This is a lesson for my middle school web design class. It builds on an idea for "multimedia kits" which I first learned about from Hall Davidson of Discovery Education in January of 2006. Students explore curated image libraries from notable sources (The Smithsonian, The Library of Congress, and NASA, and create their own "multimedia kits" of images and videos. They also practice proper source attribution / documentation using Zbib.org, and practice creating multimedia-rich webpages using these media resources. More background about this lesson is available in this blog post from 2 April 2025.
Goals
Practice locating, saving, renaming and organizing copyright-friendly images
Create "media kits" around a central theme which can be used for student projects
Practice Collaborating with a Partner to Create a Shared Media Resource
Steps
Check out:
Use THIS SHARED FOLDER in Google Drive for OUR (Spring 2025) Media Kits. (STAR it!)
In Canvas, select a project partner. (Use provided links in this assignment)
Select a TOPIC for your media kit which meets these requirements:
Something You Know About: The topic needs to be something you are studying in another class or have already studied. (You have some background knowledge already.)
Something in the Smithsonian, Library of Congress, or NASA Archives: Explore the following resources and verify availability of media resources.
DAYS 1-2: Create a Shared Google Doc about your Topic Exploration
Title the Google Doc: "Media Kit Exploration" by Partner 1 First Name and Partner 2 First Name
SHARE the document with your partner (EDIT Access)
Share the document with Dr Fryer (COMMENT Access)
Create 3 sections of the document (formatting as HEADING 1)
Topic Ideas
Topic Resources
Reasons to Choose
Use the document to collaborate on your topic research and selection.
Include at least 6 (SIX) different possible topics
Days 3-4: Create an "Image and Video Media Kit" which includes:
A Google Drive Folder titled, "Media Kit - NAME OF TOPIC"
A Google Doc titled, "Media Kit Overview - NAME OF TOPIC" (shared as VIEW - Anyone with the Link)
10 high resolution images relating to the topic
Over 2000 pixel width
Renamed in sequence (Example: ApolloLanding01.jpg - ApolloLanding02.jpg - etc.)
3 high quality, informative videos about the selected topic
Proper MLA bibliographic citations created by ZoteroBib
The Google Doc should include / address:
Topic name
Topic Overview
Included images: File name followed by MLA citations
3 Videos: Titles / topics and MLA citations
Author names (both partner's names: First name and first initial of last name)
Creative Commons licensing (CC-BY)
Days 5-6: Media Kit Webpage
EACH partner should create a MEDIA KIT webpage using either GOOGLE SITES or CANVA or ADOBE EXPRESS.
Make the page attractive and informative:
Include a custom image banner at the top (MUST be 2000 x 400 pixel wide, can be AI generated!)
Include a project description
Include a link to the SHARED Google Drive folder for the Media Kit
Include at least 3 sample project images
Include at least 2 project videos as BOTH links and media embeds
LINK this external page (share it publicly) on your Google Site web design portfolio, as a CHILD page under PROJECTS.
Check out these example webpages created by Dr. Fryer with:
Turn In
Copy / Paste the PUBLIC LINK to your "Media Kit" webpage below to turn in this assignment.
Add information in each column of our "Media Kit Links (Spring 2025)" spreadsheet.
Day 7: Presentations
With your project partner, create a SINGLE SLIDE in Google Slides which includes:
The title of your media kit
Links to each of your WEBPAGES you created with your media kit
Your Media Kit on Google Drive
Include images and / or graphics on your slide to make it look attractive.
Before presenting in class, you will COPY / PASTE your slide into our main class presentation slide deck.