that desired learning outcomes are paramount. This practical guide describes many pre-existing resources, as well as ways that student-centered multimedia use can help students acquire complex thinking skills. The authors offer many things to consider when assessing students' multimedia products and include examples of rubrics for assessing both individual and group projects.

Jane L. Howland

Digital Media in Today's Classrooms offers a complete look at the use of multimedia and technology in the classroom. Educators at any comfort level will walk away from this book with new ideas on how to use technology with their students. From the current research backing the use of technology in the classroom, to real application of technology, readers will find what they need to implement better technology usage at their school. Not only does the book offer specific technology tools to use in the classroom, but the thought process behind using technology appropriately and effectively.
Where ever you are in your journey with technology, this book can meet you there and guide you further!

This book offers a compelling argument for multimedia as a tool that teachers and students can use to support instruction and learning. The authors provide a strong theoretical base to support their ideas. Important considerations such as guiding students in media literacy, safety and privacy concerns, and copyright are addressed. Several curriculum design frameworks are discussed, along with the role of multimedia to enhance instruction. The authors pose many helpful questions to be asked by teachers as they plan for the effective use of multimedia and emphasize that desired learning outcomes are paramount. This practical guide describes many pre-existing resources, as well as ways that student-centered multimedia use can help students acquire complex thinking skills. The authors offer many things to consider when assessing students' multimedia products and include examples of rubrics for assessing both individual and group projects.

We often hear that we need to "meet students where they are". With the ever growing world of technology and the understanding that the minds of the digital natives are developing differently than the digital immigrants, this statement is more true than ever! This book addresses the all facets of multimedia in the classroom by first answering the "whys" and then giving educators ideas to address the "hows". The research presented is undeniable and really drives home the importance of both teacher centered and student centered technology. Multimedia as a "hook" or pre-assessment gives teachers the opportunity to quickly engage students, bring the new content to life while also helping to drive future instruction. As part of a lesson, it can enhance the learning through interactive media that touches on all styles of learning and, finally, when students create their own multimedia projects, their learning comes to life as they construct using their knowledge along with their own creativity.
In my experiences as a classroom teacher, former graduate student and now Digital Learning Specialist, when you allow students to assess their learning through creating their own products you are enhancing their critical thinking skills and letting them take ownership of their learning. More importantly, students become a consumer of what they learn which ultimately leads toward real life application and understanding. Isn't that what we all want for our students? I highly recommend you read this book and really immerse yourself in the ideas presented for you as a teacher and the creations presented for your students. I think you will be thrilled you did!

From the Publisher