QUESTION: What do you need in order to teach media literacy?

[Frank W. Baker]

Hello, library/media specialists:
I would like to hear from you regarding this question.
In order to teach media literacy, what do you need?
I know, for example, you would need training, and you would need to feel comfortable understanding how to teach it...and you would probably want to have some texts (print and non-print) in your professional collection as well as some in your student collection.
That being said: what ELSE do you need, if you were asked to take on teaching media literacy?
Please feel free to email me off of the NING:  [e-mail]  if you are more comfortable.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Frank Baker

[Nicole E. Line]

Great question!

I think I would need to not only have texts, but I would have to share billboards, radio, television, art, product placement, propaganda, music, and Internet. I think I would have to have specific examples of stereotypes, propaganda, hidden messages, and healthy messages. As well as the effects of these messages on the person.

I think I would be very comfortable teaching a course or intertwined in curriculum. I'm confident that I have already some resources in my collection.

Probably something that is also needed is time. Where and when would this be taught?

[Frank W. Baker]

Nicole
thanks for responding. I agree with you: an effective text would provide examples of the media and techniques...as well as a connection to the standards that each falls into it...

When you asked when and where it could be taught: my thought is that it could be easily incorporated into any existing discipline...For example, if a social studies teacher used a photograph of an historical event, he/she might ALSO dive into a brief "visual literacy" discussion/deconstruction/analysis..

Frank

[Nicole E. Line]

Right. I love to encourage teachers to incorporate this into their curriculum and sometimes I have to hope it does. And I take every opportunity when I have the captive audience to share information.

I wanted to also add that media literacy also includes copyright and fair use issues. So I think teachers and students need educated in those areas as well.

[Kelly Farrow]

I think a somewhat structured series of lesson plans would be most helpful. So many people take this task on differently and focus on different things that it would be awesome to have something guiding our lessons for each age group, starting all the way down to kindergarten. Obviously, people could tweak things, add things, and leave things out, but some kind of suggested guide from an experienced professional would really help.

[roger wilcox]

i would like to have a database of material;
movie, news & tv clips, commercials & print ads,
web memes, blog, facebook & myspace screen shots-
and all of it cross referenced & tagged.
and i would like it updated-
the original nmmlp dvds have great material
but they are dated and kids need newer stuff to connect to the old.

and while i am dreaming-
the tags would also link to basic & advanced curriculum ideas.

[Frank W. Baker]

fyi, take a look at this, from my website
www.frankwbaker.com/streaming_ml

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Frank

[Kelly Farrow]

More on this topic: An article on best practices in teaching media literacy (see attached)