Making+the+Bold+Choice+VoiceThread

In this session, we'll focus on "Intellectual Freedom and Censorship in a Participatory Culture.” Our guest speaker will be Frances Bradburn, Project Director of NC's New Schools Project, a long-time champion for Young Adult literature and the chairman of the first Printz Award Committee.


 * NEWS FLASH! Just discovered this amazing new tool -- Intervue -- It's like a wall of video responses to a question. If you'd like to create a video response rather than a VoiceThread, then give it a spin -- The Bold Interview . . . **

media type="custom" key="7961256" **Layer 1:** (Pre-reading) To prepare, first reflect on some of the tough topics in YA books that you have read or heard the Printz readers discuss. What was your response? What’s your personal view on the role of such books? Reflect back on any experiences with tough topics that you’ve had as a student, teacher, or parent.

Have you ever heard of the Students' Right to Read? Read specifically The Right to Read section of these guidelines published by the National Council of the Teachers of English.

Now read about how a small-town school system in Arrowhead,Wisconsin, dealt with the controversy surrounding a novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Steven Chbosky. What surprises, realizations, insights do you gain from this saga?

Finally, so have you faced censorship? Have you made "bold choices?" What have been the results? What are the rights and responsibilities that you have as a teacher when it comes to intellectual freedom and the student's right to read? Perks Case Study (see eReserves)
 * Parents Seek to Ban Book from Class
 * Let the School Board Do Its Job
 * Book to Stay on the Reading List
 * Decision a Good One
 * Book Decision Plays Role in Election

**Layer 2:** You'll also read an article by high school librarian, Joyce Valenza, on the right of students to use Web 2.0 tools to learn. Valenza makes a case for digital equity and access for all students. 2.0 is an Intellectual Freedom Issue by Joyce Valenza [several asked about the broken link to Annette Lamb's article mentioned in the article. Here's a good link to a great article.]

Finally, you'll see on the second VoiceThread slide a video that you'll watch to learn how three students in middle school teacher Bill Ferriter's class feel about their use of technology to share their perspectives and receive in return those of the world.

Respond to this question? What are the rights and responsibilities of a teacher to ensure that students not only have digital equity but the opportunity and the skills to create media?


 * Layer 3**: Open Mic -- Reflect on our work together and highlight particularly resonant comments, insights that were inspired, rants you feel a need to make, and many other responses you'd like to share to bring closure to this VoiceThread.

Post early so Frances can get to know us and better address our questions and areas of interest.

See additional resources on The Student's Right to Read, Intellectual Freedom, and Censorship . . . (including Book Rationale exemplar)