"Do it yourself," work is a current teaching trend which I personally believe is extremely beneficial for students' learning. Teachers can use DIY work in a variety of different subjects at all ages of the learning process. Using DIY learning in school is greatly beneficial to students because this type of independent work is required outside of school.
According to Deborah Fields and the other authors that helped write "DIY Media Creation," "Many online spaces are focused on networking around do-it-yourself projects that may involve writing, programming and drawing" (2014). By giving students the opportunity to create things online, that involve writing, programming and drawing, this gives them the opportunity to make media while gaining other skills that will help them in the future outside of a school setting.
There are many ways that teachers can incorporate do it yourself projects within their teaching practice. Teachers are not forced to have maker space classrooms with 3D printers; however, there are many other options involving DIY work. One way that I allowed my high school students to express their knowledge of a Shakespearean novel was to create a Facebook page for a character in the novel we were reading at the time. Some of the students worked in groups. although they were being graded individually, in order to create a more realistic media space. By working in groups students were able to become friends with other characters in the groups, comment on each other's pictures and status in the role of the character chosen.
This is an example of a Facebook page made for the character of Othello. It was not made by one of my students, but it generally has the same idea.
According to Deborah Fields and the other authors that helped write "DIY Media Creation," "Many online spaces are focused on networking around do-it-yourself projects that may involve writing, programming and drawing" (2014). By giving students the opportunity to create things online, that involve writing, programming and drawing, this gives them the opportunity to make media while gaining other skills that will help them in the future outside of a school setting.
There are many ways that teachers can incorporate do it yourself projects within their teaching practice. Teachers are not forced to have maker space classrooms with 3D printers; however, there are many other options involving DIY work. One way that I allowed my high school students to express their knowledge of a Shakespearean novel was to create a Facebook page for a character in the novel we were reading at the time. Some of the students worked in groups. although they were being graded individually, in order to create a more realistic media space. By working in groups students were able to become friends with other characters in the groups, comment on each other's pictures and status in the role of the character chosen.
This is an example of a Facebook page made for the character of Othello. It was not made by one of my students, but it generally has the same idea.
By giving students the opportunity to create media, they were not only able to critically understand the characters in a novel study, but they were able to use their cultural skills to demonstrate their knowledge. Students were very excited about this assignment because creating a Facebook page is something that is meaningful, enjoyable, and useful to them.
References:
Deborah A. Fields. “DIY Media Creation.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 58(1), (Sept 2014). Pp 19-24.
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/othellofacebook-studentwork-110113131040-phpapp02/95/slide-1-728.jpg?cb=1294945987
References:
Deborah A. Fields. “DIY Media Creation.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 58(1), (Sept 2014). Pp 19-24.
http://image.slidesharecdn.com/othellofacebook-studentwork-110113131040-phpapp02/95/slide-1-728.jpg?cb=1294945987