What is Media? Medium (singular form of media) is considered as an agency or means of doing something. The term media plural form of medium can be described as the main means of mass communication (especially: radio, television, newspaper) regarded collectively. Source: Oxford Concise Dictionary Media can therefore be looked at as the major devices and/or resulting materials used to communicate information.

Media Categories visual- books, newspapers, videos, magazines, comics, cameras, pictures Audio – radio, cassettes, tapes, digital CD’s, podcast, phones, iPods Audio Visual- videos, television, digital CD’s, cell phones Computer Based Media- writing, listening, reading, viewing, communicating, creating

RationaleRationale for Media in the Classroom Students are given opportunities to manipulate materials Multiple Intelligences are catered for through the use of various teaching and learning mediums Students learn about people and places near and far. Additional learning opportunities are possible through the use of instructional software and diverse teaching styles. Productivity programs allow for: easy grading and tracking of students’ work, time saving, easy access to information, decrease paper work and cost effectiveness Students develop/learn required information age skills Higher order learning occurs through opportunities to create, synthesize, analyze and evaluate work done.

Ethical Issues Plagiarism/Cyber-cheating: Students reproducing other people’s work as their own Privacy/Safety – Dangers of being stalked or traced through the putting on of personal information on the internet and or audio/visual communication with predators. Copyright: Disregard of copyright laws. Illegal downloads/software piracy: Downloading software without paying for it.

How Should Media Be Used? The curriculum must be the driving force behind the use of media (Integration). Opportunities must be provided for pupils to manipulate the various devices/materials to create their own work; individually and collaboratively. A technology based model should be used to integrate work effectively.

Models For Technological Integration Directed Instructional Model Constructivist Model Technology Integrated Planning (TIP) Model