WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
CIIA > SHOWCASE INDEX > 2014
Center for Instructional
Innovation and Assessment

INNOVATIVE TEACHING SHOWCASE

2014
2015
Amber Sudduth Bone background
Heather Davidson background
Lysa Rivera background
Ideas to Infuse Multiculturalism Assigning "Project Mash-Up"

IDEAS

Idea 14: Assigning a "Project Mash-Up"

Why is it important?

An advantage to the times we live in today is the multitude of mixed media we have to choose from when presenting information. A mash-up requires that students work with many different types of media, leading them to have a deeper understanding of the class material and how multiculturalism can be seen not only through textbooks, but through music, videos, and news sources.

Instructions

  • Assign students a key theme, concept, or idea that has to do with multicultural studies
  • Have students research the topic and begin gathering a variety of source materials such as:
    • Quotes from literary texts,
    • Visual or audio art,
    • Original claims,
    • Non-fiction quotes.
  • Provide students with the freedom to present their mash-up in a creative manner, such as PowerPoint presentations, videos, booklets, blog posts, a combination of mediums, etc.

Advantages

  • Students will be able to reflect their interpretation of material in unique ways
  • Promotes a deeper understanding of the material, beyond the classroom
  • Allows for students to raise questions about the text from a unique angle

Adapted from:
Lysa Rivera, Dept. of English, 2014 Showcase Portfolio