Spotlight on Digital Media And Learning

11.10.08 | by Milton Chen and Ken Ellis

The George Lucas Educational Foundation, publishers of Edutopia media including documentary films, a magazine, and website has received a grant from the MacArthur Foundation to produce 10 multimedia portraits of youth between the ages of 8 and 18, who are deeply immersed in digital media. These portraits are intended to provide an in-depth look at how young people are using new media for learning, socializing, and entertainment, giving adults insight into the new generation’s digital lives. The portraits will feature a range of media, produced by Edutopia staff as well as the youth themselves. They will include:

• Short (less than 10 minute) documentary segments that explore various aspects of how young people are using new media in their homes, schools, out-of-school activities, informal learning environments, and with their peers.
• Interviews with youth to gain their reflections on these experiences;
• Interviews with their parents, educators, and others;
• Expert interviews commenting on and interpreting specific behaviors in the Portraits
• Articles and text commentary placing the Portraits in the larger context of digital learning initiatives
• Examples of work produced by these young people, including audio and video podcasts, photos, blogs, films, essays, music, slide presentations, websites, games and media diaries.

The Portraits will be published on edutopia.org, with articles appearing in several issues of Edutopia magazine, beginning in February of 2009. Edutopia is currently seeking candidates for these profiles. Submission deadline is November 15th.  Here’s how to submit a video: 1. Create the video. The footage can consist of straightforward talking to the camera, or something more creative. 2. Students introduce themselves with their first name only. 3. Students obtain written parental consent for taping and posting on the Internet if they are younger than eighteen years old. 4. Post the video on YouTube or TeacherTube and tag it “dyedutopia.” After you have uploaded the video to YouTube or TeacherTube, please send an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Please include:

• student contact information, including full name, age, and parental contact information.
• a description of how the student uses digital media (less than 300 words).
• links to or examples of digital media the student has produced.
• a brief explanation of the student’s activities and interests besides involvement with digital media.
• a link to the video submission on YouTube or TeacherTube.

See our project website for more information. We look forward to hearing from and about some remarkable young people.