Media Literacy: Critical Thinking About Media Messages Frank W. Baker media educator 2006 Early Learning/ Literacy Symposium

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain….

Media Literacy Awareness of how much time young people spend with media Awareness of how much time young people spend with media The knowledge, skills and abilities to understand how the media work: critical thinking about media messages The knowledge, skills and abilities to understand how the media work: critical thinking about media messages

Snapshot of kids & media 87% of 8- to 17-year old children play video games at home (mediafamily.org) 87% of 8- to 17-year old children play video games at home (mediafamily.org) When asked what they do when TV commercials come on, nearly 60% of respondents say they watch them (American Kids Study, 2005) When asked what they do when TV commercials come on, nearly 60% of respondents say they watch them (American Kids Study, 2005) TV is on in the typical African-American home 11:10 a day, compared with 7: 34 in white homes (Nielsen Media Research) TV is on in the typical African-American home 11:10 a day, compared with 7: 34 in white homes (Nielsen Media Research) Sixty nine percent of kids 6-14 have TVs in their bedrooms (U.S. Multicultural Kids Study 2005) Sixty nine percent of kids 6-14 have TVs in their bedrooms (U.S. Multicultural Kids Study 2005) Children aged 2-5 watched an average of 3 hours and 40 minutes of television a day during the TV season (Forrester Research)Children aged 2-5 watched an average of 3 hours and 40 minutes of television a day during the TV season (Forrester Research)

Media influences Researchers found that children who spent more time watching TV eat more calorie-dense, low-nutrient foods advertised on television. Researchers found that children who spent more time watching TV eat more calorie-dense, low-nutrient foods advertised on television. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, April 2006 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, April 2006

Snapshot of kids & media Generation M= Multi-tasking (March 2005)

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. Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

While more young people have access to the Internet and other media than any generation in history, they do not necessarily possess the ethics, the intellectual skills, or the predisposition to critically analyze and evaluate their relationship with these technologies or the information they encounter. Good hand/eye co-ordination and the ability to multitask are not substitutes for critical thinking. Dr. David Considine, media educator While more young people have access to the Internet and other media than any generation in history, they do not necessarily possess the ethics, the intellectual skills, or the predisposition to critically analyze and evaluate their relationship with these technologies or the information they encounter. Good hand/eye co-ordination and the ability to multitask are not substitutes for critical thinking. Dr. David Considine, media educator

Media & Brain Research The most recent research tells us that the brain is still developing even as late as the teenage years. Young people, who are exposed to the screens ( TV, computer, etc.) are more likely to have re-wired critical brain connections; needed for things like creativity & imagination. Doctors are now realizing that media is as much a health issue as many other childhood disorders and diseases. video

What preschoolers can begin to understand: It is a good idea to think and talk about what we see/hear on the screen It is a good idea to think and talk about what we see/hear on the screen All media are made by storytellers All media are made by storytellers Some storytellers are more trustworthy than others Some storytellers are more trustworthy than others Media storytellers use pictures (and sound) to tell stories; languages used make thinks look different than they might be in real life Media storytellers use pictures (and sound) to tell stories; languages used make thinks look different than they might be in real life Rules in our home might be different than rules on TV or computer Rules in our home might be different than rules on TV or computer Dr. Faith Rogow, Early Childhood Expert/Media educator Dr. Faith Rogow, Early Childhood Expert/Media educator

Media literacy Take a few minutes and write your own definition: What is media literacy? What is media literacy?OR Why should our students be media literate? Why should our 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. (Source: Media Literacy Resource Guide, Ministry of Education Ontario, 1997) 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. (Source: Media Literacy Resource Guide, Ministry of Education Ontario, 1997)

Core Concepts: Media literacy All media are constructions (of reality) All media are constructions (of reality) Media are constructed using languages with their own set of rules Media are constructed using languages with their own set of rules Media convey values and points of view Media convey values and points of view Different people experience the same media messages differently Different people experience the same media messages differently Media= power + profit Media= power + profit Source: Center for Media Literacy

All media are constructions

What is this? Remember: media construct (re-present) reality

Media: constructed using languages Language of film Camera work Lighting Editing Sets Sound/music Costumes Expressions

Camera angles

Lighting

Media convey values and points of view

Audiences negotiate meanings

Media= power + profit FOX (News Corp) NBC (GE) CBS (Viacom) ABC (Disney) CNN (AOL/Time Warner)

Advertiser-Audience Relationship The following program is brought to you by the sponsor. You are brought to the sponsor by the program.

Critical Inquiry Who created/produced the message? Who created/produced the message? For what purpose? For what purpose? For which target audience(s)? For which target audience(s)? What techniques are used to: What techniques are used to:techniques 1) attract attention 2) increase believability Who or what is omitted and why? Who or what is omitted and why? How do you know what it means? How do you know what it means? Does it contain bias or stereotypes? Does it contain bias or stereotypes?

Media Literacy in Floridas Sunshine State Standards ENGLISH Listening, Viewing, and Speaking Standard 2 The student uses viewing strategies effectively. Grades Recognizes and responds to nonverbal cues in a variety of nonprint media, such as motion pictures, television advertisements, and works of art.

Media as languages

Reading the visual

Using magazines

Changing what we teach "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 Jacob video

Using Toy Commercials Buy Me ThatBuy Me That: a 3 part video series Script Toy Ad Analysis Script Buy Me ThatScript Worksheet Worksheet

Using Toy Commercials video Cinderella Magical Talking Vanity

Activity Each group receives an ad Use the handout to answer the questions about the ad Share time Create the script for the ad

Teaching about signs What are signs? What are their purposes? What do they say? How is color used? Why are they here? How is color used? Why are they here?

Teaching with film "Film has its own language, its own grammar.. It's helpful for students to know this language and to think critically about film in an increasingly visual world. Martin Scorsese If people arent taught the language of sound and images, shouldnt they be considered as illiterate as if they left college without being able to read and write? George Lucas

The Languages of film Camera work Lighting Editing Sets Sound/music Costumes Expressions Because of Winn Dixie

PBS Media Literacy

Resources

Ideas for elementary Introduce photography: visual literacy Introduce film: through flip books Cereal box design: nutrition messages Media diary: exploring media in my world Create your own 30 second P.S.A. Produce a classroom magazine or newspaper

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