Teacher(s) Name: Mrs. Rysinski
School: Highland Springs HS
Grade Level(s): Grade 11,Grade 12
Content Area(s): English, Journalism
Lesson Summary
Over the course of the unit, students work on creating an engaging, relevant, and newsworthy story in the form of a podcast. This format introduces students to a new layer of storytelling: conducting background research, necessary outlining, building plot suspense, integrating pauses and shifts of tone to really pull listeners in. Recording stories allows the students to powerfully experience the narrative with more than one sense, and ultimately, to share their audio with peers.
TIPC Ratings
Research & Information Fluency
Rating:Approaching – Explanation: Students conducted research on a socio-political topic of their choice using both primary and secondary sources. Teacher and student-created tools helped them organize and analyze the information to then compile into an in-depth news narrative podcast.
Communication & Collaboration
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: Students worked in groups to develop an in-depth news narrative podcast by developing individual roles and objectives, timeline of work, and reflection opportunities. They used e-mail, Schoology discussion boards, in-person communication, and electronic messaging.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: Once students were asked to consider topics for their podcast, they were required to enter a dialogue with their group on the essential questions to determine how their research would further develop their understanding, inquiry, role and responsibility in constructing the narrative.
Why is it important for people and cultures to construct narratives about their experience?
How can writing serve as a vehicle for social change?
How is our understanding of culture and society constructed through and by language?
When is it necessary to question the status quo? Who decides?
Creativity & Innovation
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: Students synthesized their research, collaborated with one another while using the technology to create the final product, and participated in a podcast showcase where each group presented (and reflected on) their final piece and the process they used.
Student Artifact
Check out the finished product here.
Lesson Materials
