Neil Postman's Ideas on Technological Change.
I am going to have you read an article by Neil Postman, a media and cultural critic who died in 2003, and then look at inventions/events/processes from the Industrial Revolution from the perspective of his Five Ideas. He is an amazing thinker. I have copies of Amusing Ourselves to Death, my favorite book of his, if you want to read something mind-expanding.
Step One
Read the article closely and answer the questions I put at the end.
Type these or write really neatly in ink (no pencil).
By now you know that we expect complete sentences with topic sentences and supporting details. I am giving you a hard copy to mark up and highlight but I'll upload it here too in case you need it.
Step One
Read the article closely and answer the questions I put at the end.
Type these or write really neatly in ink (no pencil).
By now you know that we expect complete sentences with topic sentences and supporting details. I am giving you a hard copy to mark up and highlight but I'll upload it here too in case you need it.
| 5_things_postman.pdf |
Step Two
I will assign you a partner with whom to work.
Then we will pick items from this list to research:
Model-T Ford
Steam Train
Telephone
Telegraph
Edison phonograph
Edison's light bulb
Frozen food (Clarence Birdseye)
First motion pictures
Standard time
McCormick Reaper
John Deere steel plow
Sewing machine
Wright Brothers airplane
Then we will pick items from this list to research:
Model-T Ford
Steam Train
Telephone
Telegraph
Edison phonograph
Edison's light bulb
Frozen food (Clarence Birdseye)
First motion pictures
Standard time
McCormick Reaper
John Deere steel plow
Sewing machine
Wright Brothers airplane
Step Three
Do a bit of research on your topic.
Look for reliable websites (maybe start on Wikipedia but don't end there!)
Step Four
Create a Google Shared Doc Presentation with your partner.
Step Five
Create a presentation that includes the following:
1. Describe the invention.
What did it do? Who invented it?
Find some high quality images, video clips, audio files, etc.
2. Significance
Why was this invention significant? Why was it a turning point in history?
Put it in context. What was it like before? How was it different after?
3. Through Postman's Lens
Look at the invention from the perspective of one of Postman's Five Ideas about Technological Change.
Step Six
Prepare a killer presentation that will take your audience to new heights of excitement about history.
Rubric
