Media+Literacy+in+the+21st+Century

__** Enhancing Skills in Critical Reading, Writing for Intended Audience, and "Reading" Non-Print Media ** (i.e., Video, Image, Podcast) __

According to Wikipedia, Media Literacy is "a repertoire of competences that enable people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and forms." (And according to the Wikipedia community, the article on Media Literacy receives a quality score of a "C," and is rated "High" and "Top" importance!) NAMLE the National Association for Media Literacy Education provides a basic definition of the term, a clarification of what the term means used today, and a broader definition of the term. This can be found here.
 * What is Media Literacy?**

According to Wikipedia, [|Media Education] is **"**the process of teaching and learning about media. It is about developing young people's critical and creative abilities when it comes to the media." Wikipedia also states that "Media literacy education provides tools to help people critically analyze messages, offers opportunities for learners to broaden their experience of media, and helps them develop creative skills in making their own media messages. Media literacy can be seen as contributing to an expanded conceptualization of literacy, treating mass media, popular culture and digital media as new types of 'texts' that require analysis and evaluation. By transforming the process of media conception into an active and critical process, people gain greater awareness of the potential for misrepresentation and manipulation (especially through commercials and public relations techniques), and understand the role of mass media and participatory media in constructing views of reality." As educators it is important that we educate our students on how to utilize all the technology tools that are out there and continue to develop, so they can use these resources for the common good and to become an active, influential citizen in our digital society. Media literate students should be aware of the media's influence on beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, values, and the democratic process. Students needs to be given the proper teaching techniques when it comes to being digital literate, so they may carry this information out into the real world. Very similar to traditional literacy which includes writing and reading skills, media literacy also emphasizes producing effective communications through a variety of media forms. We must continue to adapt to the expansion of the definition of literacy and what it means for our students to be literate with the concept of Media Literacy.
 * Media Literacy Overview**

Why Do U.S. Students Need Media Literacy? A 2007 article urging teachers to emphasize critical reading of mass media--media is not just "entertainment," but rather a form of "communication." The Importance and Challenges of Universal Media Literacy Education A 2009 article on the importance of media literacy, what the state of it is now, and where it is going.
 * Why is Media Literacy Important?**

[|Project Look Sharp] This is an initiative through Ithaca College that provides trainings, lesson plans, and support for effective integration of media literacy into the classroom at all levels. Center for Media Literacy An organization that promotes critical awareness of media (text and images) for adolescents. Middle School Media Literacy A one-page site offering the definition of media literacy and a web activity that prompts the readers to critically view 8 different commercials (likely created for a student-audience). NAMLE The National Association for Media Literacy Education. This site provides online journals, blogs, resources, a marketplace, and even conferences that all focus highly on the ever changing world of Media Literacy in education today. Girls Inc. Media Literacy A program dedicated to building media awareness and critical literacy skills in girls. In the program, girls investigate and evaluate mainstream media messages, as well as create their own messages. Media Literacy Project a non-profit organization based in New Mexico, that specializes in Media Literacy training for teachers and students. Below is their 20-year anniversary video: media type="youtube" key="ZyWJ5TJJ9TU?list=UUgz4efOvE5LmD4DMQX4ZGnw" height="315" width="560"
 * RESOURCES:**
 * Educational Organizations, Programs, & Projects**

Some tehno-savvy students of Kathy Cassidy, an elementary teacher who promotes media literacy in her classroom, demonstrate how they are Media Literate: media type="youtube" key="S7Jhq6aSl6w?version=3" height="315" width="560"

"Responding to Captivating Photos"--showing how simple teaching media literacy can be (via "reading" photos): media type="youtube" key="ovhljLQ2OLk?version=3" height="315" width="560"

[|Digital Literacy: 21st Century Fluency Resource Page Media Literacy and Fluency] This blog provides various links and information regarding media literacy and fluncy in the 21st century. For example, links to resources are given for other blogs, videos, wikis, etc... Attributes that learners can make and skills needed to be successful with media literacy are also noted. [|21st Century Literacy: Network Literacy] This blog post focuses on one area of Media Literacy which is networking. It discusses the power behind networking and what that looks like for teachers and students. You can also access other blog posts containing the key literacies that students should be familiar with. [|Historical Thinking=Media Literacy + Project Look Sharp] The author of this blog discusses a professional development seminar called Project Look Sharp an initiative by Ithaca College to promote digital literacy. It provides an overview of what was learned and gained from the workshop and why these things are important to our instruction.
 * Blogs**

Journal of Media Literacy An online journal that promotes critical media literacy and media literacy education. It began in 1953 as the American Council for Better Broadcast News, and has evolved since. Journal of Media Literacy Education An online, interdisciplinary journal dedicated to research and promotion of media literacy pedagogy. Why Media Literacy is Not Just For Kids An analysis of Hobbs' (2010) position paper on deepening media literacy in youth and adults. (The paper reviewed is entitled //Digital and Media Literacy: A Plan of Action.//) [|Blog on Media Literacy] Short blog on Media Literacy with a lecture from a University of Rhode Island professor on literacy going digital.
 * Journals & Papers**

Media Literacy is Elementary A book by Jeff Share that "provides a practical and theoretical look at how media education can make learning and teaching more meaningful and transformative." The Teacher's Guide to Media Literacy A book that does just as its title states: guides teachers in teaching media literacy. Media Literacy "This book offers a detailed approach to studying media influences and presents readers with a clear vision of what it means to operate at a higher level of media literacy." [|Speaking The Lower Frequencies: Students and Media Literacy] This book shows how using popular texts in the classroom can allow students to be critical consumers of media without loosing interest. If students are encouraged to be more than receptors of media, they can learn to develop critical, active voices both in and out of the classroom. [|Media Literacy: Thinking Critically About the Internet] This book helps students develop critical-thinking skills through the use of Media Literacy-focusing on the use of Internet as a business, social/cultural exchange, and entertainment medium. [|Critical Media Literacy is Elementary: A Case Study of Teachers' Ideas and Experiences with Media Education and Young Children] This is a dissertation that explores a case study where a school received a grant to integrate media literacy and arts into their curriculum.
 * Books**