Class #2: Brave New World?

To receive full credit, this blog assignment must be posted by Monday night, February 1st at midnight. If you post late, please email me your post directly at sdebross@uvm.edu as soon as you are able, and I'll give you partial credit.

Please read Clive Thompson's September 5, 2008 New York Times article "Brave New World of Digital Intimacy," and then, at this thread below, answer the following questions:

1. IYOW, identify the thesis of Thompson's article, in one sentence.

2. What does Thompson mean by the phrase "ambient awareness?" Explain, and provide 1 example from your own life.

3. Describe TWO observations Thompson makes with which you agree, and TWO observations Thompson makes with which you disagree. Be clear and specific.

Class #2: FEED Analysis & Reflection

To receive full credit, this blog assignment must be posted by Monday night, February 1st at midnight. If you post late, please email me your post directly at sdebross@uvm.edu as soon as you are able, and I'll give you partial credit.

At this course blog thread below, please reflect on all five FEED questions in a SINGLE "post comment" thread. Be specific, descriptive, and detailed, and try not to repeat the ideas already provided by other student colleagues.

1. FEED Characters - Please provide the name of ONE of the main characters in the story, and 5 descriptive adjectives about that character.

2. FEED Vernacular - Please provide THREE "slang" terms used in FEED, and brief IYOW definitions for each. (Example: "brag" = cool, hot, super nifty, boss, really keen.)

3. FEED LIKE Our World - Please make a list of THREE specific different ways the FEED world looks like our own 21st century culture.

4. FEED UNLIKE Our World - Please make a list of THREE specific different ways the FEED world looks UNlike our own 21st century culture.

5. FEED Themes - Please make a list of THREE big media-related themes FEED's author, M.T. Anderson, highlights in his book.

Have at it, units! :)

Class #1: Assignments

To receive full credit, these blog assignments must be posted by Sunday night, January 24 at midnight. If you post late, please email me your post directly at sdebross@uvm.edu as soon as you are able, and I'll give you partial credit.

1) Read parts 1 & 2 of the book FEED. We will discuss your initial ideas, reactions and questions in class. You will blog your analysis of the book with provided prompts the following week.

2) Media Memoir: Blog a 5 paragraph reflection (a paragraph has a minimum of 5 sentences) on your childhood experience with media. How did your family use media when you were growing up? Focus on one or two mediums, i.e. television, radio, books, music, computer, newspapers, etc. This is a reflective piece, written in the first person, and is intimate, descriptive, and detailed.

3) Read and respond to the New York Times article, "The Children of Cyberspace: Old Fogies by Their 20s". What stood out for you? How do you relate the piece to your own life? How does this affect your vision of education or society? (5 sentences minimum)

4) Watch and respond to the Michael Wesch YT video, "The Machine is Us/ing Us" What stood out for you? How do you relate the piece to your own life? How does this affect your vision of education or society? (5 sentences minimum)

5) And don't forget to introduce yourself at our first "welcome/who are you?" blog post!

Welcome to Our Course! Who Are You?

Hello & welcome! My name is Suzie DeBrosse.

Here I am doing one of my favorite pastimes, windsurfing.

And here's as brief a bio as I could manage about me:

Suzie DeBrosse teaches Media Literacy courses at Saint Michael's College and the University of Vermont. As an independent media literacy consultant, she has published articles in the field and developed teacher training programs, student workshops and parent presentations. Previously, she taught foreign languages and math for eight years at the middle and high school levels. DeBrosse is a graduate of the Felton Media Literacy Scholars Program, an intensive media education and leadership development and training program at Babson College. She is President of the Action Coalition for Media Education Vermont non-profit. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Media Literacy from Saint Michael’s College, a Masters in Teaching from Sacred Heart University, and a BA in International Business from the University of Connecticut. She enjoys life with her kitesailing husband John [scroll down to 1/7/10 post] and their adorable son Geoffrey, chocolate lab Kona, crazy kitty Maui Girl, and hermit crab Hermie. They all live in Colchester where they love practically any outdoor activity.

Please take a few minutes to tell us about yourself. Here are FOUR questions to answer:

1. Where are you from? State or province, and town?

2. Describe a fun media experience you had during your holiday vacation. BE SPECIFIC.

3. Describe one thing you LIKE about our 21st century media culture, and one thing you DON'T LIKE about our 21st century media culture. BE SPECIFIC!

4. What vision do you have for your future, professionally?

Welcome aboard! I look forward to working with you. :)