QUESTION: Media Literacy Curriculum/Syllabus

[camille napier bernstein]

Hey, folks,

I am proposing a semester-long media literacy course for our h.s.  I have sketched out some ideas, based on my own studies and experience, but I would love to peek at some syllabi or overviews of teachers who offer/have offered a similar course/unit.

We'll be in a 1:1 environment, and I'm comfy with tech, so bring it!

Advice, if you wanna share it, is fine too.

Thanks,

Camille

[Frank W. Baker]

I have some definite ideas and recommendations, but would like to know what state you're teaching in, so I can make some recommendations based on your state's standards.   Frank Baker

[camille napier bernstein]

Hi, Frank,

Thanks!  I am in Massachusetts.  We're moving to the common core, if that helps.

 

Camille

[Dianna Morton]

Hi Camille-- I teach in Massachusetts and am getting very familiar with the new curriculum-- I have been teaching a HS media lit course for the past six years at Cape Cod Tech-- Junioir and Senior students. I have a written curriculumn, but I would rather speak with you and share/discuss. Where are you at in Massachsuetts? My personal email is [e-mail]. My students spoke at the ACME conference in Boston in April (2011) along with Ben Boyinton's students. If you email me, I;ll send you my phone # and we can chat. Good luck! Dianna Morton

[camille napier bernstein]

Dianna/Frank,

Below are some ideas I sketched out for another group member who asked for more details on my plans.

I will email you, Dianna, and maybe we can talk this weekend.  Thanks for being so generous!

--

Although I recognize the limitations of a semester-long elective (especially since the expectation is little homework in electives), the course idea is a result of my frustration with our current English curriculum: heavy on the classics, still organized like a college English major's plan of studies: lost of close reading, no attendance to new media, etc, etc....  I am given lots of freedom, but there's just so little time, so....

The syllabus is inspired by a reference to Condorcet's 1794 treatise, "The Future Progress of the Human Mind," which blew me away in its contemporary application.  Here's a tiny snippet about the need for education in a democracy:

"From such time onwards the inhabitants of a single country will no longer be distinguished by their use of a crude or refined language; they will be able to govern themselves according to their own knowledge; they will no longer be limited to a mechanical knowledge of the procedures of the arts or of professional routine; they will no longer depend for every trivial piece of business, every insignificant matter of instruction on clever men who rule over them in virtue of their necessary superiority; and so they will attain a real equality, since differences in enlightenment or talent can no longer raise a barrier between men who understand each other's feelings, ideas and language, some of whom may wish to be taught by others but, to do so, will have no need to be controlled by them, or who may wish to confide the care of government to the ablest of their number but will not be compelled to yield them absolute power in a spirit of blind confidence."

I want to divide the syllabus into three sections, I think, exploring news, entertainment, and advertising for each of the following:

• Media: modes & messages: the products of media and how they are constructed; the language/signs/symbols of messages
• Media: makers & motives: the author of messages, their purposes, and what might be left out
• Media: meaning & mindfulness: the audience and what it brings to the messages; finally, the tools to be deliberate in our choices to consume/create/be convinced

I want the course, ultimately, to be positive -- not just media-bashing -- by providing students with tools to be consumers AND creators of media, probably through a semester-long project creating a variety of messages in a public relations campaign on an issue of importance to them (policy, cultural issue, local issue). 

Hope that helps -- and that you can help me!

Thanks!

Camille

[Dani Aldrich]

I just added a lot of ideas for teaching propaganda on my Delicious page if you want to take a look. Go to:http://delicious.com/missaldrich and click on My Stacks

[Karl Steinkamp]

Camille,

I have had the opportunity to teach media literacy in HS for over ten years. I started in the late 90's be creating an online media lit class for VHS (Virtual High School) called "The Gods of CNN: The Power of Modern Media". I no longer teach the course but it is still offered by VHS.

Over the years my class has changed dramatically. I now teach it in a topical format with the following topics

1. What is Media Literacy

2. News Media (Newspaper, TV News, online news, Photo literacy, Bias)

3. Propaganda

4. Advertising

5. Social impact of advertising (tobacco, alcohol, consumption, etc)

6. Movies and TV

7. Internet

Taking the definition of media literacy (The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms) all the topics have the students doing assignments that involve 1) access - how to find and use the media 2) analyzing the media of that topic 3) evaluating the media of that topic 4) creating media related to that topic.

Simply the course should be a year long course but I have to be okay with it as a semester long course. Fortunately I teach at a school where media literacy has been made a graduation requirement (I am also the head of the school and convinced the school board to make it a grad requirement :-)

I am currently trying to put the class in a format / packet that I can give out to other schools and people interested in bringing media literacy to their schools. I am hoping to have that ready some time in the spring.

Have a blast teaching the course. It is the most fun you will have as a teacher (IMHO).

 

Karl Steinkamp

Dalat Int'l School

[camille napier bernstein]

Karl,

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement, and I envy your power!  :)

I used to teach for VHS waaaay back in 2003 until 2005!  It was a crazy time -- ugly interface and weird mix of kids (a dumping ground for some; extra achievement for others) -- but I value the experience so much.

I wish I could offer a year-long course, but access is important at our school, so I have to offer it to a wider range of kids.

 

Camille

[Karl Steinkamp]

I taught with VHS from 98 - 2001. I really enjoyed it and it was one of the best professional development experiences I have ever had. I would love to have you send me your syllabus once you have it together. Feel free to shoot me any specific questions you might have. Every year I learn new things about media literacy that I incorporate into my class so I would enjoy seeing what you will be doing.

 

Karl

[camille napier bernstein]

Whoo-hoo!  My proposal was approved!!  In spring 2013 I get to teach the course!

[Karl Steinkamp]

Awesome news. Is it spring of 2013 or 2012? Either way that is wonderful news.

[camille napier bernstein]

It's 2013!  Courses are already established through Fall 2012, and the Spring iteration is a test.  I am hopeful it will run and be popular enough to teach it both semesters -- maybe even two sections!

 

Thanks for the support.

Camille

[Ryan Goble]

Camille - just saw this - COGRATS - so excited for you!  Ry:)