Meet The Media Education Lab at Temple University

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How are you involved in education?
We here at the Media Education Lab at Temple University run a program called Powerful Voices for Kids, which is a University-school partnership between our lab, the Russell Byers Charter School and Wayne Elementary.  The program was designed to connect school and learning with contemporary culture, using mass media, popular culture, and digital technology to engage students in reading, writing, speaking, listening and production activities.  The Powerful Voices for Kids program transforms reluctant, passive learners into active and passionate citizens.

What’s your ideal classroom or school like?

We value project based learning that connects the classroom to the living room, using children’s interest in mass media, popular culture and digital media to promote critical thinking and communication skills.

Have you ever attended an unconference before?
Yes, we recently participated in Beyond Books; News, Literacy and Democracy for America’s Libraries, a conference using the open space process, featuring Peggy Holman and hosted at MIT in the Spring of 2011.  We also hosted Rebooting the News, a stimulating eclectic gathering of journalists and K-12 teachers held in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center in 2008. This event attracted more than 70 participants from all across the country.

If you were to lead a session at EdCamp, what would it be about?

Our session would focus on the Powerful Voices for Kids program and everything it has to offer.  By engaging students in enrichment activities that capitalize on their interests in mass media, the program enables children to build positive relationships with peers and adults, use digital media and technology for learning, and develop critical thinking and communication skills.
The Powerful Voices for Kids program also supports a small learning community, which aims to increase teachers’ understanding of media literacy education and support the process of implementing technology activities with their own students.

Do you have a website or blog?

http://www.mediaeducationlab.com

Are you on Twitter?
@reneehobbs

What is your favorite digital tool?
Jing