How do we help free the voices that are hidden?

This is the critical literacy question in Jeffery Wilhelm's inquiry “Discovering Voice: Mantle of the Expert and Stranger in Role”.

These cloud slides are my insights from the video, personal reminders from what I have taken from it.

Mantle is the perfect word to use when describing the taking on of a dramatic role of an expert.

A mantle is a cloak, and it is a symbol of power.

http://www.word-detective.com/2013/10/mantle/

Teacher Jeffery Wilhelm uses drama to trigger discussion and deepen understanding of what “Voice” means.
Initially this is introduced the inquiry through historical figures in Canada; Louis Riel, the Metis, Sir John A. McDonald...

The class is now a group of psychologists at a symposium called " How can we give voice to the silenced?".

When children roleplay they always choose characters that are stronger, characters that in fact have more voice. By taking on a role as "experts" students are able to step out of their own limitations. There is freedom to go farther, say more, think bigger things.

Drama helps students enter different perspectives.

One of the first things the students at the beginning of the video mentioned was that the process was FUN!
It was pointed out by Wilhelm that studies show that when students have more fun, they learn more.

This quote was from a student at the beginning of the video.

By modeling the role playing, assuming a fun German accent and a silly name, the students engage a sense of play immediately. He is engaged with the inquiry as well.

Notice how Wilhelm gets right down physically with the students, he is lower than them, encouraging students to share.

At one point he calls for a one on one discussion with an "elbow buddy" a warm and delightful term for someone sitting beside you.

Wilhelm questions this student with a playful German accent: "I know you have done much work to help ze oppressed -is this not troubling? that ze people who most need to be given a voice are ze most shut down?"

He probes " How do ve teach people to listen?"

The questioning triggers thought. It is the teacher's task to question so that deeper thoughts can occur.

From this, observations arise about the role of voice within group discussions themselves. It is viewed that some students are quiet, some are more talkative.

What is the role of people in a group discussion? There needs to be space for the quiet ones, and encouragement to speak.

Five years ago when these words were written who would have guessed what was in store for the American public?

Perhaps Gainer had an inkling, as he was witness to a banning of texts and curriculum of an acclaimed "Mexican American Studies" program in Tucson Arizona.

In this current era of online propaganda there is even greater need for teaching critical literacy.

In fact the fabric of democracy depends on it.

" In these times characterized by
seemingly limitless volumes of information, our
charge as literacy educators must include equipping
students to critically read multimodal texts and to
understand and gain experience in the production
of new(er) media." (Gainer)

"Technology can only enhance learning if students are taught to think critically about online content and evaluate their own behavior against a set of shared social values -" (Jacobson & O'Keefe)