Expanded Learning Opportunities at a “Digital Ready” Community School in the South Bronx
Type of Presentation
Individual presentation
Brief Description of Presentation
This presentation explores the challenges of questioning the dominant discourses about digital media while striving to offer a pathway for disadvantaged students to get ahead in the 21st century tech-driven economy. My research highlights the attempts of students in a South Bronx community high school to reconcile the use of media and technology for thoughtful citizenship and industry demands, while their teachers and administrators attempt to stay true to the school’s civic mission in the face of neoliberal education reforms.
Abstract of Proposal
Located in one of the poorest congressional districts in the nation, a public high school in the South Bronx was appointed to the first cohort of schools to take part in the Digital Ready program of the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Post Secondary Readiness and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. The school was founded on a progressive model and community mindset, committed to fostering critical thinking and civic engagement. It has maintained longstanding partnerships with arts institutions and charitable organizations to provide Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs) for students interested in producing a range of media and analyzing media representations of social justice issues. However, the influence of market logics has gradually begun to permeate the classrooms, through the increased efforts in coding and online learning designed to help students rise to industry expectations and meet workforce demands. My research highlights the attempts of students to reconcile the use of media and technology for different aims, while teachers and administrators attempt to stay true to the school’s political mission in the face of neoliberal education reforms. On one hand, the school fosters critical media literacy for thoughtful citizenship, and on the other hand, it elevates the role of digital technology in culture and society. This presentation explores the challenges of questioning the dominant discourses about digital media while striving to offer a pathway for disadvantaged students to get ahead in the 21st century tech-driven economy.
Location
Coastal Georgia Center
Start Date
3-26-2016 9:50 AM
End Date
3-26-2016 11:20 AM
Recommended Citation
Chen, Wendy, "Expanded Learning Opportunities at a “Digital Ready” Community School in the South Bronx" (2016). International Critical Media Literacy Conference. 12.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/criticalmedialiteracy/2016/2016/12
Expanded Learning Opportunities at a “Digital Ready” Community School in the South Bronx
Coastal Georgia Center
Located in one of the poorest congressional districts in the nation, a public high school in the South Bronx was appointed to the first cohort of schools to take part in the Digital Ready program of the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Post Secondary Readiness and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. The school was founded on a progressive model and community mindset, committed to fostering critical thinking and civic engagement. It has maintained longstanding partnerships with arts institutions and charitable organizations to provide Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs) for students interested in producing a range of media and analyzing media representations of social justice issues. However, the influence of market logics has gradually begun to permeate the classrooms, through the increased efforts in coding and online learning designed to help students rise to industry expectations and meet workforce demands. My research highlights the attempts of students to reconcile the use of media and technology for different aims, while teachers and administrators attempt to stay true to the school’s political mission in the face of neoliberal education reforms. On one hand, the school fosters critical media literacy for thoughtful citizenship, and on the other hand, it elevates the role of digital technology in culture and society. This presentation explores the challenges of questioning the dominant discourses about digital media while striving to offer a pathway for disadvantaged students to get ahead in the 21st century tech-driven economy.
