Students Speak Their Minds Through Digital Media

Incorporating student relevance into the classroom is an exceedingly important aspect of training students to be productive young adults who are able to critically analyze and improve the world. By allowing students to create meaningful content that relates to the topic area you are teaching, you foster a stronger connection between the material in class and students experiences. Additionally by acknowledging students life experiences and allowing them to share these experiences with each other and a general audience it creates a sense of trust and importance that you, as the teacher, recognize students experiences. Furthermore with proper guidance the students are able to tailor their understanding of the world into academically valid experiences.

I was disappointed to see the note under this video stating that the San Fernando Educational Technology Team is no longer functioning. This was, based on the video, a great organization.

I cannot explain how much I love the idea of this project. For students to have the opportunity to lend their voice to a cause they are passionate about through a multimedia resource is incredible. I am motivated by the joy these students seem to experience, from not only driving their education, but helping others. It provides students with the ability to focus their energy into an area of their interest and it provides teachers with an alternative assessment option. I wish the funding were available for this sort of project in my school; however, I would be lying to say I would not worry about the situations my students might get into while covering their stories. I would imagine that, in order to use this in my school (and probably others), clear boundaries would have to be drawn and projects would need to seek teacher approval before being started.

I thought this video was really good for two reasons. One being that this teacher's program was keeping kids off the streets. The second reason being that the teacher wanted to really make an impression on his students more than just using a text book. Instead he was giving them real life experience with using technology.

I thought this video was great. It gave me information from the teacher's point of view. It gave me his goals and plans for this class. He listed his reasons for offering this class. He is right when we says that we remember the projects we do because they are tangible and have an end to them. I also like how they gace the students point of view as well. It showed how happy they are and how proud they are of what they are doing. I think the kids in the video are excited about going to school and being able to work on their projects. It gives them something to work on rather than getting into trouble on the streets.

This video was really awesome because it did not just show you what the teacher's goals were and what his motivation was but it showed the students as well. The students are so proud of the work they have done and the fact that what the teacher was saying that the end result it tangible it is something the students can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Technology is an great way to spread meaning and messages and it really showed, especially with the sweatshop video which was created by a high schooler yet shown at a national convention in India.

Can't say anything more than what's been said, well done.

What I found most interesting about this clip is the power and obvious self-esteem that the students found merely by being given a voice, and more importantly a receptive audience. If every teacher could inspire their students to speak up about the ills they are confronted with a more just society would emerge. By exposing social evils, or just sharing a laugh, dialogs are created and as those build on each other positive change is a nigh inevitable result.

As a Preservice teacher at A.S.U. West I was truly inspired by Marro Torres and his approach to education and technology. I loved seeing the children excited about learning. Mr Torres has opened the door for so many children keeping them off the streets while helping them develop life changing skills that will no doubt help the in the future. I hope to be as influential as a teacher as Mr Torres. He is an inspiration to all future educators.

Thank you for creating this resource for all to read and see. I, as a teacher, have eyes open wide and will continue my education in order to serve my students in the world we live in TODAY!

This video and the content are absolutely inspiring. I agree that the things children learn are found far more in what they do than in rote. What I loved about this video is the fact that children were sitting on the curb using the teacher's web and even more than that they were able to share this with others. Amazing!