Literacy, New Media, and Creative Pedagogies for ECE ClassroomsEDU T&L 5226

What is Media Literacy:

• Access• Analyze• Evaluate• Communicate or Create

Media refers to all electronic or digital means and print or artistic visuals used to transmit messages. Literacy is the ability to encode and decode symbols and to synthesize and analyze messages. Media literacy is the ability to encode and decode the symbols transmitted via media and the ability to synthesize, analyze and produce mediated messages. Media education is the study of media, including ‘hands on’ experiences and media production. Media literacy education is the educational field dedicated to teaching the skills associated with media literacy.

You and Media• What kind of media do you use on a daily

basis? • How much time do you spend using a screen? • How much influence does your media have on

you?• Do you think you are influenced by the hidden

messages in media?

Media Literacy Introduction Activity• Activity: Media Literacy

While watching this video, ask yourself:• Who is the intended audience?• What stereotypes are promoted?• What techniques are used to engage, inform, persuade, and educate?• Who benefits/profits from the message being told in this way?• Who or what might be omitted and why?• How was the media message created and constructed?

• Watch “Real Bugs” http://projectlooksharp.org/?action=generalmedialiteracy#twister

What Media Literacy is NOT• Media bashing• Protection against media we might disagree with • Just about television• Limited to video production• How to use audio-visual equipment• Only teaching with media; it is also teaching about the media

Media Usage Statisticsfor kids

- 42 percent of children under 8 years old have a TV in their bedroom.-Half (52 percent) of all zero- to 8-year-olds have access to a new mobile device such as a smart phone, video iPod, or iPad/tablet.More than a third (38 percent) of children this age have used one of these devices, including 10 percent of zero-to 1-year-olds, 39 percent of 2- to 4-year-olds, and more than half (52 percent) of 5- to 8-year-olds.- In a typical day, one in 10 zero- to 8-year-olds uses a smart phone, video iPod, iPad, or similar device to play games, watch videos, or use other apps. Those who do such activities spend an average of 43 minutes a day doing so.

Why should we teach Media Literacy?

Kids as Consumers

Media TestHow many of these do you think a second grader can identify?

21st Century SkillsThe term 21st century skills refers to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits that are believed—by educators, school reformers, college professors, employers, and others—to be critically important to success in today’s world, particularly in collegiate programs and contemporary careers and workplaces. Generally speaking, 21st century skills can be applied in all academic subject areas, and in all educational, career, and civic settings throughout a student’s life.

With 21st Century Skills Students can:• Develop proficiency and fluency with the tools of technology

• Not just phones and TV

• Build international cross-cultural connections and relationships with others so to pose and solve problems collaboratively and strengthen independent thought• New version of pen pals? Discussion forums, think tanks, chat rooms

• Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of purposes• Blog, podcast

With 21st Century Skills Students Can? (con’t)• Manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of

simultaneous information• Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multimedia

texts• What this class is about.

• Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these complex environments• No cyberbullying, no naked pics, stay off inappropriate sites

Do you think we are teaching these skills?

How can we help kids understand what they are seeing?

Five Key Questions for Deconstructing Media

• Who created this message?• What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?• How might different people understand this message

differently from me?• What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented in,

or omitted from this message?• Why was this message sent?

Dissecting of TV Programs for Kids Lesson Plan Idea 1:Students will identify the “stereotypes” presented in a popular TV show.Discuss what a stereotype is and give examples.Show videoIdentify stereotypes for adults/teachers, cheerleaders, popularity, nerds, etc.

Dissecting of TV Programs for Kids (con’t)• Activity/Homework: Watch one TV program and identify the

stereotypes, write them down and bring them back for discussion.

• Would this activity help raise children’s awareness of stereotypes used in programming for them? How can we alter this to meet the needs of younger children?

Internet Advertising: It’s Everywhere!Lesson Plan Idea 2:Students will access, analyze and evaluate internet advertising.Discuss what websites are most popular for children.Show Jing video of internet advertising.

• PBS Kids• Disney Channel• Nick Jr.• You Tube

• Sesame Street

Internet Advertising: It’s Everywhere! (con’t)

• Activity: On Smartboard pull up several child centered websites and have students identify advertising. Questions: What is being marketed? Why did the company choose this site? What persuasive marketing was used?

• Would this activity help raise children’s awareness of advertising used on internet sites for them? How can we alter this to meet the needs of younger children?

The Making of an AdvertisementLesson Plan Idea 3:Students will create their own persuasive advertisement using manipulative techniques used by corporations.Opening questions: What kind of things go into making a commercial appealing? (Discuss Ideas: slogan, emotion, senses)Watch video and discuss manipulative techniques.

The Making of an Advertisement (con’t)• In a group create your own ad persuading children to do

something they typically do not like to do. Be sure to incorporate manipulative techniques.

• Present ads to class.• Post Questions: What manipulative techniques did each group

use? Was it persuasive? Would this help raise your awareness of ad manipulation? How can we alter this to meet the needs of younger children?

Useful Ideas for More Lessons• Media Literacy Clearinghouse Website

• Super Bowl Ads

• The Lamp• Media Breaker

Websites that go with all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy

Teaching Internet Safety to Kids

• Power point presentation and discussion

• Jeopardy game

Media Education in Social Studies• How historical events are portrayed in textbooks and

other places• Columbus Day

• Elections• Political ads - propaganda

• Laws • What laws are passed, who they effect• 2nd amendment • Affordable Care Act

Media Education in Other Topics• Math

• Manipulated statistical information • Colorful graphs and charts that support message

• Science• Manipulate by emotion – global warming, endangered animals, ethical

issues (stem cell research, medical treatments)

• Health• Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs• Body image

Using Media to teach Literacy• What types of media can we use with

students to teach literacy? • Low tech and high tech

• How has media reached inside our school?

• Here are a couple of examples we will be exploring this semester.• Literacy Shed• Story Jumper

Discussion Point

What do you think of this statement? True/False

If true, should this change?

How can we make the change?

“Outside of the classroom young people regularly engage with music and videos via MP3 players, constantly text their friends with their cell phones, check the latest videos on YouTube, and even upload ones themselves. But, upon entering the classroom they are expected to disengage from this interpersonal, producer-oriented, digital world.”

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Technology in Schools:List types of old technology used in schools (before your time)

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List current tech used in schools (your school experiences)

What does the future hold?

Common Core Standards and Media• Ohio Common Core Standards

• Language Arts• Reading Standards for Literature• Reading Standards for Informational Text• Reading Standards: Foundational Skills• Writing Standards• Speaking and Listening Standards• Language Standards