Lesson Plan for Skill-Building Activity: (low stakes project)- Mid Term:

Tik Tok Account suggestions from class:

@notoriouscree (James Jones),

@Shinanova (Shina Nova),

 @tiamscihx (Tia Wood)

… As well as Tik Tok exploration of Indigenous focused Tik Toks!

• Watch 3 Tik Tok accounts and their videos and write a summary on each the accounts and what they each focus on
• Small Group project/discussion
• Group presentation:
  •  Topic should be based on: Indigenous History and their importance on Tik Tok and in the America’s History, decolonizing education, support, promotion, using Tik Tok as a educational
  • Small group in-class presentation: on 3 Tik Tok and their summary/discuss on each

Lesson Plan for [High- Stakes Project]- Final

Tik Tok Account inspiration styles from class:

@notoriouscree (James Jones),

@Shinanova (Shina Nova),

@tiamscihx (Tia Wood),

@peter.notso.white,

@modernwarrior (Lance Tsosie,)

@_clearbear_

… As well as Tik Tok exploration of Indigenous focused Tik Toks!

• Create their own Tik Tok promoting Indigenous History based on
  • Research
  • Utilize the Tik Tok application
  • Use the popular Tik Tok trends, [music, dancing, movement, visuals, lip-synching] to promote historical information

• Write an essay based on the creation of the Tik Tok and research
  • Discuss: Inclusivity, promotion, support, decolonizing traditional education, using Tik Tok as a digital archive and as self-publishing tool for a wide audience, “reclaiming silenced voices” due to colonization

• Either email TikTok link and Essay, together. Or attach both and publish in online collective student blog [CUNY COMMONS, BlackBoard, WordPress]

• Optional:  If not comfortable or unavailable to create a Tik Tok, create a Youtube video or Powerpoint presentation with the same information using a Tik Tok style approach to the presentation such as: videography, editing, writing, subject matter, trends, music

Decolonizing the Classroom with an Introduction to Indigenous Tik Tok

Decolonizing the classroom is an essential factor in teaching accurate historical information as well creating an inclusive and accepting environment for students to grow and expand their knowledge and values. The social media platform, Tik Tok, has served such a crucial purpose in the pedagogical world, especially due to the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in students and teachers to resort to virtual learning. Tik Tok uses not only captivating digital aids to convey an array of topical messages across the internet, but also it is used as a platform for free range narratives that do not gain as much needed traction as other mainstream media news coverage. With 2020 being a very reflective year in the terms of the direction in which humanity grows and progresses, Tik Tok has brought major popularity to Indigenous Tik Tok accounts, where the creators use this platform to reclaim their heritages’ voices, and history, and promote their culture for mass public educational purposes. Focusing on not only decolonizing the classroom but also the factor in navigating the social media platform of the Tik Tok is a valuable lesson strategy in promoting and supporting Indigenous history, that has been silenced since the precipice of colonization, as well as developing great tools, perspective and etiquette while utilizing the tool, Tik Tok.

This class is based for a middle-school history classroom. The lesson plan is for two in-class assignments, which one would be a low-stakes, mid-term assignment and the other would be a high-stakes, final project assignment. The low-stakes, mid-term assignment would be a collaborative, group project that focuses on watching and reviewing 3 separate Indigenous Tik Tok accounts and their educational video topics. The Tik Tok accounts would be provided beforehand, on the syllabus, during the in-class discussion and through the lesson plan, or the students have the option of exploring the social media platform, for accounts that is fulfill that requirements of the assignment. The high-stakes, final project assignment is utilizing all the skills the students acquired from the full semester of using and exploring Tik Tok as well as their research with Indigenous history. The assignment is to record your own Tik Tok video using the social media platform, technological tools and historical data to complete this task. The secondary part of this high-stakes project is to write a 3 to 5 page essay, explaining and citing the historical research, the methodology behind the videography, technological techniques, and reflection of their work.

The low stakes, mid-term assignment would be in-class, over the course of two classes to have enough time for research, reflection, peer review, communication, and the physical, group presentation shared in front of the class. This project would be assessed on participation, full utilization of the social media platform, respect and courtesy of the platform and historical information, group communication, preparation and reflection. There would be no letter grade, rather an acknowledgement of a completed group project meeting the requirements within two class days.

The high-stakes, final project assignment is a bit more free and creative from the traditional-like, in class group project, having the students a) create their own Tik Tok video promoting Indigenous historical data accuracy and b) writing a 3- 5 page summary on the historical research, how the students utilized Tik Tok, how they directed and edited their own video, the importance of learning decolonized history and navigating and using social media platforms, such as Tik Tok, as well as a self-reflection. Resources, such a Tik Tok pages, historical readings, videos, and the syllabus will be provided for additional research aids for the students. Alternatively, students who do not feel comfortable with using Tik Tok, face-to-face, or who do not have access to a smart phone, can use Youtube or Powerpoint to express the historical information with the Tik Tok style approach to the final project. This project will have a letter-graded assessment for the essay and a number- graded assessment for the Tik Tok (styled) video conveying historical data learned. The number-graded assessment will count all of the requirements completed within the video task. The letter-graded assessment for the essay will indicate the correct basic formatting, writing style, grammar, punctuation, context, reflection, and work cited.

Before either of these two assignments, students will have class lessons based on Indigenous history, the history of colonization, a technology resource round-up on the history and how to use Tik Tok and the social responsibilities and professional persona that should be applied when utilizing these social media platforms.