When I started thinking about my final project, I knew I wanted it to be something that would actually help my students instead of just using technology for the sake of using technology. One idea I have is creating a classroom podcast project where students record short episodes about the books we're reading or topics we're discussing in class. I teach eighth-grade ELA, and I've noticed that some students have great ideas but don't always feel comfortable speaking during whole-class discussions.

I teach 90 8th grade students in three sections so a few students are able to fly under the radar!

Recording a podcast gives them a chance to think through their responses, practice, and share their voices in a different way.

The Media Literacy projects from the slide deck definitely gave me some inspiration. I liked seeing how students were creating media instead of just consuming it. it is about giving students opportunities to create meaningful content and think critically about the messages they're sharing.

What stood out to me most was how creative the projects were. They were fun! They were creative and enjoyable! They weren't just traditional assignments put onto a computer. That's something I'd like to bring into my own classroom.

I also like that a podcast project would build more than just technology skills. Students would practice reading closely, writing scripts, speaking clearly, listening to one another, and collaborating. It also gives quieter students another way to participate and show what they know. My hope is that using technology this way will help students become more confident in sharing their ideas while strengthening our classroom community.

 I definitely grew up with Disney more than Barbie. I had Barbie dolls, watched all the Disney princess movies, and never really questioned any of it. I loved the coming of age stories and alwas tried to find ways to make them relate me me.  Looking back now, I can see how those things shaped the way I thought about beauty, relationships, and even what being a girl was "supposed" to look like. At the same time, they were also fun and gave me a chance to use my imagination, so I don't think they're all bad. It allows kids to be represented and to be creative.

Christiansen made me think a little differently about children's culture. I always knew media had an impact, but I didn't really think about how much kids are picking up from the toys, movies, and shows they love. It made me realize that children's culture isn't just entertainment it sends messages, whether we notice them or not. As an ELA teacher I began to use disney shorts to incororpoate theme in my lessons and they were super effective.

 I also liked that the reading didn't make it seem like Barbie or Disney are simply "good" or "bad." It's more complicated than that. As someone who works with kids, it reminded me that it's important to help young people think about the messages they're getting instead of just accepting them without questioning them.