I GOT IN!

Very interesting Wired article on my good pal Wikipedia.

Also, I heard an NPR piece on this man who uses electrodes in his brain to control a computer mouse, TV remote control, and robotic arm. He’s quadriplegic.

I’ll be gathering thoughts in the next few days to create a presentation that I can use for the North Carolina English Teachers Association, and then again at the NC School Library Media Association Conference. (Obviously, since I’m just gathering info, you can infer that I have not yet applied, but will do so in the next couple days.) The topic:

Graphic Novels and Comics in the Classroom

I want to do something more than a book talk– I want the presentation to really riff on how to use comics to enchance students current visual literacy skills, to talk about a bit of what McCloud covered in Understanding Comics about why the form is pervasive and how it is iconic (double meanings intended).

I’d like to extend my article on using comics in classrooms– perhaps by workshopping with participants to actually perform some literary criticism on a short piece. I’m not sure. (I’ve just started reading Project:Superior and it may have some short material that would be worth deconstructing. It’s also absolutely beautiful.)

If you have thoughts on the subject or can suggest a work that’s keenly appropriate for grades 7-12 (which means no naughty words or images… I’m in the bible belt, folks), I would love to hear them through comments here or e-mail to ross [AT] LEARNNC *dot* org.

Thanks!