Week 1, Blog 1: Avatars Teach Teens About Self-Image

Here is the link to the article: http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-self-image-avatars.

This article was very interesting.  It talked about how a New York middle school health class had students learn about self-image through the creation of avatars.  (Avatars are images that people can create to represent their persona in the digital world).  Students first watched a video on how the media creates the idea of "beauty" and manipulates the masses into seemingly impossible ideas of "perfection." 

Afterwards, students began creating their digital, 3-D avatars.  As they were doing this, the teacher had the students digitally discuss the implications of beauty and the media.  According to the article, the teacher pointed out that because of the digital discussion that was taking place, students had much to say that would not have necessarily been said during an actual classroom discussion.  She noted that there were very deep, well-articulated points that students made throughout their discsussions.

This is a very interesting article because of several reasons.  First, students are using technology in a variety of ways.  Their creation of an alter-ego allows them to see how ideas of beauty are implanted within their minds by the social media.  Afterwards, the digital conversation that ensues allows very deep, probing questions to be addressed by the students.  They have to critically think about major issues and then communicate those issues as well with others in a safe, online environment.

The one thing that I would recommend with this learning activity is to have a follow-up overall classroom discussion -- kind of like a Socratic Circle.  I like the idea of having students blog about the issues and respond to each other.  But I also believe that classroom discussion and gaining discussion / interpersonal skills is also needed.  If the follow-up discussion (led by students) is included with the overall learning activity, then this is an awesome learning experience for the students -- and the teachers.

Boss, Suzie.  "Avatars Teach Teens About Self-Image."  27 May 2009.  Web  Edutopia, 20 June 2011.  <http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-self-image-avatars>.