Spotlight on Digital Media And Learning

Art Inspires Activism: Teens Use Digital Media to Respond to Gulf Oil Spill

This week’s StudentSpeak webisode offers a peek into the new style of civic commitment of today’s teens.

“Open the Door to What is Possible”: Reading Toni Morrison Inspires New Media Projects

In this webisode, StudentSpeak goes behind the scenes to watch how students at YOUmedia, the Chicago Public Library’s digital space for teens, are using Toni Morrison’s book “A Mercy” to create new media projects around themes of slavery and empowerment.

Chicago Teens Call For Schools’ CEO to Bring 21st Century Technology into Their Classrooms

“Imagine if every teacher could use technology fluidly in their lesson plans. Imagine if students could take classes at other schools via video teleconferencing. Imagine if a Spanish class in Chicago had daily speaking sessions in English and Spanish with a classroom in Mexico City. We believe if our recommendations are adopted, those dreams could be a reality.” So begins the final report of the Mikva Challenge on bringing Chicago public high schools into the 21st Century.

Students Solve Math Mysteries in Sackboys and the Mysterious Proof

Spotlight talks with Kan Yang Li about games-based learning and the new math-related adventure level he created for the popular video game “LittleBigPlanet.”

Aneesh Chopra on the Importance of Technology Integration in U.S. Schools

NBC News has focused attention on improving the U.S. educational system with programming and events tied to its week-long Education Nation initiative. Federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra talked with Spotlight earlier this year about one way schools can better engage kids—through digital media.

Kids Engage Through Tinkering

In this short podcast, Miquela Craytor, executive director of Sustainable South Bronx, talks about how in the process of making things and tinkering, students get a glimpse of the systems and processes that go into producing something.

Chicago Teens Work Alongside School Leaders to Improve Technology Use in Schools

Previously on StudentSpeak, we watched teens use digital media to respond to neighborhood violence. In this webisode, we meet student leaders from the Mikva Challenge program who are also working on improving their own communities – by developing a platform to present to Chicago Public School leaders on incorporating technology in the classroom.

“Taking Our Culture Back”: Teen’s Documentary Tackles Violence in Popular Culture

In this StudentSpeak webisode, Spotlight talks with Serenity, 14, a participant in the Digital Youth Network and YOUmedia after school programs at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago.

“Open the Door”: How An Afterschool Program is Changing Teens - And Neighborhoods

In this StudentSpeak webisode, Spotlight talks with Shaondell, 17, a participant in the YOUmedia aftershool program at Harold Washington Library in Chicago. Shaondell created a short video, “The Myriad,” about violence in his community as part of YOUMedia’s collaboration with the Cure Violence project.