The broadcast media program at Whitney High School, a public high school in Rocklin, CA, stands out as one of the most impressive and successful …

A colourful poster with clear visual and textual information explaining all of the WRITTEN codes -titles, captions, headlines and speech bubbles. Save $ and buy this poster as part of a bundle ‣BUNDLE OF POSTERS Symbolic,Technical, Audio, Written - suitable for primary and lower high school studen...

A colourful poster with clear visual and textual information explaining all of the TECHNICAL codes - camera angles, shot sizes, lighting and camera movements. Save $ and buy this poster as part of a bundle ‣BUNDLE OF POSTERS Symbolic,Technical, Audio, Written - suitable for primary and lower high ...

This blog post explores engaging resources, lessons, and activities for making media literacy relevant in the 21st-century classroom.

Breaking news events lend themselves to a high amount of misinformation. When people are scrambling to cover an event as it unfolds- whether they are professional journalists or just regular people…

Elevation YTH is the youth ministry of Elevation Church for middle school & high school students. We help students grow their faith, their character, & their relationships.

When the AP United States history students at Aragon High School in San Mateo, California, scanned the professionally designed pages of...

As part of our Computer Art unit in photo manipulation, the students had to blend an inanimate object with an animate object. In the ...

A colourful poster with clear visual and textual information explaining all of the symbolic codes, colour, setting, body language, costume and objects. Save $ and buy this poster as part of a bundle ‣BUNDLE OF POSTERS Symbolic,Technical, Audio, Written - suitable for primary and lower high school ...

On the Fifth Day of Photoshop my Students Made for Me.. Some Scribble Art that Almost Looks 3D! Today, we used a mask in PhotoShop to create crazy scribble line portraits. The technique is simple to learn but effective. Scroll to the bottom of this page to watch this very short tutorial, less than 3 minutes, to learn how! Masks 101 from iansands on Vimeo. ----------- Like our blog? Vote for us! All you have to do is click on the name of our blog, the Art of Apex High School, in the poll, and click vote! It's that easy. Voting takes place between December 9th and 14th. The Top 10 will be selected by, of course, YOUR Votes! Shorty after voting closes (at Midnight on Friday, December 14th) they’ll announce the winners. So Vote Now!! Let's Go Apex!

Help upper elementary, middle school, & high school students with media literacy by teaching them to distinguish between real and fake news. Great tips here!

Even my students who “don’t have time” for homework spend 2-3 hours a day on Facebook, YouTube, and Netflix. Our students consume media in amazing quantities, and it’s said that traditional advertising doesn’t work on their generation. As advertisers become more and more savvy in an attempt to break through to their younger listeners, it’s important that students understand how to identify the ways in which a speaker could be manipulating their emotions and instincts. Here are some activities for helping students develop an awareness of persuasive techniques. You can use these to start a larger conversation about being an informed viewer (and citizen!) in today’s media-driven climate. 1. Introduction to Rhetoric Use this activity to introduce (or refresh) ethos, logos, and pathos. Students watch two videos and complete a Doodle Notes worksheet, eventually synthesizing the concepts. My students really enjoy watching these short, animated videos a couple of times in order to make sure they “get it”, and the Doodle Notes provide a nice visual to help them remember the important ideas! You can grab them here. 2. “Buy My Pencil” In this activity, students try to convince each other to buy a pencil. They will employ a variety of persuasive techniques, even if they do not yet have the names for all of them. This is because students absorb persuasion constantly, and demonstrate various techniques on a hunch. After a few minutes of letting them try to sell a partner their pencil, call students back together and have them describe the techniques they used. To extend this, you can have students perform these impromptu skits in front of a larger group or in front of the class. This is a great way to get some informal public speaking practice, and I’m always a proponent of making public speaking less intimidating. 3. Introduction to Persuasive Techniques I use this interactive PowerPoint will help students put names to the techniques they’ve grown up hearing and using. Students will be able to identify techniques in context and apply their knowledge of ethos, logos, and pathos. To break up the term-definition monotony, I have students “buzz in” to identify the techniques in some example ads. I also include Think-Pair-Share to get them to generate more examples of various techniques they’ve seen in recent commercials. 4. Persuasive Tweets A fun bellringer or exit slip activity for practicing persuasive techniques is Persuasive Tweets. In 140 characters or less, students can use one persuasive technique to sell something. I’ve had success giving all students one item (similar to “Buy My Pen”) and having them draw a persuasive technique from a hat. You can download my list of persuasive techniques for this activity here. 5. News Literacy Project The News Literacy Project is a new tool that I would like to integrate into my curriculum throughout the year to help students determine the credibility and levels of bias in various news reports. I’m still in the early stages of exploring this project, but they have online modules that take students through the steps of developing media literacy. According to their site, “As students progress through the checkology™ platform, journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, NBC News and other news outlets are joined by experts on the First Amendment and digital media to guide them through each lesson’s core concepts. These e-learning experiences use real-world examples of news and information that test students’ emerging skills and lead them to mastery.” This has huge potential to help our students become informed, discerning citizens! Wow! Share this post on Facebook! 6. Commercial Analysis Lastly, my students really enjoy applying their new knowledge to commercials! This is a perfect activity to use in this post-football time of the year. Students are still talking about commercials aired during the Super Bowl, and you can find a “top ten” list of commercials to bring to class (vetted first by you for content). Have students choose a commercial, and follow this step-by-step analysis of persuasive techniques. They can complete this alone or in pairs, and can present in small groups. For an added bonus, let them show the commercials in class. Persuasive Techniques are a great way to get students engaged and thinking. You can help develop their media literacy and challenge them to consider the incoming messages. Check out these great resources by other Coffee Shop authors: Logical Fallacies by The Daring English Teacher Media Literacy/Advertising Activities by Addie Williams Critical Analysis with Disney by Room 213 (blog post) Analyzing Music Videos by Stacey Lloyd What are your favorite resources and activities for teaching persuasive techniques? Pin this article for future reference. :)

Developers of platforms such as Facebook have admitted that they were designed to be addictive. Should we be following the executives’ example and going cold turkey – and is it even possible for mere mortals?

Vocational education in high school can prepare students for high-quality jobs and for college. Learn how to spot a good vocational program for your child.

Sometimes, you just need a different hook to reach your students. The very same students who zone out over a worksheet or notes will become engaged when you present the activity in a new way! I love hearing about what other teachers are doing in their classrooms! Today I’m sharing comments from my Twitter, Instagram, and TeachersPayTeachers feedback of ... Read More about Social Media Templates in the Classroom

Teach students in upper elementary, middle school, and high school

Looking for techniques to teach visual literacy? Read on to learn about the OPTIC strategy for rhetorical analysis of visual texts and images.

Sometimes, you just need a different hook to reach your students. The very same students who zone out over a worksheet or notes will become engaged when you present the activity in a new way! I love hearing about what other teachers are doing in their classrooms! Today I’m sharing comments from my Twitter, Instagram, and TeachersPayTeachers feedback of ... Read More about Social Media Templates in the Classroom

Just popping in real quick to share a simple but, I think, meaningful activity I did with my students a few weeks as part of “Digital Citizenship Week” at our school… Kids hear a lot today about being responsible with their social media accounts. We warn them that potential employers and college admissions counselors look...Read More »

Whether you're teaching a communications elective, a journalism class, or really, any ELA class at all, there is so much to tap into in the world of modern media. The process of sharing ideas in

Image 4 of 13 from gallery of High Tech High Chula Vista / Studio E Architects. Photograph by Jim Brady Architectural Photography

How can we be effective at giving feedback remotely, not only during performance reviews, but all the time?

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An awesome start to the school year for Mount Holly Middle School! Over the summer, MHMS received and processed many new books for our...

Phrases like "fake news" and "alternative facts" have been buzzing around popular media. These Orwellian phrases open the door to authentic, relevant, and fascinating analyses for our students. This lesson bundle includes (1) an editable PowerPoint slideshow that prompts students to identify and define "fake news," (2) a highly engaging, writing-based "fake news" project to deepen understanding, and (3) an editable PowerPoint slideshow that prompts students to think about, discuss, and understand "alternative facts" (as an Orwellian notion in modern politics). Join the TeachArgument Community now to gain instant access to this, and ALL of our pop culture lessons! Or, purchase this lesson "a la carte" for only $4.99!

These 40+ free STEM websites: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are for grades 6-12; middle school and high school. Hands on science

Who Is Janet In School Spirits Cast? The Spooky Happenings' Key Player Throughout the series, Janet is referenced but never seen.

The best high school art teacher blogs, social media profiles and art education websites – a list of the gems we have found.

As part of our Computer Art unit in photo manipulation, the students had to blend an inanimate object with an animate object. In the past we have photographed inanimate paint splats being thrown and incorporated it with all sort of different animate objects such as birds and flowers but they didn’t need to be so limited! Here are a few of the results...

In any Graphic Design or Digital Art class, the very first lessons must introduce students to graphics software - such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator - and digital hardware, such as cameras and scanners. However, once students have a good handle on the equipment, where does a teacher go next? What art lessons can be taught that are meaningful, relevant and motivating, help students master software, and teach them about the professional field of Graphic Design? Here are 20 Art & Design projects that are suitable for high school students who have a basic knowledge of graphics software and hardware: 1. Found-Object ABC (or Number) Photography Students use digital cameras to search out (scavenger-hunt style) the ABC’s or numbers in found-objects - for instance, the support bars on the side of a swing-set could appear to be a letter ‘A’. Students upload their photos and use Photoshop to enhance each photo, emphasizing the letter or number they are showcasing. Finished photos may be printed or turned into a digital collage. 2. Hometown Landscape Photography I took my Graphic Design students on a field trip into the picturesque courthouse-square and downtown area of our city. You could also take students to state parks or local attractions. Students used digital cameras to highlight points of interest in our downtown area, and were told to focus on unique perspectives, angles and viewpoints. Students uploaded their photos and used Photoshop to enhance each photo, even adding visual effects and filters. Finished photos were printed, framed, and displayed in our city’s local art gallery in a special student exhibit. 3. Manipulated Self-Portraits Teens love to take selfies – exploit that interest with this project. Students use digital cameras to take unique photos of themselves, exhibiting unique angles, viewpoints and backgrounds. Photos are uploaded, then Photoshop is used to enhance each photo with effects and filters. 4. Juxtaposing Self Seamlessly into Famous Artwork Students search Internet (www.artchive.com, Wikipedia, or www.artcyclopedia.com) for a well-known artwork they are interested in using, or scan artworks from Art reference books – paintings with figures work best. Students use digital cameras to take photos of themselves in a way complementing the artwork. Students must use filters, tools and blending options to juxtapose themselves seamlessly into the artwork. I have had students print these as 8x10s, mat, and then display in the school hallway – teachers, students, and administrators alike love to look at these and comment! 5. Juxtaposing Self Seamlessly Into Famous Historic Photograph Discuss the movie ‘Forrest Gump’ and how digital artists had to juxtapose Tom Hanks’ character seamlessly into historic video footage. Students search Internet for well-known historic photographs or scan from history or reference books. Students use digital cameras to take photos of themselves in a way complementing the photograph. Students must use filters, tools and blending options to juxtapose themselves seamlessly into the photograph, so it appears as if they were there in person. Black and white photos work very well for this. These are also a hit when displayed in the hall. 6. Layers-upon-Layers Digital Artwork Presenting Opinion, Issue or Viewpoint Students decide upon an issue they have a clear opinion on, or a viewpoint they want to express. Students must express this viewpoint using multiple layers of text, graphics, effects and blending tools to design a digital artwork in a propaganda-style. Students may search internet, take photos, scan artwork or create original material for images. 7. Me & My Clone(s): Interactive Portrait Students must decide upon a location and action in which to photograph themselves in various positions. A student’s teammate will photograph while the student poses in ways in which the resulting figures will be interacting when placed together in a montage. Students can interact with one clone, or two or three or more, depending on the action. Photos are uploaded and students manipulate their photos to have their clones ‘interacting’ in one location. I have had some students do this as if they are posing with themselves in a pyramid, others where they are tripping themselves in the hallway, or jumping over themselves playing leapfrog. 8. Celebrity Airbrushing: Myself as a Magazine Cover Students research the controversial topic of model airbrushing (and view good and bad examples of this practice). Students watch tutorials – there are plenty of appropriate and informative Photoshop tutorials on perfecting skin tone, changing hair color, adding makeup, etc. – on YouTube. Students take ‘cover photos’ with themselves as models, upload, and airbrush their photos to be cover-ready. Next, they add magazine titles, headlines and other features to design a magazine cover. 9. New School Website & Logo Design Most schools have logos and websites, and most of them are also outdated and old-fashioned. Students must first consider the needs and image of their school (it would be a good idea to invite the principal in as a guest speaker), and design a new logo for the school. Next, students design a new home page for their school’s website, using this new graphic. If you work carefully and professionally, you may even be able to convince those in charge to consider utilizing your students’ graphic designs. 10. Greeting Card Design Students choose a holiday, life event or other occasion for greeting cards, which must be researched (www.hallmark.com and www.americangreetings.com are good companies to use for research). After learning about styles and current trends, students design a series of greeting cards – including original logos and graphics. 11. Food Styling Design Students research food styling, then use digital cameras to take appetizing and artistic photos of their lunch (at school) or another meal (at home). These photos are uploaded, and students design advertisements, cereal boxes, product labels, menus, or magazine covers with their photos. 12. Yearbook or Book Cover Design Students may work with the school’s Yearbook staff, if desired, to custom-create the school’s next yearbook cover. If this is not feasible, students may choose to design the cover for their autobiography, or re-design a new cover edition for an existing book. 13. ‘Movie About My Life’ Poster Design Students love to imagine themselves in the movies. They will decide upon a title for their movie, the actors in it, and a basic plot – and use the Internet, cameras, and Photoshop to design the promotional movie poster, including credits, graphics, a release date, plot summary, critic review and a slogan. 14. Corporate Identity Design Students first research corporate design, view plenty of examples and learn the basics of graphic design in logos (color selection/meaning and typography). Students then create their own companies, and design a corporate logo, letterhead, and business cards. 15. School Event Planning Design Students may be given actual school events to design custom graphics for – school dances, fundraisers, Art shows, athletic events, music concerts, awards, etc – which will make their designs relevant to their school environment. If students are seniors, however, they might design graphics for their upcoming graduation or open houses. Students will be assigned to design event tickets, programs, brochures, and advertisements for the event that all show cohesive design and graphic unity between each item. 16. School/Organization Advertising Design Have your school’s Business Manager or Director of Development come in and talk to students about school publicity and advertising, and real ads that they must place in newspapers – such as enrollment notices, Open House ads or athletic schedules. Students must take into account school image and needs, and create a potential newspaper advertisement, promoting the school. If possible, arrange to have one of the student ads used in the actual newspaper. 17. Record Company/CD Cover Design Students create a record company and a band of their own, then use Photoshop to design their first CD cover. Students should take into account the style of their band’s music, as well as consumer expectations, and consider these ideas in the graphics. Designs should include the band’s name, album title, company logo, and a listing of the tracks, as well as graphics. 18. Real Estate Advertisement Design Students research the real-estate market in their area (use websites of local real estate brokers). Students select a property they find, and design a housing-magazine advertisement for the property, displaying the housing graphics, including descriptions, listing agents, prices, contact information, and more. It would be fantastic to have a real-estate agent come in and present to the class about how they market their listings. If it can be arranged, real-estate agents may select student promotional designs to use to market their listings. 19. Video Game Design High school students love video games. Each student should imagine a brand-new video game of their own, and design a screenshot of the game - showing the characters and game graphics - as well as a promotional poster, advertisement or game box design. 20. Television Graphics Design If feasible, invite a Graphic Designer from a local news station to come and present to the class about television graphics, the software they use, and job specifications. Students imagine a brand-new TV channel, design the logo for the evening news program, and design custom graphics for the weather forecast, ‘Breaking News’ stories, and more. Keep in mind that to successfully teach these Graphic Design and Digital Art lessons, the Art teacher will need to have access to computers for each student, digital cameras, a good color printer, graphics software (such as Photoshop or Illustrator), the Internet, a scanner, and flash drives for students to save their own work. High school Art students are already bombarded by thousands of visual images and propaganda on a daily basis. Thus, the idea of using computers to create Digital Art is already motivating to students – it is up to the Art teacher to harness that interest and energy into guiding them to learn about the real world profession of Graphic Design. Using any of these Art & Design lessons will be a fantastic jumping-off point for teaching students about this new, important and relevant career.

Tips for teaching journalism and advising the newspaper and yearbook

Sometimes, you just need a different hook to reach your students. The very same students who zone out over a worksheet or notes will become engaged when you present the activity in a new way! I love hearing about what other teachers are doing in their classrooms! Today I’m sharing comments from my Twitter, Instagram, and TeachersPayTeachers feedback of ... Read More about Social Media Templates in the Classroom