Internet Access in Different Countries

Teaching Visual Media in class

REFLEXION
Now a days the variety of media for children is amazing and very vast, but it can also be very dangerous. We decided to introduce billboards to our children because in the country and city we live in, we are surrounded by them everywhere. Not all of them are intended for children, but they still have access to them when they are walking in the streets or in their cars, looking out the window. Billboards are an excellent example of visual media, because they are intended to have very little writing or none at all and a lot of color and images because there is no time to take the time to analyze them, so the message is delivered pronto! I think that by doing this kind of activities at a very early age, having them try to interpret visual media, question themselves about its existence and purpose, will help develop visual skills. As I mentioned before, the dangerous part of this kind of media. is and has always been, subliminal messages. Its easy to hide pictures within the images to manipulate their thinking process and as we found out in many web pages, there is a lot of hidden, inappropriate things, even in Disney movies. It makes me sad but also aware of how careful I need to be displaying images in my classroom.

LESSON PLAN: CRITICAL THINKERS = VISUAL LITERATE CHILDREN

Objectives: 

Students will learn what ads are.

Students will recognize content of commercial ads.

Preparation:

Before going out on the next field trip, (TURIBUS),  teachers will show several pictures of ads to students. 

Teachers will initiate inquiry through questions such as: 

Do you see pictures? Which?

Do you see animals? Which? Do they look real? Are  they cartoons?

Do you see colors? Which?

Do you see letters? Big? Small?

How does this ad make you feel?

What do you think they are advertising?

Activity:

The day of the field trip, around the city, children will take pictures of ads they like.

Will discuss and reflect back in the classroom.

Culmination:

Class will be divided in three groups. Each group will create a collage with pictures they took during their field trip.

Each group will share with other two groups.

Reflection on Chipp Kidmann: Designing book covers is no laughing matter.

I really enjoyed Chip Kidds TED video.  He is a funny man that has a very interesting and challenging job. I think it is very important how books, even music discs covers, are presented. I am addicted to reading and addicted to music and after watching this video, I gave it a thought on  how much I am influenced by front covers. Not much, I really don't judge a book by its cover, at my age I care more about the title or the author. I am definitely more attracted to the covers of cd and vinyl's because its an art. People have collected  them for years and really talk about the front covers, sometimes, even more than the music.




As adults, we tend to have an idea of what we want to read, we might have an author in mind or even a topic, we browse the books, take a quick look at the title and immediately read the back cover. That small summary is what makes us take the final decision.






For children's books its another story, the front cover is very important. It has to be attractive, colorful and fun. They do choose the books they want to read by looking at the book cover. The pictures, the handwriting and the order of it. It needs to make them feel something, has to create an emotion in their heads. Thats how important the front cover is for them.







BOOK COVER ANALISIS

This book cover makes me think of a girly theme. The petals make me think someone goes through a very big change in life, that she sheds layers of problems until she can feel reborn again. The colors make me think the character its a woman, an adult and the font, the size and color make me think of a little pain.

 By looking a this book cover I think the book might be about a girl and her experience in love. I don't really like it.

 By looking at the book cover I can tell that time is involved in the story but not how. I needed to read the title and the subtitle to get an idea of the book. I was not attracted to the book cover.