Artifact 8

Artifact Eight
Ethnography Project is a study done at Bethel Elementary School on how media effects the lives of the children. It includes pictures of corporate advertising, popular media figures, and name brand school gear, clothing and shoes. A survey was given to the children on what their favorite programs were and how much TV they watched per week. The results of these surveys, as well as the pictures, are shown within the project which is posted on the World Wide Web.

Context
I created this project for my Integrating Media and Technology into Teaching class while in my block at Appalachian State University. We used digital cameras, scanners, Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop and the World Wide Web to complete this project. It was presented to our class and is available for view on the block web page.

Impact
This project allowed me to see the impact of media on the children of a rural background. Bethel is far away from the city but not far enough away to escape the pressures of the media and its grasp. Many children responded the way that a child that grew up in the city would respond as far as how important status was, the clothes they wear, the backpacks they carry and the friends they keep. In the future I will make sure that I analyze the message that is being sent through media to the children in my classroom, and what effect it may have on their learning and character while in my care.

Alignment
While this experience did not change my thinking about the effects of media, it did open my eyes to what is perceived within the media, and how children perceive it. While collecting the data and the pictures many different devices were used; digital cameras, tape recorders, and conventional cameras. After bringing our collected information back to the labs we used Adobe Photoshop, scanners, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Frontpage and eventually the World Wide Web. (IV B) In order to videotape or take pictures of the children we had to consult a video permission form that was kept in the office. This form allows the teacher to make sure that the parents are aware of the possibility of their child being recorded and gain their permission. (VI A)