It is important to offer an educational framework or resources that support the conversations shared here about media literacy. It is hard to separate media literacy from visual literacy and learning. Yet, other media elements impact how we understand, interpret, and many times act as well. Here is my photo taken while on vacation in Spain. What is behind the purple door?
As educators, how can we magnify our message with digital media?
The Center for Media Literacy: states that "Media literacy is not a new subject to teach — but a new way to teach all subjects!" There is a vast amount of resources, studies, and writings that focus on media literacy. My perspective comes from teaching visual arts in the classroom, working with media and digital art as a creative, communicative tool, and from a passion to connect the "visual dots" in our awareness.
Here is a link to an excellent slide show that offers a complete overview presented by the Center for Media Literacy
Another rich source of information is the Media Literacy Awareness Network. The resources shared promote critical thinking in young people about the media.
The link to the Media Literacy Awareness Network really helped me understand what Media Literacy is. While reading the different articles I tried to think how media literacy impacts my first grade classroom. As a third grade teacher I taught lessons about using critical thinking when reading ads. But, how do I teach my young non and early readeres about media literacy?
ReplyDeleteThe link to the Media Literacy Awareness Network was very helpful in increasing my understanding of what Media Literacy is. While teaching fourth grade I taught students to use critical thinking when reading advertisements. But, I am having trouble thinking how media literacy impacts my first graders and how to teach non and early readers about media literacy. This is obviously an area I will have to investigate furthur.
ReplyDeleteMedia literacy seems to employ many of the same skills that we ask our student to use when reading or evaluating a text. It seems to me that it would be reasonable to expect that media education would strengthen reading of traditional texts and literature. The link to the "Media Awareness Network" provided insight on what "media education" is by Chris Worsnop. He said that "media education" is curriculum instruction through a media centered environment. Much of the analysis of media looks at the who, what, when, where, why, and tone and mood of media. Students will need these evaluative and analytical skills in the real world whether they are on the job or acting as a consumer. One portion of media literacy that peaks my interest is that most media is created for profit or power. How can we direct media literacy as a learning path rather than one that can lend itself to power and profit?
ReplyDeleteIn the world that we currently live in Media Literacy is a very important tool that we need to continue to teach our students. There are so many types of media out there right now that they can learn from but they need to learn how to search through it and take the parts that are meaningful to them. Without our help they won't be able to successfully use these different types of media. I think it's great that kids today have the chance to learn from all different types of media. In the past they were only expected to learn from text, now they have many different ways to learn. Can we really effectively teach them to be literate in all types of media?
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