What Every Media Specialist Should Know About Media Literacy

Frank Baker media educatorFrank Baker media educator

Fbaker1346@aol.comFbaker1346@aol.com

Media Literacy ClearinghouseMedia Literacy Clearinghouse

www.frankwbaker.comwww.frankwbaker.com

Need for media literacy

“ “Our students are growing up in a world Our students are growing up in a world saturated with media messages…yet, saturated with media messages…yet, they (and their teachers) receive little they (and their teachers) receive little or no training in the skills of analyzing or no training in the skills of analyzing or re-evaluating these messages, or re-evaluating these messages, many of which make use of language, many of which make use of language, moving images, music, sound effects. moving images, music, sound effects. Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

Endorsing media literacy

""Being literate in contemporary society means Being literate in contemporary society means being active, critical, and creative users not only of being active, critical, and creative users not only of print and spoken language but also of the visual print and spoken language but also of the visual language of film and television....Teaching language of film and television....Teaching students how to interpret and create visual students how to interpret and create visual texts....is another essential component of the texts....is another essential component of the English language arts curriculum. Visual English language arts curriculum. Visual communication is part of the fabric of communication is part of the fabric of contemporary life." contemporary life."

NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts (1996) NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts (1996) as quoted in Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 48:1, as quoted in Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 48:1, September 2002, pps.74-75September 2002, pps.74-75

Media literacy works

““A growing body of research suggests A growing body of research suggests that media literacy instruction improves that media literacy instruction improves student reading, viewing and listening student reading, viewing and listening comprehension of print, audio, and comprehension of print, audio, and video texts; message analysis and video texts; message analysis and interpretation; and writing skills.”interpretation; and writing skills.”

Source: Source: Media MattersMedia Matters, March 2005 Access Learning magazine, March 2005 Access Learning magazine

Media literacy: what is it?

Write a definition:Write a definition:

What does media literacy mean?What does media literacy mean?

OROR

Why should our students be media literate?Why should our students be media literate?

Media Literacy

AccessAccess AnalyzeAnalyze InterpretInterpret ProduceProduce CommunicationCommunication In a variety of formsIn a variety of forms

Source: 1992 Aspen Institute on Media LiteracySource: 1992 Aspen Institute on Media Literacy

Media literacy: AMLA definition

Media literacy empowers people to be both Media literacy empowers people to be both critical thinkers and creative producers of critical thinkers and creative producers of an increasingly wide range of messages an increasingly wide range of messages using image, language, and sound. It is using image, language, and sound. It is the skillful application of literacy skills to the skillful application of literacy skills to media and technology messages. As media and technology messages. As communication technologies transform communication technologies transform society, they impact our understanding of society, they impact our understanding of ourselves, our communities, and our diverse ourselves, our communities, and our diverse cultures, making media literacy an essential cultures, making media literacy an essential life skill for the 21st century. life skill for the 21st century. Source: Alliance for A Media Literate AmericaSource: Alliance for A Media Literate America

What is media literacy:

Set of skills, knowledge, abilitiesSet of skills, knowledge, abilities How the media worksHow the media works How the media influencesHow the media influences Awareness of personal media habitsAwareness of personal media habits Appreciation of media’s powerAppreciation of media’s power

What media literacy is not:

Media bashingMedia bashing Just about television/video productionJust about television/video production Just teaching WITH media;Just teaching WITH media;

It is teaching ABOUT the mediaIt is teaching ABOUT the media

Media literacy in SC Standards:

ELA- English Language ArtsELA- English Language Arts Social StudiesSocial Studies HealthHealth Library MediaLibrary Media Visual ArtsVisual Arts TechnologyTechnology

AASL Endorses Partnership for21st Century Skills

Information & Media LiteracyInformation & Media Literacyanalyzing, accessing, managing, integrating, evaluating, analyzing, accessing, managing, integrating, evaluating,

creating information in a variety of forms and media. creating information in a variety of forms and media. Understanding the role of media in society.Understanding the role of media in society.

www.21stcenturyskills.org/Matrices/ICTmap_english.pdfwww.21stcenturyskills.org/Matrices/ICTmap_english.pdf

5 Core Concepts: Media Literacy

1. All media messages 1. All media messages are constructed.are constructed.

Media messages are constructed

NEWSPAPERSNEWSPAPERS

headlines with large bold printheadlines with large bold printlead stories with catchy titleslead stories with catchy titles

bylinesbylinesphotographsphotographs

5 Core Concepts: Media Literacy

2. Media are constructed using 2. Media are constructed using unique languages with their unique languages with their own set of rules.own set of rules.

Messages’ unique rules

Language of filmLanguage of film

Camera workCamera work

LightingLighting

Sound/musicSound/music

CostumesCostumes

ExpressionExpression To Kill A MockingbirdTo Kill A Mockingbird

5 Core Concepts: Media Literacy

3. Media convey values and 3. Media convey values and points-of-viewpoints-of-view..

Values & POV

5 Core Concepts: Media Literacy

4. Different people interpret the 4. Different people interpret the same media message differently.same media message differently.

Interpretation differences

5 Core Concepts: Media Literacy

5. Media are concerned with 5. Media are concerned with power and profit.power and profit.

Media: Power & Profit

FOX (News Corp) NBC (NBC/Universal)FOX (News Corp) NBC (NBC/Universal)CBS (Viacom) ABC (Disney)CBS (Viacom) ABC (Disney)CNN (AOL/Time Warner)CNN (AOL/Time Warner)

Critical inquiry: questioning

Who produced/paid for the message & why?Who produced/paid for the message & why? For what purpose(s)?For what purpose(s)? For which audience(s)?For which audience(s)? What techniques are used to attract attention What techniques are used to attract attention

and increase believability?and increase believability? What does it mean?What does it mean? What lifestyles are promoted & why?What lifestyles are promoted & why? Who or what might be omitted?Who or what might be omitted?

The languages of TV & Film

CameraCameraperspective/lens/movementperspective/lens/movement

LightingLighting Sound (including music, sound effects)Sound (including music, sound effects) EditingEditing Sets: art decorationSets: art decoration Actor’s costumes; expressionsActor’s costumes; expressions