It's the understanding of how to identify different types of media and to understand the messages they're sending. Nowadays children are hit with various types of media that range from text messages, memes, social media, video games, advertisements etc. One thing that all of these media sources have in common is that someone created it and there's a reason behind it. So how can we teach children in this digital age to understand what is and isn't credible? There are so many great resources out there that can help educators support their students when it comes to media literacy. Media-Savvy kids states that when children learn about media literacy they learn to…
Think critically. As children learn to evaluate media, they can start to decide whether the messages make sense, why certain information was included, what wasn't included, and what the key ideas are. They learn to use examples to support their opinions. Then they can make up their own minds about the information based on knowledge they already have.
Become a smart consumer of products and information. Media literacy supports children in learning how to determine whether something is credible. It also helps them determine the "persuasive intent" of advertising and resist the techniques marketers use to sell products.
Recognize point of view. Every creator has a perspective. Identifying an author's point of view helps children appreciate different perspectives. It also helps put information in the context of what they already know -- or think they know.
Create media responsibly. Recognizing your own point of view, saying what you want to say how you want to say it, and understanding that your messages have an impact is key to effective communication.
Identify the role of the media in our culture. From celebrity gossip to magazine covers to memes, the media is telling us something, shaping our understanding of the world, and even compelling us to act or think in certain ways.
Understand the author's goal. What does the author want you to take away from a piece of media? Is it purely informative, is it trying to change your mind, or is it introducing you to new ideas you've never heard of? When kids understand what type of influence something has, they can make informed choices.
So how can we as teachers help support children in gaining these skills? If you're planning to show videos as part of your lessons then you should make it a conversation with your students about what they're watching. I provided a resource here that brought up some great questions that you include in your conversations with your students.
Who created this? Was it a company? Was it an individual? (If so, who?) Was it an artist? Was it an anonymous source? Why do you think that?
Why did they make it? Was it to inform you of something that happened in the world (for example, a news story)? Was it to change your mind or behavior (an opinion essay or a how-to)? Was it to make you laugh (a funny meme)? Was it to get you to buy something (an ad)? Why do you think that?
Who is the message for? Is it for kids? Grown-ups? Girls? Boys? People who share a particular interest? Why do you think that?
What techniques are being used to make this message credible or believable? Does it have statistics from a reputable source? Does it contain quotes from a subject expert? Does it have an authoritative-sounding voice-over? Is there direct evidence of the assertions it's making? Why do you think that?
What details were left out, and why? Is the information balanced with different views -- or does it present only one side? Do you need more information to fully understand the message? Why do you think that?
How did the message make you feel? Do you think others might feel the same way? Would everyone feel the same, or would certain people disagree with you? Why do you think that?
SarahM@NU
References
Media-Savvy Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/media-savvy-kids/
What is media literacy, and why is it important? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/news-and-media-literacy/what-is-media-literacy-and-why-is-it-important
No comments:
Post a Comment