Frank Baker, media educator Using Media Literacy to Meet State Standards Frank Baker, media educator Media Literacy Clearinghouse

Included in the text “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 saturated with media messages…yet, they 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. Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004 “Our students are growing up in a world saturated with media messages…yet, they (their teachers/parents) 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. Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

“Results That Matter” Today's graduates need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and effective communicators who are proficient in both core subjects and new, 21st century content and skills. These 21st century skills include learning and thinking skills,, and life skills. Twenty-first century skills are in demand for all students. Today's graduates need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and effective communicators who are proficient in both core subjects and new, 21st century content and skills. These 21st century skills include learning and thinking skills, information and communications technology literacy skills, and life skills. Twenty-first century skills are in demand for all students. 3/24/06 3/24/06

Recognizing Media Literacy American Association of School Libraries American Association of School Libraries National Council for Teachers of English National Council for Teachers of English International Reading Association International Reading Association National Council of Social Studies National Council of Social Studies National Middle Schools Association National Middle Schools Association WH Office of Natl Drug Control Policy WH Office of Natl Drug Control Policy

What is media literacy? Write a definition: What does media literacy mean to you? OR What does media literacy mean to you? OR 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 English/Language Arts English/Language Arts Social Studies/History Social Studies/History Health Health Source: Has media education found a curricular foothold? 10/27/99 Education Week

Standards: English/Language Arts ConnecticutMassachusetts discuss how an author, illustrator or filmmaker expresses his/her ideas in text identify techniques used in TV and use knowledge of these techniques to distinguish between facts and misleading information

Standards: Social Studies VermontMassachusetts identify and distinguish among the uses and forms of propaganda describe and evaluate data and materials related to voter turnout, media coverage and editorializing, campaign advertising, campaign financing

Standards: Health ConnecticutMassachusetts Identify and explain how the media may influence behaviors and decisions students bring in cigarette ads from magazines and discuss their impact on consumers, especially children

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 languages Language of film Camera work Lighting Editing Sets Sound/music Costumes 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

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 : 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 drug web page look like the real thing?

Student produced media Single camera production Animaction- anti tobacco animated PSAanti tobacco animated PSA

Resources Media Literacy Clearinghouse Center for Media Literacy Media Awareness Network (Canada)

Media Literacy Clearinghouse Frank Baker media education consultant