Using Media Literacy to Meet State Standards

Frank Baker, media educator Frank Baker, media educator fbaker1346@aol.comfbaker1346@aol.com

Media Literacy Clearinghouse

http://medialit.med.sc.eduhttp://medialit.med.sc.edu

Included in the textIncluded in the text“101 Best Web Sites for Secondary Teachers”“101 Best Web Sites for Secondary Teachers”

Kids & Media

Kaiser Family Foundation: Generation M

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 they (their teachers/parents) receive little receive little or no training in the skills of analyzing or or no training in the skills of analyzing or re-evaluating these messages, many of re-evaluating these messages, many of which make use of language, moving which make use of language, moving images, music, sound effects. images, music, sound effects.

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

“Results That Matter”

Today's graduates need to be critical thinkers, Today's graduates need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and effective communicators who problem solvers and effective communicators who are proficient in both core subjects and new, 21st are proficient in both core subjects and new, 21st century content and skills.  These 21st century skills century content and skills.  These 21st century skills include learning and thinking skills, include learning and thinking skills, information and communications technology literacy skills, and life , and life skills.  Twenty-first century skills are in demand for skills.  Twenty-first century skills are in demand for all students.all students.

3/24/063/24/06

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

Recognizing Media Literacy

American Association of School LibrariesAmerican Association of School Libraries National Council for Teachers of EnglishNational Council for Teachers of English International Reading AssociationInternational Reading Association National Council of Social StudiesNational Council of Social Studies National Middle Schools AssociationNational Middle Schools Association WH Office of Natl Drug Control PolicyWH Office of Natl Drug Control Policy

What is media literacy?

Write a definition:Write a definition: What does media literacy mean to you?What does media literacy mean to you?

OROR

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

video

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

State teaching standards

Media literacy in state standards

19991999 20062006 English/Language Arts 46 50English/Language Arts 46 50 Social Studies/History 30 34 Social Studies/History 30 34 Health 30 45Health 30 45

Source: Source: Has media education found a curricular foothold? Has media education found a curricular foothold?

10/27/99 Education Week10/27/99 Education Week

Standards: English/Language Arts

ConnecticutConnecticut MassachusettsMassachusetts

discuss how an author, discuss how an author, illustrator or filmmaker illustrator or filmmaker expresses his/her ideas expresses his/her ideas in textin text

identify techniques used identify techniques used in TV and use knowledge in TV and use knowledge of these techniques to of these techniques to distinguish between facts distinguish between facts and misleading and misleading informationinformation

Standards: Social Studies

VermontVermont MassachusettsMassachusetts

identify and distinguish identify and distinguish among the uses and among the uses and forms of propagandaforms of propaganda

describe and evaluate describe and evaluate data and materials data and materials related to voter turnout, related to voter turnout, media coverage and media coverage and editorializing, campaign editorializing, campaign advertising,advertising,

campaign financingcampaign financing

Standards: Health

ConnecticutConnecticut Massachusetts

Identify and explain how Identify and explain how the media may influence the media may influence behaviors and decisionsbehaviors and decisions

students bring in students bring in cigarette ads from cigarette ads from magazines and discuss magazines and discuss their impact on their impact on consumers, especially consumers, especially childrenchildren

Media literacy: key concepts

All media are constructions The media construct reality Audiences negotiate meaning Media have commercial

implications

Media literacy key concepts

Media contain ideological & value messages

Media have social & political implications

Form and content are closely related Each medium has unique aesthetic

form

Media as constructions

Media as languagesLanguage of film

Camera workLighting Editing SetsSound/musicCostumes Expressions

Media: value messages

Audiences negotiate meaning

Media as businesses

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

Critical thinking questions

Who produced and/or paid for the message? What is the purpose of the message? Who is the ‘target audience’ ? What techniques are used to both attract

attention and increase believability? What lifestyles are promoted and why? Does the message contain bias or

stereotypes?

Techniques

Techniques

Video

Techniques

DATELINE HOLLYWOOD:

NBC STARTS USING POP-UP ADS DURING PRIMETIME Struggling network tries new way to boost ad revenue

Critical thinking questions Why is this message being sent? Who stands to benefit from the message? Who or what might be omitted and why? How might different people interpret the

message differently from me? What can I do with the information I obtain

from the message? What do you know; not know; like to know?

Where The Girls Aren’t:

A February 2006 study

examined G rated films

from 1990-2004:

72% characters male

22% characters female

“We know that kids learn their value by seeing themselves reflected in the culture..what message are we sending if they see so few female characters?” Geena Davis

Visual literacy

In what ways does this fake prescription drugweb page look like the real thing?

Student produced media

Single camera production

Animaction- anti tobacco animated PSA

Resources

Media Literacy Clearinghouse

http://medialit.med.sc.edu

Center for Media Literacy

www.medialit.org

Media Awareness Network (Canada)

http://www.media-awareness.ca/

Media Literacy Clearinghouse

http://medialit.med.sc.edu

Frank Bakermedia education consultant

fbaker1346@aol.com