This goes back to my comment I made earlier how Tweets are being used widely for either humor or divisiveness. A lot of people express what I am feeling better than I can and that is why I would share these. But I have been learning, even before this reading that any of them can be made up and so have been not sharing what I cannot verify as an authentic post. It's just gotten out of control.

THIS has become so annoying. Both sides quite frankley.

First of all, this is just sad - what started out as humor and community etc... And second of all I have to say I don't really see this being passed around but that is because the internet is so catered to my preferences. I don't see this because I am on the other side of the political and social spectrum than the meme creators.

This is just so interesting - I am assuming they will talk about Grumpy Cat here soon. Just to think that multiple industries and new digital platforms are created from these memes is so crazy.

I feel like this could also relate to Tweets, Instagram posts (political mostly, some social) and the like...I see more Tweets being shared more than ever on other social media sites other than Twitter and the funny thing is anyone could make a picture that looks like a Tweet from someone "trusted" and posted it and it will spread like wild fire.

This is so very true that memes are a new literacy. I had a couple assignments in the past where students created memes to capture the Middle Ages culture, religion, government etc... The students were wizards at creating them and would create several in a matter of minutes. Perfect images and captions. It’s crazy!

Wanted to highlight whole paragraph here, but it cut me off. I feel like teaching history, economics, civics, any subject in social studies feels like this paragraph. It really is the study of human systems and structures that have been created and manipulated through time. That is why learning historical facts has NEVER been important. And it is important for students to understand how the old systems impact the new systems and how they can "play" in those systems to create meaning and to create new ways of thinking or systems. And the author is right, this is even more possible because of digital technology and networks. Before we could just study these human systems and not necessarily interact with them in the way we do now with technology. And I love his last sentence - it is about a "shift in attitude, not about learning technological skills." This is what the TIP program has taught us, right?! It isn't the presence of technology and learning how to use it but asking before whether the technology enhances the learning and the creativity? Does it lead to innovative thinkers? In order for this to happen we need to be okay with playing!

Yes! Love this. When you play games, you are interacting with the structures and the impact of those structures on others.

I feel like we are seeing this play out right now. Whether it be through climate change, COVID vaccination disparities, US Justice System and policing, etc...these are all so complex and we are all able to participate more than ever in the discussions of what makes these systems and structures so complex. But at the same time, we are all getting our news and resources from different places and live in this information bubble so we are not able to see each other's perspectives clearly...but if we navigate media resources and structures by using social media for example, we can begin to put the pieces together. OR even through gaming literacy we can better understand the world's systems.

YES! This new language around the correct pedagogy is a breath of fresh air! This really is something that most teachers I have encountered do already, as they mentioned above.

But now it is readily available through devices in an instant. So, it is not a battle of lack of information being available but having the know how to find credible sources and how to use the information in different contexts and in different ways.

I hate to say this but I partially agree with this. I understand and believe that interest should be a part of every student's educational experience. But it cannot be the only thing - that is impossible given our educational contexts of the moment. In a classroom of 38 students...it is not always easy to lead with interests and imagine the grading? I think sometimes, kids won't know they might be interested in something until they persevere and push through difficult learning situations that they are not initially interested in. I also think curriculum and standardized tests need to go away for interest-driven learning to really take place - and we all know that is not going to happen. So a combination of all of the types of learning should be used at one time or another. It cannot be just didactic, or just constructivist.

I feel the reason for this is that there has not been significant changes in the way higher education is taught and assessed. Indeed, even the way you get into a college remains largely unchanged. Many higher socioeconomic students have expressed to me in ways that they like didactic learning because they know what to do, they know when they are right and that they will be able to get into a college. I am not an advocate of didactic learning - quite the opposite actually, but I can see why its remained. It still makes sense for going into higher education. But for the real world after that - it makes zero sense. I believe higher ed and K-12 needs to all be in the room together to agree on changes to pedagogy.

This is exactly the focus we should have in the classroom. The jobs students will be going into are all about this. Shoot, our jobs are all about this now! Our society operates this way so it's about time all of education get on board with these goals for our learners.

This is HUGELY important to me to be talking about. This conversation is something not just for education but it should be something everyone in America is talking about. It has tremendous implications on our future and whether or not we move towards a more just and equitable America or remain stuck in the past, in old systems of inequity.

Very interested in this topic. I have used Found Poetry in social studies before. Found Poetry as multimodal text sounds exciting. And a Poetry Slam?! Awesome.

This is probably the most important statement in this...there is power in literacy and power in what is deemed "worthy" of reading in America.

Yes, I agree. Though if you focus on this...it can be taken as you as a teacher are not being apolitical and are "indoctrinating" your students.

Yes, in a gun control letter I read the source didn't seem credible.

Yes, even more so now than then! How can we ensure youth understand how to use their voice and impact large governmental systems effectively? It is such a good skill to begin when you are young so you understand how power is used in political landscapes.

Just the age alone accounts for the difference. An 18-29 year old is into college or in their career and working towards more financial independence. Maybe that is why the focus for them was economy. It sees the issues with the younger students are more immediate and applicable to their lives than the economy. Just a thought...

I noticed personal experience in most that I read, some citation but mostly unsourced data or weak sourcing (of those I looked at).

I had mentioned in my reflection how I saw some of these components in the letters. It is a perfect way to teach argumentation and persuasion.

This is very interesting..would love to see the analysis of the media messages influence on students writing in those swing states.

This is powerful. Hadn't thought about this deeply. I had always argued that Social Studies should be considered crucial because is taught both literacy AND real world events. The letters are such a good example of such a practice to get kids learning how to participate and argue effectively.

This is perfect for Connected Learning or Connectivism.

This is a lot but accurate. And it needs to begin early in order for it to not to be so daunting in High School while they have many things on their plates. They must see the value early on.

Yes, ran into this issue a bit. Parents mostly drive this view...Social Studies is a tough subject to teach in these days...

Absolutely!

I mean when you look at the majority of issues...they mirrored the issues that were prevalent for the time as well. Youth pay attention more than we give them credit for in my opinion.

Yes! I was hoping they'd get into this. It was a question I had when reading the letters. When I did it, we focused on major issues in America at the time using current events and kids knowledge and then I let them choose.

I was wondering about this as I read those letters.

Just read a book that spoke about this.."Digital Divisions" by Matthew H. Rafalow. He brings to light the differing technological opportunities given to students of particular races and classes by individual teachers and schools. In case anyone wants to add to their readings! ;)

What if you do not have a specific group of learners right now? I can create a hypothetical group based on a past group of learners?

Excited about this! My students wrote letters that year.