Rhetorical Analysis of a Website and a Little Service Learning

Our campus became an iPad 1:1 campus last year, and this one assignment went from meaningful yet tedious to meaningful and easy. One of the bazillion standards to be covered is the dreading analyzing visual media. On the one hand this is an essential skill, but on the other, this can be cumbersome to try and "fit in" in just the right spot and without it feeling forced. Several years ago, when we started working humanitarian aid organizations into our realm of study (then it was coupled with the reading of the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and his Central Asia Institute which focuses on the education of girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan), we came up with the idea of asking the kids to analyze his website. We started with the basics of rhetoric: rhetorical situation, rhetorical appeals, use of images, etc. Then, when we did not have as much access to technology, we would book the lab, spend two days in the lab reading the website, taking notes, etc. Then, the kids would put together a presentation of their choice. Some would do a poster board, some would use PowerPoint, some would get really fancy and use Prezi. Really, because the technology access was inconsistent, we gave a ton of choice. When we had use of Netbooks 1:1 in my classroom, I required a technology based presentation, but still had to give up more class time to insure that even those who don't have technology at home could make it happen.

Then, the iPads came. Now, my unit of humanitarian aid organizations has grown into something much bigger (you can find several more posts here on my blog about this assignment), and  this idea of a website analysis is the first of several steps we ask the kids to take. Now, with the iPads, we use Explain Everything. This app is AMAZING! It allows you to create individual slides (ala PowerPoint) by drawing, writing, typing etc. onto a solid colored background. Then, you can record a voiceover for each slide individually. Then, when it is finished, you can export it to YouTube as a video. Each slide becomes the link of the audio file! VOILA!!

Now for the best part! You can import a web browser onto a slide of your Explain Everything presentation. While that web browser is on the screen, it is FULLY ACTIVE...GAME CHANGER!!!

Now my kids simply put the website onto a slide, hit record, and browse the website while recording their explanation. In a 2-3 minute long video I can see if they understand all of these things:

1. rhetorical situation,

2. rhetorical appeals,

3. rhetorical analysis (how/why rhetorical choice is important),

4. analyzing visual media,

5. how a non-profit uses the web as a rhetorical platform (this is part of our larger discussion).

The best part, I provide instructions, provide a day or two of work time, and then it is due within a week. The app makes it soooo easy and seamless, that there is very little time actually needed to put the presentation together.  Check out a few samples below if you would like to see the final products!

I Love Santa!

Our district has been pairing Cottonwood Creek Elementary Kindergartners and First Graders with high school English classes to write letters to Santa every December for over 15 years. This year was extra special because my very own kindergartner, Jaelyn Jo, got to come with her classmates to my classroom! The little ones love coming to the high school and seeing the big kids. The big ones love working with the little ones and helping them write their letters. It is especially fun for my kids who remember writing to letters at the high school when they were in elementary school. Here are some pics I snapped during the visit!