May 2008 — News
Print this article | Email this articleClick here to receive your FREE subscription to T.H.E. Journal
Teachers & Technology: English with an Edge
I recall a young man who was amazingly intelligent but so bored with school that his grades were average and below. His satire about campus police was hilarious and pointed. He spent way more time on this project than anything else we'd done all semester, and the final product was great. He left high school on a high note I don't believe he would have reached without this techno-English assignment.
Another group, the primary writer of which is currently at Johns Hopkins, wrote a hilarious "end of the year" spoof--the kind we're relentlessly treated to in December--except theirs were predictions of our future. A couple of my favorites were: "In the year 2008, after winning the presidential election, Mitt Romney will move the capital to Salt Lake City and our new capital building will be the Mormon Tabernacle. And finally, in the year 2076, on her deathbed, Paris Hilton will demand the firing of all nuclear weapons because, 'without her, the world is useless.'"
My advice: Best Buy has a grant program each fall. That's one way to get cameras.
This is one of those authentic assignments that take lots of hours. It's worth it. Plus, just lock the door when you're viewing them. You can turn off the TV before you open the door!
If I could have, free, one piece of hardware or one software program for my classroom, it would it be:
Adobe Premiere and Nero for PC's or iMovie's newest version, GarageBand, and a top-shelf Mac laptop.
Get daily news from THE Journal's RSS News Feed
About the author: Neal Starkman is a freelance writer based in Seattle.
Proposals for articles and tips for news stories, as well as questions and comments about this publication, should be submitted to David Nagel, executive editor, at dnagel@1105media.com.
Cite this Site
copy text (above) for proper citation
