Banana Day Podcast

http://goo.gl/ZGepB

What
This assignment was a podcast that explored a particular aspect of West Chester University life. Our group chose to investigate Banana Day because it was light-hearted and we figured than many people would be perceptive and open to an interview. Although there were many students who seemed to be quite fond of the celebration, several were also confused about its meaning and origin- others did not see a point in dedicating an entire day to worshipping a piece of fruit. Our story unfolded as we discussed our own Banana Day experiences and then turned to others for their input. We eventually discovered that Banana Day was primarily developed to promote good health and student involvement.

So What?
2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
I think this project would be useful to foster a creative outlet for students in a learning environment. A podcast allows them to create a story- not through conventional mediums, but solely through the uses of sounds. This requires an active imagination and some ingenuity to make the story believable and interesting.

Now What? Although podcasts must tell a story, they can certainly be incorporated in educational settings beyond the English Classroom. Podcasts can be used to illustrate moments in history or otherwise particularly bland material and make them engaging. When students are actively involved in their learning process, they are more enthusiastic, especially when they are able to develop learning tools through the use of new and innovative technology.

Response to "Bare White" by Liz Baum

1. Upon exploring the digital storytelling site, I chose to view a story under the Identity tab. I was surprised to see a video featuring a white artistic speaking about her own racial identity. Reflecting upon my initial reactions, she explains through thoughtful monologue and pictures that whiteness is often perceived as "normal" to individuals who share this racial identity and it is scarcely viewed as an identity at all. Baum's narrative primarily her response to a book she read "Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" by Beverly Tatum. Tatum's book discusses white identity and suggests that white people do not think about their racial group. Baum reflects upon her own childhood and remembers a sea of white faces, dotted occasionally by vague images of individuals of other races.

2. The method of digital story telling would undoubtedly benefit the effectiveness of learning. Multimedia projects cater to several different types of learning and through a diversity of mediums, there is a greater chance that the overarching message will be understood by everyone. Students are given the ability to express their individuality in these products by including their voice and other creations that can reflect upon an topic that is of interest to them. This method of spreading ideas would be appealing to students because it is technology-centric and its method of execution is nearly limitless.

3. There were many attributes to this digital story that made it captivating but also some elements...or rather missing components...that lessened its effectiveness. The topic alone combined with the crisp images of a white lawn chair and her childhood photos reflect a good example of what is perceived as whiteness. However, although her narrative talks about a sudden revelation that she is a "white woman", she really does not explain these implications. The narrative seemed rather incomplete and it would have been interesting to hear how this realization of her white racial identity changed the way that she viewed herself and other races.