TBird Times EduCon

School Newspaper 2.0: Students Using Participatory Media to Build Community January 2009 | Educon 2.1 | Philadelphia

A vision of students today

A community of individuals with at least one thing in common: School is a part of their lives. BIG But where can they e x p r e s s themselves?

… in here?

What does that have to do with a “newspaper/media club?”

I believe…

Technology is everywhere,

Stories are everywhere, and

Our community needs (and wants!) to hear them.

Most of all, I believe…

STUDENTS have something to say .

What is a “Newspaper”?

“… a written publication containing news, information and advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called newsprint.” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspaper

What is “Multimedia”?

So, what’s a Multimedia Newspaper?

Writing Videos Photos Podcasts Member Profiles All can view but only members can edit All student produced. All the time.

The Vision … about everything happening at school.

TBirdTimes.org

News, short stories, sports coverage, features, and more … in multiple media formats:

Writing

Video

Photo Essays

Original Artwork

Podcasts

More

Tools:

Tools: … among others.

Students and Staff Participate

Every member has a profile page *THEY* customize…

… and, together, we learn how to make sure it is SAFE and well designed.

Our goal: do something that’s never been done before…

Produce, publish and maintain an online multimedia newspaper unlike anything ever created* by a middle school. * as far as I know. ;-)

Feature Rich

Familiar Metaphor

Multimedia Friendly

Can be made COPPA compliant

Free

Our Weapon of Choice: Ning

Current Status

12 middle school student members (6-8 active at any given time)

10 adult/school staff members

41 forum postings/articles, countless comments

Advice column

Horoscopes

School events coverage

Webcast series

14 student profile pages

9 student-produced videos

43 photos including original digital artwork

Twice-weekly after-school meetings

Accessible from home

What’s Working Well

Ning platform

Google Docs

Participation by active members

Variety of content

Use of digital tools

Discussion of “real world” Internet safety

Anonymity / COPPA compliance

What Could Be Better

More school-related content

Plans: profile of a student with Downs syndrome, retirement montage videos, more sports event coverage, more teacher interviews, more feature articles

Ability for non-members to comment

More student participation

More emphasis on writing

http://tbirdtimes.org

Image Credits http://www.flickr.com/photos/mezzoblue/135371202/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesyu/61784469/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/oudeschool/662078822/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/artgallery/1587436328/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/dejahthoris/140609589/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/difei/2654449181/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ian_d/30859899/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/b-tal/2585526987/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/redjar/162546810/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybanks/298347707/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/28109157@N02/2620934647/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/trekkyandy/496564110/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/alistair_israel/2056761663/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/15312650@N05/2249866870/ http://flickr.com/photos/jfahler/2641700497/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jose_kevo/2417471256/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jose_kevo/2406757196/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jose_kevo/2405926359/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jose_kevo/2195671431/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mspatt/2367994932/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jose_kevo/2843976839/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdilldigital/2493425414/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jose_kevo/2423434695/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/captkodak/2322374833/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/captkodak/321546787/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/celinesphotographer/328581080/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jon_marshall/260978898/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/frenchieb/2100764207/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/48011843/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/acsamman/1264476755/