Digital Media

There were so many great videos that could be utilized from Discovery Education for English/Language Arts.  Because my high school class reads “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, I was drawn to the Edgar Allan Poe videos.  My goal would be for students to become engaged in the content and learn about Edgar Allan Poe’s life, so they would be better equipped to understand his works. 

Some of these videos would work wonderfully to grab my students’ attention and act as an introduction into his life and works.  I believe it is very important for students to learn the background, both personal and historical, of an author because of the influence these aspects may have on his or her work.  If the students are aware of these backgrounds, they will have a better understanding of the author’s purpose and can aid in the comprehension of the text. 

In one particular video, eerie music was playing in the background as influential horror writers of today were commenting on Poe and his work.  I believe this would set the mood and draw the students in and motivate them to learn more about Poe.  The video was very creative, and I believe that the students would not be bored with the way the information was presented throughout it. 

I enjoy incorporating videos into my lessons because they touch different learning styles.  Students who are visual learners can benefit from the pictures and images, and auditory learners can benefit from the sounds or music.  This video, as well as others, appeals to our senses to create a more meaningful learning experience.  Students, in turn, can be motivated to create their own videos to showcase their technological skills and understanding of content.