Media Literacy, PK-12
Tech Tip Tuesday (October 3, 2023)
What is media literacy?
Media literacy helps people of all ages develop critical thinking and communication skills needed to interpret media messages in the digital age. It involves learning to deconstruct media and understand things like target audience, representations, persuasive techniques, and underlying statements. Media literate people can identify misinformation and bias, verify sources, and recognize missing voices or skewed perspectives.
Media creation is also a component that allows people to gain technical skills and find their own voices.
Media literacy fosters resilience against harmful content and behaviors like advertising pressure, propaganda, stereotypes, or conspiracy theories. It empowers people to take action by creating positive counter-messages and advocating for representation.
Media literacy education is essential for kids and teens who have grown up immersed in modern media. It gives them tools to navigate this landscape. People with media literacy skills can make informed choices, think independently, and participate thoughtfully in a modern society filled with 'noise' from many outlets.
PK-2
Although complex topics such as bias, stereotypes, and propaganda are far too complex to use at this age, you can begin to teach about questioning WHY we see something and what I should do when something seems off.
There are some great read-aloud books for building skills on media literacy, but one of my favorites is the The Very Inappropriate Word by Jim Tobin. In the story, Michael is passionate about collecting unique words of all sizes, but one day he encounters an inappropriate word that his friend discourages him from using, though he's tempted to give it a try anyway.
Another popular and effective read is Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex where the author explains the challenge of distinguishing between facts and opinions, emphasizing the importance of respecting differing opinions while upholding the value of provable facts.
Need some more resources?
Check out PBS LearningMedia resources on how you can help build a foundation for digital and media literacy!
3-5
Critical thinking skills are crucial for grades 3-5 students as they provide the intellectual tools necessary to navigate a complex and ever-changing world. These skills empower young learners to analyze information, solve problems, and make informed decisions, enabling them to excel academically across various subjects. Moreover, critical thinking fosters independent learning, creativity, and effective communication, setting the stage for a lifetime of intellectual curiosity and adaptability. In an increasingly information-rich and interconnected society, these skills are essential for academic success and for preparing students to be active, informed, and capable participants in their future education and careers.
Project Look Sharp applies those critical thinking skills simply and easily to crosscutting CCSS & NGSS standards for any classroom.
Although this resource is in the Gr. 3-5 segment, they have over 500 premade lessons for grades K-12 at no cost to an educator or institution.
6-8
Media literacy is crucial for middle schoolers as they begin to engage with social media. It equips them with the skills to critically assess and interpret the vast array of information, images, and messages they encounter online, helping them distinguish between credible sources and misinformation.
Additionally, it fosters a sense of responsibility and digital citizenship, encouraging them to use social media platforms as tools for communication, learning, and positive engagement rather than succumbing to potential risks or manipulative content.
Newseum is a great K-12 resource, but specfically pairs well with middle school engagement levels. They have over 1000 different lesson pertains to the First Amendment and how to be media literate in a modern society.
9-12
High schoolers need media literacy skills the most (not that you just start then) because they are at a critical stage of development where their exposure to a wide range of media, including social media, news, and online content, is at its peak. T
They are more likely to encounter complex and potentially misleading information, which can have significant consequences for their academic, social, and personal lives. It enables them to evaluate sources for credibility, recognize biases, understand the persuasive techniques used in advertising and propaganda, and make informed decisions about what they consume and share.
In an era of information overload and digital manipulation, media literacy is crucial for high schoolers to develop the ability to think critically, protect themselves from misinformation, and become responsible, informed citizens in a rapidly changing and interconnected world.
The News Literacy Project, with their classroom product Checkology, words on creating an unbiased circumstance of truth versus misinformation in our media and provides teachers with lesson plans and resources for free to better teach what is currently addressing them in a constantly shifting world.
Brian Krause, Instructional Technology Coach
Email: bkrause@ltcillinois.org
Website: https://calendly.com/bkrauseltc
Phone: (815) 362-4791
Twitter: @bmkeducation
