Change is what we all do for a living. All educators are in the change business. In this case, we are changing preconceived ideas, and cognitive, affective and psych-motor behaviors. So, it makes sense to discuss change in the classroom and to do a project on change. We are also coupling this content with a discussion on Malcom Gladwell, the author of his recent book on change: The Tipping Point.
Introduction
So, let’s get started. The videos posted here are a series of segments from a larger presentation/workshop I conducted on change in the classroom. The following is an introduction of the various cultural periods we have gone through that serves as an introduction to the concept of change and how it was fostered through the ages:
Next, we discuss the current period, what I refer to as the Participatory Culture. I am not alone. In fact, I learned it from my friend and colleague, Dr. Henry Jenkins, who I refer to as the 'father of participatory culture':
To help you better understand what is being discussed here, I turn your attention to a white paper written and presented by Henry at a recent conference of Digital Media and Learning sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation. It is quite long, so don't be put off by it. You can browse through it to get some of the main points.
To help you understand things further, take a look at this link and a You Tube Video that are referred to in my slide show video:
- Digital Narratives
-
Prometeus: The Future of Media
This next part of the lesson I discuss the concept of change theory and how it applies to the classroom:
This final section covers social epidemics. This section is directly related to the Tipping Point discussions and the lesson on Malcom Gladwell. Once we understand that, we review our concept of story and change (a contextualized representation/demonstration of cause and effect and consequences for one's actions).. completing the cycle....
The next question is.. where does story fit in? If you recall, story is based on change/transformation.. and those changes are a result of cause and effect... so to tie all together... an episode/story/narration demonstrates cause and effect and consequences... the story can be told using any one or more different media (text, orally, dance, art, pantomime... and even technology.. given that this course is about still and moving imagery.. we should utilize that mediation... couple this with your new-found knowledge of change theory and you have a very powerful method of instruction for the classroom!
But before we begin, perhaps you would like some examples of others' conceptualizations of change stories....Here are a couple links to Change Story Projects that might help give you a better understanding of what these are and why they are so integral to implementing change:
We take this knowledge of HOW kids learn, apply CHANGE DIFFUSION THEORY to implement a motivating learning environment with media, mix in Gladwell's ideas on TIPPING POINT and SOCIAL EPIDEMICS.. and we end up with a new formula for mediated learning (where technology/media fits in)...