Media literacy Frank Baker media Media Literacy Clearinghousewww.frankwbaker.com May 19, 2008

21 st Century World Our students, among the youngest members of this “graphics” world are surrounded by myriad of images– on billboards, in magazines, on TV, in films, and in computer games—which they also often passively absorb.

“ It’s an audio book report.”

Just because they ARE media/technology savvy does NOT mean they are media/technology literate.

What students need to do “to judge the validity of information coming in, decipher context, determine the source, and separate opinion from fact.” Eric Klopfer Director Teacher Education Program MIT

What Every Fifth-Grader Should Know & Be Able to Do:  Use digital tools effectively/safely  Think critically  Understand key principles about how complex systems work  Know about other countries/cultures  Invent, design and create  Find wholeness in a remix world Children, Digital Media & Our Nation’s Future May 9, 2008

What students need to do pose essential questions

Media Literacy’s purpose: “is to help … develop the habits of inquiry and skills of expression.. to be critical thinkers, effective communicators and active citizens in today’s world.”

Media literacy Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain

Media literacy Literacy/text (in 2008) means more than just printed words on a page We must acknowledge the powerful force that visual media play in the lives of our students

Source: Partnership for 21 st Century Skills

Media literacy Revised ELA Standards Guiding Principle # 8 An effective English language arts curriculum provides for literacy in all forms of media.

Revised ELA Standards Non-print media:  Radio  Television  Film  Internet  Digital media These are ALSO texts: each designed with a purpose and audience in mind.

Media literacy Multi-tasking– digital natives

Media literacy “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.” R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

Media literacy So what is “media literacy?” 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, 1997

Media literacy is:  Set of skills, knowledge, & abilities  Awareness of personal media habits  Understanding of how media works  Appreciation of media’s power/influence  Ability to discern; critically question/view  How meaning is created in media  Healthy skepticism  Access to media  Ability to produce & create media

Media literacy: key conceptskey concepts  All media are constructed  Media use unique languages  Media convey values and points of view  Audiences negotiate meaning  Media: power and profit Source: Center for Media Literacy

Media literacy: questions  Who produced/created the message?  For what purpose was it produced?  Who is the ‘target audience’?  What techniques are used to attract attention; increase believability?techniques

Media literacy: questions  Who or what is left out; why?  Who benefits from the message being communicated in this way?  What lifestyle is promoted?  How do you know what it means?  Where can you go to verify the info?

Media literacy: my approach Visual literacy Media incorporating images Moving images ( TV, film)

Visual literacy Take a look at some imagesimages

Advertising (using images) Understanding techniques of persuasion

Toy Advertising

Most of us, including our students, watch TV (and movies) passively… Media literacy…using questioning skills… is designed to get us to be active listeners and viewers

Before we watch a toy ad:  Camera  Lights  Sound (including music)  Editing (post production)  Set design  Costumes  Actor’s performance (e.g. expression)

Toy advertising Cinderella’s Magical Talking Vanity

Stereotypes AFRICA

This is Africa, too

Food Packaging Do you think this cereal contains blueberries ?

Understanding 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?

Moving images ( TV & film) Languages of TV & Film  Camera  Lights  Sound (including music)  Editing (post production)  Set design  Costumes  Actor’s expressions

Viewing & Listening The cell phone commercialcell phone Close your eyes and listen After it concludes, make a list of everything you heard

Camera angles/positions Where is the camera? Why is it there? What does its angle communicate to the audience?

Using popular films to teach point-of-view Over the Hedge

Teaching with movies "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 Jacobs Heidi Hayes Jacobs

What is your favorite movie? Before you answer, think deeply about the SCENE in that film--

Introducing scripts & terms Every script includes: AUDIO (everything you hear) VIDEO (everything you see)

The Screenplay Source: Writing Magazine: March/April 2007

Grocery Store scenescene

Actual Film Storyboards

Media literacy Please complete Frank’s evaluation Frank W. Baker Media Literacy Clearinghouse