Mandatory Community Service: PSAs

The lesson that I do with my AP students focuses on their ability to think critically and take a stance on an issue that impacts their lives. The overarching idea is that they have been offered two competing jobs, both for Super PACs. Depending on which job they choose they will need to create a public service announcement aimed at teenagers that will either support or oppose an upcoming piece of legislation aimed at making community service mandatory in high schools. The major condition of the assignment is that students utilize technology that is a learning stretch for them.

Communication
In terms of communication, this assignment forces students to understand their target audience and to tailor their message based on this target audience. In this case, the target audience is teenagers, therefore, they need to be sure that they communicate in a way that effectively convinces fellow teenagers of their points. Additionally, students understand that they need to communicate through a technological medium, one in which they themselves might see on any given day.
Collaboration
Students are expected to work with at least one partner on this project, and tasks are delineated equally amongst the students. The goal of having this be a "group" project is that students who are more familiar with technology can assist those students who are less familiar. Everyone grows and wins.
Critical Thinking
For the project, students are asked to take a critical stance on an issue that affects their age group. In taking a stance, they are expected to weigh the benefits and costs of their decision and understand the importance of leaving their own reactionary feelings out of their projects. In thinking through the benefits and costs, students are thinking at a critical level in that they are making a sound judgment based on facts and evidence, they are considering how best to support themselves, and they are considering how best to filter their message in a manner appropriate to their audience.
Creativity
Students are asked to be creative in that, their advertisement is expected to not only support a specific message, but is also expected to be eye catching and provocative. In order to do this, students need to consider multiple technologies and need to choose one that fits their comfort zone as well as their project ideas. Before beginning, students were trained in using a myriad of technologies ranging from Posterous to Animoto. Once they begin, students understand the need to use the technology they choose in a creative and effective manner.

Overall, students find this lesson very meaningful in that they A) Get to take a stance on a real world issue that affects their own lives, and B)Get to utilize technology to make an argument (which meets common core English speaking and listening standard 5. Additionally, this assignment meets NETS-S Standards 1-3, which give my students practice using technology in a way that mimics authentic learning and tasks that they may be asked to do upon entering the working world.