Benefits from Implementing a Media Education Program School & Community Wide Kristine Paulsen

Why has the violence increased? 1.The American Medical Association 2.The American Psychological Association 3.The American Academy of Pediatrics These three have looked at 30 years of research and agree that media violence is a causal factor in the violent behavior we are seeing in our children today. Viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitude and behavior. The effects are measurable and long lasting.

Violent Video Game Research Repeated exposure to media violence is a stronger influence on aggressive behavior than is living in poverty, engaging in substance abuse, or having abusive parents. – Dr. Bushman University of Michigan

Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television (S.M.A.R.T.) The Stanford University Prevention Research Center developed the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum for 3 rd or 4 th grade students to reduce the negative effects of excessive TV, video and video game use.

In randomized controlled trials the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum was proven to: Reduce childrens TV and video game use Reduce obesity and weight gain Reduce aggression in class and on the playground Reduce childrens requests for toys advertised on TV

The Josephson Institute of Ethics surveyed 43,321 teenagers (2010) 47% said they had been bullied, teased, or taunted in a way that seriously upset them. 50% said they had bullied, teased, or taunted someone at least once.

Children and adolescents (8- to 18-Year-Olds) spend the following amount of time daily in front of the screen: 7.5 hours using entertainment media 4.5 hours watching TV 1.5 hours on the computer Over an hour playing video games Less than 25 minutes per day reading books (Survey 2010 Kaiser Foundation)

Teachers and Consultants in Delta & Schoolcraft Counties developed: A preschool - high school, media education curriculum that was inspired by the SMART curriculum. It includes lessons that are integrated into language arts, math, science, and social studies.

The Elementary Curriculum Objective 1: Raising Awareness of TV Habits (all screens) Lesson 1 - Awareness of TV watched yesterday Lesson 2 - Awareness of TV watched all week Lesson 3 - TV displaces fun activities Lesson 4 - TV addiction-Getting ready for the T.V. Turn-off

Objective 2: TV Turn-Off Lesson 5 - Opening Ceremony Lesson 6 - Spinning Dial of Ideas Lesson 7 - Making SMART Choices Lesson 8 - Closing Ceremony

Objective 3: Staying in Control Lesson 9 - Understanding SMART Talk-T.V.Budget Lesson 10 - Portrait of a TV Zombie Lesson 11 - Role-Playing Solutions Lesson 12 - Plan Ahead for Winter Break Lesson 13 - Alternatives to Watching TV

Objective 4: Helping Others Reduce TV Viewing Lesson 14 - A letter of Encouragement Lesson 15 - We Can Help Production Lesson 15a - Letter to the President Lesson 16 - Exploring Your World Quilt

Effects of Media Reduction On Playground Aggression Average of Eight Schools

Effects of Media Reduction On Negative Classroom Behavior K-6 th Grade

Impact of No TV on 4 th Grade MEAP (Jan. 2005)

Escanaba Junior High First Reaction About The Program Ten Days Off The Screens At first many middle school students were against the program Many of the students said things like: – This is stupid – Boring – No one will do it – Violent video games are just a game – I dont get it

Research Project For the 8 th grade students Deb Lehto presented them with a challenge. If you dont think this is a problem then do the research. Students read and researched at least four resources about media violence and their assignment was to come up with: – Four problems – Four solutions – Data – Create a PowerPoint – Campaign product

Students Took Ownership As they read and identified problems they came up with their own solutions. They said things like: – Did you know there is more ADD and ADHD then ever before? – Did you know that parents arent aware of what stuff is out there in cyberspace? – Did you know there are more obese kids then ever before?

Change In Answers To Interview Questions What changed your mind? – School shootings – Changes in ADD and ADHD – Brothers and sisters have calmed down with turning off the TV – Doing the research made us aware of the problems

Samples of High School and Elementary Students

% of 7 th grade (406) students who watched more than 3 hours of TV per school day.

% of 7 th grade students who watched 1 hour or less of TV per school day.

Effects of Media Reduction On Aggressive Behavior Youth Correctional Center

In randomized controlled trials the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum was proven to: Reduce childrens requests for toys advertised on TV but thats not all TV and movies sell…..

% of 7 th grade students that had smoked at least 1 cigarette during their life. (66% to 80% Decrease)

Dartmouth Medical School published the results of a 10 year study on the effects of exposure to movie smoking. They concluded 35% of habitual smoking in teenagers and young adults can be directly attributed to earlier exposure to movie smoking. Movie smoking exposure was a stronger predictor of habitual smoking than having a parent or friend who smokes.

Kids who regularly watch R-rated movies take risks ranging from alcohol abuse to violence. Prevention Science, March 2010 Dr. James Sargent, Darmouth Medical School

% of 7 th grade students that had at least 1 drink of alcohol during last 30 days. (56% to 82% Decrease)

% of 7 th grade students that at least 5 drinks of alcohol within a couple hours during last 30 days. (81% to 86% Decrease)

% of 7 th grade students that had used marijuana 1 or more times during the last 30 days. (72% - 93%)

What do students say?