In the Spotlight...Together!
by Elizabeth Cullen
1. How I have helped students to be effective in an interactive media world
1.1. The IB Diploma Written Assignment requires students to consider the medium and the message in creating a product. (Crockett, Jukes & Churches, 2011. p. 60). It also requires skills addressed in Ohler's 7 Bs when students visually differentiate by choosing appropriate text features for the chosen product (2016).
2. An example of a media powerful enough on its own to communicate a message? Photography
2.1. Peter Menzel's photographs provide powerful economic and social messages without ever uttering a word. Check out the link to his Material World photographs at the arrow on the right.
3. What collaborative skills do I teach students?
3.1. The TOK Internal Assessment provides me the opportunity to teach Osterholt & Barratt's (2012) Critical Thinking Reflection Skills when students peer review and inspire edits (p.25).
3.1.1. These skills build Bernard Bull's (2013) ideals of building "community and trust", and working through "imperfect attempts at collaboration".
4. How can a global virtual community be used today as a tool for learning?
4.1. My students regularly use social media like What's App to communicate with Spanish-speaking peers so that they can improve their language skills and learn global perspectives.
4.1.1. As a teacher, I use TES Connect and IB's On-Line Curriculum Center to collaborate with my international colleagues.