Parody is a form of imitation with the added elements of comedic twists, turns, and exaggerations. To create a parody of something, one has to understand it before beginning to alter it for humorous effect. Parodies are used by teachers of writing, music, and art as a method of educating and evaluating students' understanding of the styles of the…

By the time children reach middle school, they already have a well-established relationship with the media. Ignoring the significance of media in the lives of adolescents creates a gap between their in-school and out-of-school worlds. Middle school curricula needs to be relevant to students. Therefore, educators should make time to address the…

In this article, the author describes how he got his start in video production as a high school senior in 1987 and his work 11 years after as a technology coordinator at Lehua Elementary School in Pearl City, Hawaii. Two years later he changed positions and became the technology coordinator at a brand new middle school on Kauai--Chiefess…

In 2001, the MeneMAC (Media Arts Communications, dubbed "MeneMAC" in honor of the school mascot, the menehune) Learning Center at Moanalua High School (MoHS), inaugurated its integrated media curriculum for its class of 27 entering freshmen. MeneMAC originated as a media learning center, offering students a chance to explore their interests and…

The author began her career in education as a drama teacher. Although she loved what she was doing, she felt she needed some new challenges. One summer she decided to enroll at the University of California at Berkeley to take a very intense course in film-making. On her return to Hawai'i, she discovered that if she took classes at the University…

As teachers, an important part of planning curriculum is considering the relevance of what they teach their students. The author believes that project-based learning that integrates technology, language arts, and critical media literacy can be a powerful tool for learning. Not only does this kind of work connect students to the curriculum, it also…

'Olelo Community Television has served the O'ahu community for over 16 years. It offers community members training in television production, and it provides access to Oceanic Cable channels 52 through 56--the five cable channels that 'Olelo currently manages. 'Olelo is a non-profit, public, educational and government (PEG) access organization that…

This article discusses the Hawai'i Student Film Festival (HSFF) which is more than an annual festival. It also facilitates nine, year-round, student outreach programs that are available to more than 400 public and private schools statewide. Through these programs, HSFF offers a wide array of film and video opportunities and experiences for…

If educators listen carefully to the voices from the classroom, they discover the importance of teaching students how to "look through" the lens of information and communications technology while simultaneously "looking at" technology in a critical fashion. By making time for this deliberate oscillation educators enable students to become critical…

For many years, teacher education has been the subject of persistent concerns, many of which were reflected in a 1997 evaluation of the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP). The evaluation noted the lack of a common view of the purpose of STEP, resulting in "contradictory practices and mixed messages"; fragmented coursework; faculty turnover;…

The article discusses the Integrated Bachelor's/Master's (IB/M) Teacher Preparation, a five-year teacher preparation program that integrates coursework, school-based clinic experiences, and university and K-12 faculty in the preparation of pre-service teachers. A major component of the IB/M program is the relationship with selected public school…

In fall 2002, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM) Board of Regents approved a new structure for teacher education programs in the College of Education (COE). The new Institute for Teacher Education (ITE) provides coordinated oversight for four programs: the Bachelor of Education (BEd) in Elementary Education, Bachelor of Education (BEd) in…

A profession has been defined as a calling requiring specialized knowledge and intensive academic preparation. At the University of Missouri-Columbia, specialized knowledge and intensive academic preparation have been the hallmarks of its program since its inception in 1839. The University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) is the flagship and land-grant…

In many ways, the changing history of the Dutch windmills reminds the author of the many teacher education programs she has worked with and, in particular, the one she now works with at the University of Washington. To those who are unfamiliar with the inner workings of teacher education, programs that prepare teachers probably appear much as they…

Over the past decade the phrase "making a positive difference in the lives of others" emerged and stuck as a statement--part vision and part goal--for the University of Vermont (UVM) College of Education and Social Services (CESS). The phrase captured the energy and intention of the educator preparation programs and signaled the role of these…