Media Literacy
Photo retrieved from Policy Recommendations on Media Literacy by EAVI
Media education
is what encompasses media literacy. When children are encouraged to question
what they are being shown through the media (visual, print, audio and internet) media literacy is being achieved.
Being media literate is when one is able to take a critical lens looking
at the media, further examining the truths behind the messages. Media literacy is briefly summarized by a student herself in the following video project.
Tzu-Bin, Jen-Yi,
Feng and Ling (2013) argue media literacy takes the ‘classic’
definition of literate as being able to read and write to one who is able to
understand and critically question different forms of media. Children need to
understand that media is constructed by someone, for someone, with a purpose and based upon certain beliefs and assumptions. The audience of the media needs to also be considered through how individuals would perceive the information
differently. The reasoning behind the media such as for money or attention
(commercial implications) should be discussed, so children can understand the real
meaning behind the message and how that influenced how it was conveyed to them. Another aspect behind the media are the social and political
implications, who is being shown, in what way and who is being ignored needs to be looked at to dig deeper into the meaning/reasoning. Lastly and perhaps the most obvious thing to discuss in media literacy are the techniques used to enhance the effectiveness of the media
source, such as lighting or camera angles to make it more attractive to viewers.
These main concepts of media literacy can be seen in the following concept map.
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| Photo retrieved from The Fundamentals of Media Literacy |
Without asking these critical questions and having the proper knowledge behind media children easily continue to be the passive consumers the media
wants them to be. Tzu-Bin,
Jen-Yi, Feng and Ling (2013) point out that society today has a certain level
of expectation that individuals are somewhat media literate. This is due to the
amount of technology and media one deals with on an increasing basis, so we are
expected to be able to somewhat filter what we see and hear. Regarding my own
experience with media education I can only recall learning critically about the
media in high school, which I think is later than it should be first introduced because of the
high impact media can have on younger children in areas such as body image. Media literacy fundamentals (n.d.) stated that media literacy is not a requirement in curriculums across all grades or even across Canada. This is something I think needs to be changed because of the increasing prevalence of media in children’s lives. However, teachers need more support and resources to be able to incorporate such teachings into everyday lessons and teachable moments at these younger grades. Media Smarts has a really good list of suggestions of resources and lessons available online that teachers can incorporate into their lessons.
Some people question why media education should have time allotted for it in school when there are
more pressing issues and important subjects to be learning about, however it is more than just learning about the media. The significance
of media education is not just so children don’t fall into the traps the media
is setting up for them through techniques such as false advertising, but it
also teaches children to be more critical of other things they experience in life. This education will take children from being passive consumers accepting
what they are shown and given, to critical thinkers who are able to distinguish
between why and what they are being told and decide whether or not to accept it
for themselves. Parents can even help make their children critical thinkers and media literate, through finding
opportunities within the home involving media to help their child become media
literate. The following video has ideas and emphasizes the importance of parents
implementing media education within the home.
References
Find Lessons & Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22,
2015, from http://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resources/find-lesson
Media
Literacy Fundamentals. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2015, from
http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/media-literacy-fundamentals
Tzu-Bin,
L., Jen-Yi, L., Feng, D., & Ling, L. (2013). Understanding New Media
Literacy: An Explorative Theoretical Framework. Journal Of Educational
Technology & Society, 16(4), 160-170.
Videos:
Allison, J, G.
(2007, May, 4). Media Literacy. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqz2R8TXSfc
Carmelinafilms. (2008, August, 27).
Teaching Media Literacy: Asking Questions. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZzRomtKj88
Photos:
Media Literacy [Photo]. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.eavi.eu/joomla/contact-us/47-media-literacy
