The Media Spot

TAOTS is a brand new school in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, that is building an innovative curriculum from scratch, based on the Schoolwide Enrichment Model of education.  Starting with K-1, our focus during their first year will be to help their "digital natives" develop age-appropriate technology skills as they develop the ability to communicate using a variety of media. 

After researching hazards related to the improper disposal of rechargeable batteries, students wrote a script with Mr. Marsano keeping them focused on the problem, and what the students wanted their audience to do about it. To "hook" their audience, students decided to take a serious tone with elements of humor.  Come on in and have a look at their PSA, the "making-of" process-based documentary, and our production notes. 

In June of 2009, 4 teachers at PS 334, The Anderson School (one of my AUSSIE schools) traveled to the Galapagos Islands to cap off the development of a school-wide multi-discipline curriculum-building initiative. To expand the potential value of this trip, we used a variety of technology-based resources including digital video and photos, collaborative online digital presentation software (Voicethread.com), an integrated online curriculum map, and a project blog to create and share re-useable custom resources, and to enable teachers to interact with students from the islands.

In 2009, we began consulting with PS 686, The Brooklyn School of Inquiry (BSI), a gifted and talented magnet school, to build media literacy concepts and integrated technology practices into their brand new curriculum, starting with K-1.

Australian and United States Services in Education, (AUSSIE) is a professional development company renowned for their math and literacy consulting in over 650 schools in New York, Australia and New Zealand. Digital School Solutions is AUSSIE's new team of educational consultants focused on providing customized embedded professional development for schools across the country informed by the NETS standards.

We've been working with PS 124 since 2006 to integrate technology and media education into their curriculum through grade-team unit planning and curriculum mapping meetings, direct classroom production work, and professional development workshops.

PS 130 is an elementary school in Brooklyn, New York. We started working with them in 2007 to establish The PS 130 Online Learning Network, and consult with their technology committee on the development of a school-wide professional development initiative to integrate technology and media education into their curriculum.

Yesterday we wrapped up a high-paced media education program at Good Shepherd Services camp, with an end-of-summer video exhibition at PS 32 in Brooklyn. For 3 weeks in August, I worked with groups of middle schoolers and "tweens" as part of the camp's "choices" hour at the end of each day. Different groups of campers made 2-day commitments to planning, shooting and editing short videos that were projected at yesterday's assembly for the camp community.

The PS 124 community decided to take a strong stand against school violence. Following this theme, the 5 production groups in class 5-302 made video news releases (VNRs) exploring violence in their lives and community. Extensive preparation, or "pre-production" work by students created a rich, well executed production process that produced dynamic results, and lots of opportunities for critical media analysis.

Using the same source video footage, the students created 6 different videos on themes ranging from the difference between organic and conventional farming, buying local vs. food flown in from all over the world, and how the food we produce and distribute effects our environment.