Chapter 14: Media Grammer for Teachers

Chapter 14 comments:

all excepts from: Jason B. Ohler. Digital Storytelling in the Classroom: New Media Pathways to Literacy, Learning, and Creativity (p. 178). Kindle Edition. 

"But rest assured that unless you actually create your own media, and do so paying particular attention to how to most effectively engage and convince your audience, then any appreciation you have of media's persuasive abilities will be shallow and theoretical at best."

I don't know if I fully agree with this statement, but I do think that creating persuasive material helps one understand how persuasion works in media.  This might help students think critically about commercials,  political ads, the news, and other modern persuaders. 


effects should "support the story."

I might be guilty of adding effects for the sake of effects but I do try and make it fit.  I was told by a teacher back in undergrad that every effect should push the story forward not just look cool.  I guess I  agree because some effects could may add to the esthetics or add an artistic edge but if they don't "fit" it is just distracting.  

The rest of the chapter...

This is where Ohler is saying all aspects of the video should help push the message or point of the video. Don't add superflous items.  He goes into detail but I think this chapter should be shorter.  Is this cinematography or storytelling.  Teachers are more interesting in if the student can effectively tell a story, not if their camera angles were interesting.  However, its a book and he's trying to leave no stone unturned. Good for him.