Media Literacy Projects

In Technology in the Classroom we just wrapped up creating narrative and sound projects using GarageBand and I have to say, this was an awesome group of assignments. I was nervous when I first heard what the expectations were, but I quickly found it to be so much fun in all ways (making my own, but then also listening to others). Learning, and then putting to use the editing tools (something that just sounded sort of daunting when first introduced) became the assignment I looked forward to working on and would have to save until I did all my other work first.
We started this segment by creating sound collages mainly as an exercise to make sure everyone understood how to find sound effects on the Internet, download them onto GarageBand, and then use the sound and editing tools to control them. Again, this was intended as a sort of warm up exercise, but as we all started finding different sounds and realizing the endless possibilities of stories that can be created simply by collaging sounds together, I think most everyone in the class would agree, we all seemed to become quite involved with creating them and had a lot of fun creating our own sound collages, as well as listening to the ones by our peers.
Next came the interview.
We were asked to arrange and record an interview with someone where we would discus the topics related to using technology in the art classroom. The assignment that sounded like the one I'd enjoy the very least became the main source of instant entertainment for one of my sisters (who I attempted to interview) and I. -We have since decided we need to start recording and saving our conversation on a regular basis (although I can think of a few who may disagree).
Last we created a literacy biography. Very interesting some of the memories it brought back...like me wanted to be like my oldest sister so bad I'd pretend I could read just so I could curl up on the couch next to her (while she actually read). I would just stare at the letters in front of my nose, staying as still as possible so she wouldn't ask me to move, or worse leave.
Again, very entertaining process, but all of a sudden, after creating a Interview piece that was 7 minutes long, having to create this literacy biography to be no more than 3 minutes long became the challenge.....

An excellent broadcast site with all sorts of narrative stories, http://www.thisamericanlife.org/