Media literacy

1. Media literacy Frank Baker media educator Fbaker1346@aol.com Media Literacy Clearinghouse www.frankwbaker.com May 19, 2008

2. 21st Century World Our students, among the youngest members of this “graphics” world are surrounded by myriad of images– on billboards, in magazines, on TV, in films, and in computer games—which they also often passively absorb.

4. “ It’s an audio book report.”

6. Just because they ARE media/technology savvy does NOT mean they are media/technology literate.

7. What students need to do “to judge the validity of information coming in, decipher context, determine the source, and separate opinion from fact.” Eric KlopferDirectorTeacher Education ProgramMIT

8. What Every Fifth-GraderShould Know & Be Able to Do: • Use digital tools effectively/safely • Think critically • Understand key principles about how complex systems work • Know about other countries/cultures • Invent, design and create • Find wholeness in a remix world Children, Digital Media & Our Nation’s Future May 9, 2008

9. What students need to do pose essential questions

10. Media Literacy’s purpose: “is to help … develop the habits of inquiryand skills of expression..to be critical thinkers, effective communicators and active citizens in today’s world.”

12. Media literacy Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain

13. Media literacy Literacy/text (in 2008) means more than just printed words on a pageWe must acknowledge the powerful force that visual media play in the lives of our students

14. Source: Partnership for 21st Century Skills

16. Media literacy Revised ELA Standards Guiding Principle # 8An effective English language arts curriculum provides for literacy in all forms of media.

17. Revised ELA Standards Non-print media: • Radio • Television • Film • Internet • Digital media These are ALSO texts: each designed with a purpose and audience in mind.

18. Media literacy Multi-tasking– digital natives

19. Media literacy “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.”R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

20. Media literacy So what is “media literacy?” video

21. Media literacy 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. More specifically, it is 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

22. Media literacy is: • Set of skills, knowledge, & abilities • Awareness of personal media habits • Understanding of how media works • Appreciation of media’s power/influence • Ability to discern; critically question/view • How meaning is created in media • Healthy skepticism • Access to media • Ability to produce & create media

23. Media literacy: key concepts • All media are constructed • Media use unique languages • Media convey values and points of view • Audiences negotiate meaning • Media: power and profit Source: Center for Media Literacy

24. Media literacy: questions • Who produced/created the message? • For what purpose was it produced? • Who is the ‘target audience’? • What techniques are used to attract attention; increase believability?

25. Media literacy: questions • Who or what is left out; why? • Who benefits from the message being communicated in this way? • What lifestyle is promoted? • How do you know what it means? • Where can you go to verify the info?

26. Media literacy: my approach Visual literacy Media incorporating imagesMoving images ( TV, film)

27. Visual literacy Take a look at some images

29. Advertising (using images) Understanding techniques of persuasion

30. http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit

31. Toy Advertising

32. Toy Advertising Most of us, including our students, watch TV (and movies) passively… Media literacy…using questioning skills… is designed to get us to be active listeners and viewers

33. Before we watch a toy ad: • Camera • Lights • Sound (including music) • Editing (post production) • Set design • Costumes • Actor’s performance (e.g. expression)

34. Toy advertising Cinderella’s Magical Talking Vanity

35. Stereotypes AFRICA

37. This is Africa, too

38. Food Packaging Do you think this cereal contains blueberries ?

39. Understanding signs What are signs?What are their purposes? What do they say? How is color used? Why are they here?

40. Moving images ( TV & film) Languages of TV & Film • Camera • Lights • Sound (including music) • Editing (post production) • Set design • Costumes • Actor’s expressions

41. Viewing & Listening The cell phone commercial Close your eyes and listenAfter it concludes, make a list of everything you heard

42. Camera angles/positions Where is the camera? Why is it there? What does its angle communicate to the audience?

43. Using popular films to teachpoint-of-view Over the Hedge

44. Teaching with movies "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 Jacobs

45. What is your favorite movie? Before you answer, think deeply about the SCENE in that film--

46. Introducing scripts & terms Every script includes:AUDIO (everything you hear) VIDEO (everything you see)

47. The Screenplay Source: Writing Magazine: March/April 2007

50. Grocery Store scene