With the United States having elected an African American president, what do you hope it has learned about itself? What have you learned about it? Perhaps most importantly: How do you see yourself as a citizen in this “new” America?
This is the question Professor Anthony Stewart asked his students to reflect on in his Post Obama Paradigms course. Students looked closely at their own identities to help answer this question. Here they explored relationships, race, sexuality, family, economic status; single moments with meaning that helped shape their identities. Brianna Healey Derr, the instructional technologist embedded in Professor Stewart’s course states, “It takes a single moment to change your life. Its these singular moments that have great meaning and we’re asking students to reflect on that moment and what it means to them. Something they are rarely asked to do.” Students then shape this moment in a multi-modal medium, the digital story. Using photos, video clips, music, and text, all placed within Final Cut Pro editing program, students articulate their messages of meaning.
“These students are my heroes. I think they are really brave for putting their intimate stories out there for the world to see. I’m honored to be a part of that process.”-Brianna Healey Derr
View the playlist below to watch a few stories from Anthony Stewart’s course, Post Obama Paradigms.