Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning Frank Baker fbaker1346@aol.com February...

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

Frank Bakerfbaker1346@aol.com

February 15, 2007

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

“Today’s students need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and effective communicators – and we need to equip their teachers with the 21st century training, professional development and assessment tools they need to lead this effort.”

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

“Accomplished teachers understand that what students read is no longer limited to words on the page. Today’s students must be intelligent readers of texts in different media, including illustrations, photographs, television programs, advertisements, films and Web sites.”

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

With the advent and popularity of With the advent and popularity of YouTube, Current TV, and similar YouTube, Current TV, and similar venues, young people have become venues, young people have become media producers.media producers. DIY (do it yourself) DIY (do it yourself)

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

Sesame Street & PBS areSesame Street & PBS are

creating contentcreating content

for cell phones, basedfor cell phones, based

on results of a study inon results of a study in

which parents had theirwhich parents had their

kids watch video clipskids watch video clips

teaching lettersteaching letters

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

“ “The Internet and other forms of information The Internet and other forms of information and communication technology (ICT) are and communication technology (ICT) are redefining the nature of literacy. To become redefining the nature of literacy. To become fully literate in today’s world, fully literate in today’s world, students must become proficient in the new literacies of ICT. of ICT. Therefore, literacy educators have a Therefore, literacy educators have a responsibility to integrate these technologies responsibility to integrate these technologies into their literacy curricula.”                     into their literacy curricula.”                    

  Integrating Literacy and TechnologyIntegrating Literacy and Technology

in the Curriculum, International Reading Association in the Curriculum, International Reading Association    

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

Multitasking “digital natives”

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

“Our students are growing up in a world saturated with media messages…yet, they (and their teachers) receive little or no training in the skills of analyzing or re-evaluating these messages, many of which make use of language, moving images, music, sound effects.”

Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

““Students will be able to use technology toolsStudents will be able to use technology tools

(e.g. multimedia authoring, presentation, Web (e.g. multimedia authoring, presentation, Web

tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individualtools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual

and collaborative writing, communication, andand collaborative writing, communication, and

publishing activities to create knowledgepublishing activities to create knowledge

products for audiences inside and outside theproducts for audiences inside and outside the

classroom.”classroom.”

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)Carnegie Commission on Adolescent DevelopmentCollege Board Standards for College Success

International Reading Association (IRA)National Board for Professional Teaching StandardsNational Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) National Council for the Social Studies National Middle School Association (NMSA)National PTANorth Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NcREL)Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

Draft revised ELA standards Guiding Principle 8

An effective English language arts curriculum provides for

literacy in all forms of media.

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

Do your students know:

- who/what is media?

- what are the characteristics, similarities/differences in various media?

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

Do you know what “media literacy” is?Do you know what “media literacy” is?

Take a few minutes to draft your ownTake a few minutes to draft your own

definition.definition.

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

““A media literate person…can A media literate person…can - access- access

- analyze- analyze- evaluate, and - evaluate, and - produce - produce

both print and electronic media.”both print and electronic media.”

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

Media literacy is concerned with helping students develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of mass media, the techniques used by them, and the impact of these techniques….education that aims to increase the students' understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, how they produce meaning, how they are organized, and how they construct reality. Media literacy also aims to provide students with the ability to create media products. 

Media Literacy Resource Guide, Ministry of Education Ontario, 1997

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

Traditional model: Traditional model:

READ WRITEREAD WRITE

2121stst Century model: Century model:

ANALYZE PRODUCEANALYZE PRODUCE

Integrating media literacy into ELA

Non-print texts (TV, film, music) Understanding bias & stereotypes Analyzing techniques of persuasion (for example– in advertising) The language of TV/film

(camera work, lighting, music) Visual literacy (photography) Blogging; graphic novels

My approach

Still images (visual literacy)

Advertising which incorporates images(techniques of persuasion)

Moving images (languages of TV, film)

Media literacy’s core concepts

All media are constructed Media are languages with their own set of

rules Media convey values and points of view Different people experience the same

media messages differently Media are concerned with power/profit

Source: Center for Media Literacy

Media literacy’s core concepts

See handout for further explanations.

Critical inquiry- questions

Who created the message? What is the purpose? Who is the target audience? What techniques do they use? Who or what might be omitted and why? How do I know what it means? How can I verify this message?

Photographic inquiry

Do you believethese two menwere photographedstandingnext to eachother?

Advertising: it’s everywhere!

Advertising critique handout

In studying print ads (for example) we need

for students to pay attention to:- The words- The images- The layout

Advertising

Who created the ad? What is the location? What do expressions

reveal? What lifestyle is implied? What publication/what

audience?

Language of TV & Film

Cameras Lights Sound (including music, sound effects) Editing ( a.k.a. post production) Set design Costumes; makeup; expressions

Examples

Cell phone Ad Script VISA Ad see handout

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

“Movies, advertisements, and all other visual media are tools teachers need to use and media we must master if we are to maintain our credibility in the coming years.”

Jim Burke, fromThe English Teacher’s Companion

Reading The Media: Media Literacy for 21st Century Learning

“If video is how we are communicating and persuading in this new century, why aren't more students writing screenplays as part of their schoolwork?"Heidi Hayes Jacob

Ed Consultant

Examples

Film making process

Read the first two pages of the novelUsing the storyboard form, visual re-create the scene, as if YOU were the director

video

School/District Workshops

Frank Baker

Media ed consultant

fbaker1346@aol.com

(803) 254-8987

www.frankwbaker.com