Meeting Students Where They Are With Media Literacy: Critical Thinking for 21st Century Learning Frank W. Baker

“Being literate in contemporary society means being active, critical, and creative users not only of print and spoken language but also of the visual language of film and television, commercial and political advertising, photography, and more. Teaching students how to interpret and create visual texts such as illustrations, charts, graphs, electronic displays, photographs, film, and video is another essential component of the English language arts curriculum. Visual communication is part of the fabric of contemporary life….” “Being literate in contemporary society means being active, critical, and creative users not only of print and spoken language but also of the visual language of film and television, commercial and political advertising, photography, and more. Teaching students how to interpret and create visual texts such as illustrations, charts, graphs, electronic displays, photographs, film, and video is another essential component of the English language arts curriculum. Visual communication is part of the fabric of contemporary life….”

“….We must therefore challenge students to analyze critically the texts they view and to integrate their visual knowledge with their knowledge of other forms of language. By studying how visual texts work, students learn to employ visual media as another powerful means of communication.” Source: NCTE/IRA Standards for The English Language Arts

New skills are required of students in writing and communication, different from those of even a few years ago. Students and teachers both are finding it necessary to be technologically adept, to be able to collaborate on a global scale and to understand content and media design. Issues of assessment and integration of new literacies across the curriculum, and of teacher training, are complicated by the overarching need for a fuller understanding of what constitutes new literacy skills. New skills are required of students in writing and communication, different from those of even a few years ago. Students and teachers both are finding it necessary to be technologically adept, to be able to collaborate on a global scale and to understand content and media design. Issues of assessment and integration of new literacies across the curriculum, and of teacher training, are complicated by the overarching need for a fuller understanding of what constitutes new literacy skills. Critical challenges # 1 There is a growing need for formal instruction in key new skills, including information literacy, visual literacy, and technological literacy.

Media Smarts Media Smarts

“With words, music, photos and videos, students are expressing themselves by creating, manipulating and sharing content online.”

“ In light of the study findings, school districts may want to consider reexamining their policies and practices and explore ways in which they could use social networking for educational purposes.”

“technology officials should find ways to send homework, video lectures, and other classroom material so students can study wherever they are.” Arne Duncan US Secretary of Education

Creating “The Invisible Man” Creating “The Invisible Man”

Join me later today Frank W. Baker Media Literacy Clearinghouse