Media literacy

Frank Baker media educator

Fbaker1346@aol.comFbaker1346@aol.com

Media Literacy Clearinghouse

www.frankwbaker.comwww.frankwbaker.com

May 19, 2008

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.

“ It’s an audio book report.”

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

What students need to do

“to judge the validity of information coming in, decipher context, determine the source, and separate opinion from fact.”

Eric KlopferDirector

Teacher Education Program

MIT

What Every Fifth-GraderShould Know & Be Able to Do:

Use digital tools effectively/safelyThink criticallyUnderstand key principles about

how complex systems workKnow about other countries/cultures Invent, design and createFind wholeness in a remix world

Children, Digital Media & Our Nation’s Future May 9, 2008

What students need to do

pose essential questions

Media Literacy’s purpose:

“is to help … develop the habits of inquiry and skills of expression..to be critical thinkers, effective communicators and active citizens in today’s world.”

Media literacy

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain

Media literacy

Literacy/text (in 2008) means more Literacy/text (in 2008) means more than just printed words on a pagethan just printed words on a page

We must acknowledge the powerful We must acknowledge the powerful force that visual media playforce that visual media play

in the lives of our studentsin the lives of our students

Source: Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Media literacy Revised ELA Standards

Guiding Principle # 8

An effective English language arts curriculum provides for literacy in all forms of media.

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.

Media literacy

Multi-tasking– digital natives

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

Media literacy

So what is “media literacy?”

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, 1997

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

Media literacy: key conceptsAll media are constructedMedia use unique languagesMedia convey values and points of

viewAudiences negotiate meaningMedia: power and profit

Source: Center for Media Literacy

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?

Media literacy: questionsWho or what is left out; why?Who or what is left out; why?Who benefits from the message Who benefits from the message

being communicated in this way?being communicated in this way?What lifestyle is promoted?What lifestyle is promoted?How do you know what it means?How do you know what it means?Where can you go to verify the Where can you go to verify the

info?info?

Media literacy: my approachVisual literacy

Media incorporating images

Moving images ( TV, film)

Visual literacy

Take a look at some images

Advertising (using images)

Understanding techniques of persuasion

http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit

Toy Advertising

Toy Advertising

Most of us, including our students, watchMost of us, including our students, watch

TV (and movies) passively…TV (and movies) passively…

Media literacy…using questioning skills…Media literacy…using questioning skills…

is designed to get us to be active listenersis designed to get us to be active listeners

and viewersand viewers

Before we watch a toy ad: CameraCamera LightsLights Sound (including music)Sound (including music) Editing (post production)Editing (post production) Set designSet design CostumesCostumes Actor’s performanceActor’s performance

(e.g. expression) (e.g. expression)

Toy advertising

Cinderella’s Magical Talking Vanity

Stereotypes

AFRICA

This is Africa, too

Food Packaging

Do you think

this cereal

contains

blueberries ?

Understanding signs

What are signs?What are signs?What are their purposes?What are their purposes? What do they say? What do they say?

How is color used?How is color used? Why are they here? Why are they here?

Moving images ( TV & film)

Languages of TV & FilmLanguages of TV & Film CameraCamera LightsLights Sound (including music)Sound (including music) Editing (post production)Editing (post production) Set designSet design CostumesCostumes Actor’s expressionsActor’s expressions

Viewing & Listening

The cell phone commercial

Close your eyes and listenAfter it concludes, make a list of

everything you heard

Camera angles/positions

Where is the camera?Where is the camera?

Why is it there?Why is it there?

What does its angleWhat does its angle

communicate to thecommunicate to the

audience?audience?

Using popular films to teachpoint-of-view

Over the Hedge

Teaching with movies

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

Heidi Hayes JacobsHeidi Hayes Jacobs

What is your favorite movie?

Before you answer, think deeply

about the SCENE in that film--

Introducing scripts & terms

Every script includes:

AUDIO (everything you hear)

VIDEO (everything you see)

The Screenplay

Source: Writing Magazine: March/April 2007

Grocery Store scene

Actual Film Storyboards

Media literacy

Please complete Frank’s evaluation

Frank W. BakerMedia Literacy Clearinghouse

www.frankwbaker.com