Transcript Media literacy in the elementary classroom

Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
Frank Baker media educator
[email protected]
Media Literacy Clearinghouse
www.frankwbaker.com
April 11, 2007
Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”
Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
Literacy/text (in 2007) 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
and that media are also languages
Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
“From early childhood, the curriculum
should emphasize media literacy and
criticism. We learn to critique books, but if
there's one pervasive influence today, it's
television. We need to give students more
cognitive sieves so that they can sort out
the impact of TV and think about who's
telling the story? Is this authentic? Am I
being manipulated here?”
Heidi Hayes Jacobs (ASCD Ed Leadership Dec 2003/Jan 2004)
2002: Viewing added to
ELA Standards
“Every day, students come in contact with
media and technology. The challenge is to
help them make sense of it all and respond
personally, critically and creatively. The
inclusion of viewing recognizes the
powerful force of visual media in the 21st
century. Students are exposed to and, for
the most part, conversant in the world of
movies, TV, video, video games, the
Internet, and other emerging technologies.”
Media literacy SC
ELA Communication: Viewing (3rd Grade)
- Make predictions about the content of
what he/she views
- Begin recognizing details, setting,
characters, cause and effect from
nonprint sources
- Begin summarizing info he/she receives
from nonprint sources
- Make connections between nonprint
sources and prior knowledge, other
sources and the world
Media literacy SC
ELA Communication: Viewing (6th Grade)
-
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Begin analyzing nonprint sources for
accuracy, bias, intent and purpose
Begin evaluating the ways that the use
of language, the medium and the
presentation contribute to the meaning
and impact of a message
Begin evaluating the use of detail,
character, setting, cause/effect, imagery
and sound in nonprint sources
Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
Revised ELA Standards
Guiding Principle # 8
An effective English language
arts curriculum provides for
literacy in all forms of media.
Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
Multi-tasking; digital natives
Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
“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 reevaluating these messages, many of
which make use of language, moving
images, music, sound effects.”
R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004
Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
So what is “media literacy?”
Spend the next few minutes
drafting a personal definition.
video
Media literacy in the
ELA classroom
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
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Media literacy: key 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?
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 (photography)
Media incorporating images
Moving images ( non-print: TV, film)
Visual literacy
Take a look at some images
Advertising
( which incorporates images)
Understanding techniques of persuasion
Understanding signs
What are signs?
What are their purposes?
What do they say?
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
Camera angles/positions
Where is the camera?
Why is it there?
What does its angle
communicate to the
audience?
Teaching with/about film
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
"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?“
Introducing scripts & terms
Every script includes:
AUDIO (everything you hear)
VIDEO (everything you see)
Examples: commercial
 Cell
phone ad
 Cell phone script
 Toy Ad
#1
 Toy Ad #2
 Toy ad analysis worksheet
Examples: Film
 Read
the screenplay example
 Read
the first two pages from
“Because of Winn-Dixie”
 Storyboard
POV
this scene from your group’s
Example: Film
Grocery Store scene
Storyboard