Media Literacy In The Media Literacy In The Social Studies Classroom:Social Studies Classroom:

Applying 21Applying 21stst Century CenturyLiteracy & InquiryLiteracy & Inquiry

Frank W. BakerFrank W. Baker

Media educatorMedia educator

fbaker1346@aol.comfbaker1346@aol.com

Influence of imagesInfluence of images

“ “Still photos and TV images are Still photos and TV images are what sway people…..at the end what sway people…..at the end of the day, people retain very of the day, people retain very simple images in their minds simple images in their minds when they’re not really engaged when they’re not really engaged or focused on an issue.”or focused on an issue.”

Jane ArrafJane Arraf, former CNN Bureau Chief, former CNN Bureau Chief

What’s really importantWhat’s really important

Nearly 77% of Nearly 77% of those polled those polled could name each could name each of the Seven of the Seven DwarfsDwarfs

Only 24% could Only 24% could name 2 of the 9 name 2 of the 9 US Supreme US Supreme Court judgesCourt judges

Zogby Poll Week of August 12, 2006

New media & politicsNew media & politics

User-driven community sites User-driven community sites (MySpace; FaceBook; You Tube) are (MySpace; FaceBook; You Tube) are to this year's races what blogs were to this year's races what blogs were to campaigns two years ago. They to campaigns two years ago. They are not replacements for traditional are not replacements for traditional staples like TV ads and direct staples like TV ads and direct mailings, but they offer the latest mailings, but they offer the latest venues for campaigns to reach venues for campaigns to reach younger voters and mobilize them to younger voters and mobilize them to volunteer. volunteer. Source AP News Story August 20Source AP News Story August 20

Critical thinkingCritical thinking

“ “Adolescents need to learn how to Adolescents need to learn how to integrate knowledge from multiple integrate knowledge from multiple sources, including music, video, online sources, including music, video, online databases and other media. databases and other media. They They need to think critically about need to think critically about informationinformation….they need to participate ….they need to participate in the kinds of collaboration that new in the kinds of collaboration that new communication and information communication and information technologies enable, but increasingly technologies enable, but increasingly demand.”demand.”

Bertram Bruce, “Diversity and Critical Social Engagement: How Changing Technologies Enable New Modes of Literacy in Changing Circumstances”

Recommendation:Recommendation:Becoming smarter about new Becoming smarter about new sources of information.sources of information.

““In an age of overflowing In an age of overflowing information and information and proliferating media, kids proliferating media, kids need to rapidly process need to rapidly process what's coming at them what's coming at them and distinguish between and distinguish between what‘s reliable and what what‘s reliable and what isn't.”isn't.”December 10, 2006

Media literacy In The Social Studies Media literacy In The Social Studies Classroom: Applying 21Classroom: Applying 21stst Century Century

Literacy & InquiryLiteracy & Inquiry

What do we want studentsWhat do we want students

to know about the media?to know about the media?

Media literacy In The Social Studies Media literacy In The Social Studies Classroom: Applying 21Classroom: Applying 21stst Century Century

Literacy & InquiryLiteracy & Inquiry

87% of U.S. teens between 12 87% of U.S. teens between 12 and 17 years of age use the and 17 years of age use the Internet; Internet;

81% of teen Internet users play 81% of teen Internet users play games online;games online;

76% get news online76% get news online;; 51% of teen Internet users say 51% of teen Internet users say

they go online on a daily basis; they go online on a daily basis; 43% have made purchases 43% have made purchases

online; and online; and 31% use the Internet to get 31% use the Internet to get

health infohealth info

Media literacy In The Social Studies Media literacy In The Social Studies Classroom: Applying 21Classroom: Applying 21stst Century Century

Literacy & InquiryLiteracy & Inquiry

“ “Our students are growing up in a world Our students are growing up in a world saturated with media messages…yet, saturated with media messages…yet, they they (and their teachers)(and their teachers) receive little receive little or no training in the skills of analyzing or or no training in the skills of analyzing or re-evaluating these messages, many of re-evaluating these messages, many of which make use of language, moving which make use of language, moving images, music, sound effects.” images, music, sound effects.” Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004

Media LiteracyMedia Literacy

“ “Our Founding Fathers understood that Our Founding Fathers understood that a democratic republic could not survive a democratic republic could not survive without an informed and participatory without an informed and participatory citizenry….It is essential in our citizenry….It is essential in our citizenship role to citizenship role to view critically, view critically, analyze ask powerful questions and analyze ask powerful questions and draw our own conclusionsdraw our own conclusions. Media . Media literacy, then, is essential to the literacy, then, is essential to the citizenship role.”citizenship role.”

Denee MattioliDenee Mattioli, , past president, past president, NCSSNCSS

Media literacyMedia literacy

Draft your own definition of what Draft your own definition of what

““media literacy” means..media literacy” means..

Media LiteracyMedia Literacy Media literacy is concerned with helping Media literacy is concerned with helping

students develop an informed and critical students develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of mass understanding of the nature of mass media, media, the techniques used by them, the techniques used by them, and the impact of these techniquesand the impact of these techniques. . More specifically, it is education that aims More specifically, it is education that aims to increase the students' to increase the students' understanding understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, and enjoyment of how the media work, how they produce meaning, how they how they produce meaning, how they are organized, and how they construct are organized, and how they construct realityreality. Media literacy also aims to . Media literacy also aims to provide students with the ability to provide students with the ability to create media productscreate media products..  

Source: Ontario Ministry of Ed. VIDEO

References to media inReferences to media in SC SS Standards SC SS Standards

Grade 7Grade 7 Grade 8Grade 8 Grade 9Grade 9

the role of TV the role of TV satellitessatellites, , computers, and computers, and the Internet; the Internet; the role of the role of propagandapropaganda in influencing in influencing the US to enter the US to enter WWIWWI

the rise ofthe rise of mass mediamass media..........

emergence of emergence of the the consumer consumer cultureculture

EconomicsEconomics: the : the influence of advertisinginfluence of advertising on consumer choices on consumer choices

Ideas for Social Studies:Ideas for Social Studies:

Analyzing editorial cartoonsAnalyzing editorial cartoons Examining historical photographsExamining historical photographs Studying past/present propagandaStudying past/present propaganda Understanding bias/stereotypesUnderstanding bias/stereotypes History of American broadcastingHistory of American broadcasting Understanding US communications Understanding US communications

policypolicy Analyzing political advertisingAnalyzing political advertising

Critical InquiryCritical Inquiry Who created/paid for the message?Who created/paid for the message? Why was it produced? (purpose)Why was it produced? (purpose) For whom? (target audience)For whom? (target audience) What techniques are used?What techniques are used? What lifestyles are promoted?What lifestyles are promoted? Who benefits?Who benefits? What does it mean?What does it mean? Who/what might be omitted and why?Who/what might be omitted and why? Does it contain bias/stereotypes?Does it contain bias/stereotypes?

One of the casualties of war is truthOne of the casualties of war is truth

Author unknownAuthor unknown

Reuters Recalls Altered PhotoReuters Recalls Altered Photo& Fires the Photographer& Fires the Photographer

PhotoShop OriginalPhotoShop Original

Edward R. MurrowEdward R. Murrowin the classroomin the classroom

Buchenwald

Political AdvertisingPolitical Advertising

Research shows (voters) get more Research shows (voters) get more information on the issues from information on the issues from political ads on TV than they get political ads on TV than they get from TV news or the debatesfrom TV news or the debates

Language of TV/FilmLanguage of TV/Film

CamerasCameras LightingLighting Set DesignSet Design Sound & MusicSound & Music Editing ( post production)Editing ( post production) Makeup, Wardrobe, ExpressionsMakeup, Wardrobe, Expressions

ExamplesExamples

Cell phone Cell phone adad scriptscript

Visa Visa adadNotice: settting, time of day, Notice: settting, time of day, expressions, music, subtextexpressions, music, subtext

Let’s watch some ads:Let’s watch some ads:

Focus for viewing:Focus for viewing:Setting Target audienceSetting Target audience

Newspaper ActivityNewspaper Activity

Each group gets a newspaperEach group gets a newspaper Using TV news script format, Using TV news script format,

write a 30 second news promotionwrite a 30 second news promotion using:using:1 international news story1 international news story1 national news story1 national news story1 regional or local news story1 regional or local news story1 weather or sports 1 weather or sports

Media literacy In The Social Media literacy In The Social Studies Classroom:Studies Classroom:

Applying 21Applying 21stst Century CenturyLiteracy & InquiryLiteracy & Inquiry

Frank W. BakerFrank W. Baker

Media educatorMedia educator

fbaker1346@aol.comfbaker1346@aol.com