[digital literacy] 2-1-1

 

english assignment one: eminent

link: eminent intro blog post and eminent bibliography 

description of the assignment

The introductory eminent blog post was the first part of the TALONS humanities assignment, Eminent, where we research a gifted person we deem “eminent” to society and present our learning through a speech from the perspective of a significant object/person to our eminent person and an interactive learning center that further demonstrates their eminence on the Night of the Notables. This year, my eminent person was Edgar Allan Poe, an esteemed American writer and poet. My blog post, linked above, provides a brief introduction to Edgar Allan Poe and the reasons for my choice of eminent person, and declares my ambitions for this project. 

 

digital literacy criteria

  1. I identify and discuss bias in research sources 

The eminence of individuals is almost always a subjective concept, especially for Edgar Allan Poe who is considered both a madman and a genius. Therefore, while researching my eminent person, I carefully examined my information and their respective sources, identifying bias in my sources. For example, some of the early works after Poe’s death were directly influenced by Rufus Wilmot Griswold, who published Poe’s first full biography under the pseudonym “Ludwig” Griswold. Griswold was actually a rival of Poe, and he depicted Poe as a depraved, drunk, drug-addled madman. I recognized and discussing Griswold’s bias and the results of Griswold’s vicious depiction, making sure that Griswold’s personal vendetta doesn’t affect the accuracy of my work. Furthermore, I also compared and contrasted my sources to ensure that my information was consistent and as objective as possible. 

  1. I go beyond google and use databases to find scholarly research sources 

As Eminent requires intensive research, I went beyond google and sought out university databases for digital collections of published essays and books. Though the databases I used weren’t directly stated in the bibliography I linked above, they are evident in the scholarly sources I cited. The two databases I employed the most were the Brown University Library and the Stanford University Library. 

  1. My work demonstrates a positive, productive, and empathetic worldview 

As the purpose of my eminent project on Edgar Allan Poe was to appreciate and demonstrate his contribution to society today, I illustrated the positive and innovative impacts he made in the literary world and the challenges that plagued him throughout life. Edgar Allan Poe is generally characterized as a tragic character; however, I depicted Poe with a positive and empathetic worldview. I hope that through my portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe, I’ll inspire others to embrace the same determination that led to Poe’s eminence as a great writer. 

 

 

english assignment two: ZIP 

link: ZIP artifact, ZIP notes, and ZIP bibliography 

description of the assignment

The ZIP project is an inquiry-based project where we find a topic that interests us and develop an inquiry question that relates to that topic. We then research to answer our inquiry question and create a final artifact that displays our learning in two weeks. This year, my inquiry question was, “to what extent is Michel Foucault’s analysis of power’s influence over knowledge still relevant today?” Michel Foucault is a renowned French philosopher and social theorist who created the knowledge/power theory. For my ZIP artifact, I applied my research on the modern relevance of the knowledge/power theory and created a chapbook that explores my inquiry question from multiple perspectives and areas of society. 

 

digital liteacy criterira

  1. I determine and use the most effective medium to present my work 

While researching for my ZIP project, I realized that I’d have to answer my inquiry question from multiple perspectives. Therefore, I came up with a few mediums that would satisfy my requirements: an infographic, a PowerPoint, an essay, and a chapbook. I then examined the advantages and disadvantages of each medium and decided to present my learning through a chapbook. From the beginning of the project, I aimed for a physical artifact as it provides more engagement than a digital artifact. Then, I determined that instead of an essay, it would be more effective to add creativity to my artifact. Therefore, I believe that the most effective medium to present my work was a chapbook.

  1. I critically assess research sources for Currency, Reliability, Authority, and Purpose 

As my inquiry question requires a lot of intensive and relevant research to answer, I had to critically assess each of my sources. I used the C.R.A.P. test to evaluate the significance and accuracy of my information. My question’s emphasis on the modern relevance of power/knowledge theory limited the currency of my source (for the actual answer of the question) to a ten-year range. I cross-examined my sources to ensure the reliability of the information. I also analyzed the author/publisher/sponsor of the information and made sure that I recognize the purpose of each source and treat them accordingly. In my notes and bibliography, all of my sources are C.R.A.P. approved. 

  1. I look at controversial issues or topics from opposed perspectives to gain a more complete understanding 

As some of the areas I answered my inquiry question from were controversial topics, I examined information from opposing perspectives to ensure that I have a more complete understanding. For example, I encountered a few differing opinions while examining the relevance of the power/knowledge theory in the field of medicine. Some sources believe a power/knowledge relationship between a patient and a doctor is necessary and beneficial, and other sources indicate that this relationship can often be exercised, resulting in the abuse of doctor-patient trust. To create a comprehensive answer to my inquiry question, I looked at opposing perspectives and gained a thorough understanding of modern issues. 

 

 

social assignment one: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian presentation  

link: PTI PowerPoint 

description of the assignment

While reading the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, we explored social issues that face the indigenous communities through a series of collaborative presentations. I, along with three of my peers, researched the education system of indigenous people and how it has affected indigenous students as well as Canada. Our Powerpoint presentation involved an introduction to both the current education system and the old education system, and two current event articles that illustrate the issues and developments within the indigenous education. We examined the impacts of this system and our responsibilities to improve indigenous education. Through this assignment, we explored the importance of education and how the indigenous education is working towards a better future. 

 

digital literacy criteria

  1. I use digital spaces to plan and execute collaborative projects with my peers

The PTI presentation was a collaborative project that required digital space to plan and execute. During this assignment, as both my group members and I were busy with personal matters, my peers and I often communicated through group chats and by leaving comments on each other’s Powerpoint slides. We offered each other constructive feedback, answered each other’s questions, and supported each other’s learning. Through digital spaces, we were able to provide an inclusive environment that led to a productive and fulfilling group dynamic.

  1. I tailor my work to appeal to my intended audience, and use language and visual design elements appropriate for them

Knowing that the intended audience of our presentation was the TALONS 9 class and Mr. Morris, we tailored our presentation into an exploration-like exhibition. We first offered an introduction to our presentation and the topics we were focusing on. Then, we introduced our two current event articles and analyzed them. Finally, we discussed the impacts of indigenous education and our responsibility to better the education system and serve the needs of indigenous students. Through a three-layer process, we delved into the education system of the indigenous population. As our intended audiences are all educated individuals, we used a lot of statistics to explain the issues indigenous students face. Furthermore, since we don’t need to use bright colors to engage our audience, we adopted a darker toned PowerPoint to express the seriousness of these issues. 

  1. I constructively build upon or synthesize the ideas of my peers 

At the beginning of our project, we recognized that the subject of our presentation is abstract and controversial. Therefore, our group spent time and effort to brainstorm and synthesize our ideas into a consistent presentation. I actively contributed to group discussions and shared my (credible) research and sources. I both expressed my ideas and logically considered the ideas of others, even when they directly opposed my own. Furthermore, though we encountered some disagreements, we overcame them and integrated our ideas as a collective. Overall, I believe that I constructively synthesized the ideas of our group into a satisfying and informative presentation.   

 

 

science assignment one: lobster reproduction poster

link: lobster reproduction poster and lobster reproduction bibliography 

description of the assignment

In our biology unit, we were given the task to study the reproductive system of a specific animal in detail and share our findings in a poster-like infographic. My chosen animal was lobsters. I researched the entire mating process and reproductive system of lobsters and exhibited my knowledge in an aesthetically-pleasing and informative poster. 

 

digital literacy criteria

  1. I enhance the impact of my research or presentation through creative use of technology

As the aim of this project was to create an aesthetically-pleasing poster that displays the reproduction process of lobsters, I creatively utilized technology to enhance the impact of my poster. I employed several digital programs (Word, PowerPoint, Canva, and Photoshop) to design my final product. Through the applications I used, I was able to convey my learning in an organized and artistic manner that magnified the impact of my research. 

  1. I design my work with consideration given to aesthetics and design, such as consistent colour schemes, symmetry or organization of visual elements, and overall layout

I designed my poster with a significant amount of consideration given to its aesthetic and visual effects. I used a consistent three-colour colour scheme of dark blue, turquoise, and white, and lines in my posters provided a sense of structure. I also specifically chose the lettering of my poster to contrast the titles while not losing the emphasis on the information. By considering design principles and devices, I designed an eye-catching poster. 

  1. I ethically use content that is not created by me by using Creative-Commons licensed audio, video, or images and by properly citing these resources within my work

In my poster, I used three images in total: one of a lobster and two that aid in explaining how embryonic development occurs in lobsters. All three images are sourced in my poster. In addition, I have a bibliography page linked above in which I provided MLA citations of all the resources that contributed to my work. 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *