For the past several years, I have used this political cartoon at the beginning of the new year or semester.  It was used to a facilitate a discussion about student's taking ownership of their learning.  I stressed to students the necessity of them playing their role in the educational process.  However, after reading and learning more about informational literacy and the importance of visual literacy I have a different perspective on the cartoon.  Perhaps the cartoonist point was that education is not merely a teacher in the front of the classroom with students eagerly waiting to hear what he or she has to say.  Maybe its that students in the 21st century are more technological savy and need to understand how to turn learning on.
   Students are explorers and they come to class with a plethora of questions and perceptions and yes even misconceptions.  Students in today's classroom expect teachers to guide them in their journey of learning, to be their partner in discovery.  The Internet and web 2.0 tools aides in that learning process.  From the crib visuals have been a part pf the discovery process.  Throughout the years parents have used mobile to stir a child imagination, picture books, flash cards with bright and bold colors to help learning be more concrete for students.  While the methods for using and creating visuals has changed, the core reasons for using them have not.  Visual help students "chunk" information, comprehend it, explain it to others, and provide a context to their learning experiences.  Visuals just like the Internet aide in the sharing of information from peer to peer or teacher to student.
  I want to utilize Animoto in my classroom. Students are more engaged with the use of visuals and music and Animoto would require student to gather information, think creatively, collaborate, and extend their understanding of the content.  The Internet will continue to be a resource of information, communication, and networking in my classroom.