Benefits from Implementing a Media Education Program School &

Community Wide

Kristine Paulsenkristinespaulsen@gmail.com

906 280 4115 www.TakeTheChallengeNow.net

Why has the violence increased?1. The American Medical Association2. The American Psychological Association3. The American Academy of Pediatrics

These three have looked at 30 years of research and agree that media violence is a causal factor in the violent behavior we are seeing in our children today. Viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitude and behavior.

The effects are measurable and long lasting.

Violent Video Game ResearchRepeated exposure to media violence is a stronger influence on aggressive behavior than is living in poverty, engaging in substance abuse, or having abusive parents.

–Dr. Bushman University of Michigan

Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television (S.M.A.R.T.)

The Stanford University Prevention Research Center developed the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum for 3rd or 4th grade students to reduce the negative effects of excessive TV, video and video game use.

In randomized controlled trials the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum was proven to:

• Reduce children’s TV and video game use• Reduce obesity and weight gain• Reduce aggression in class and on the

playground• Reduce children’s requests for toys

advertised on TV

The Josephson Institute of Ethics surveyed 43,321 teenagers (2010)

• 47% said they had been “bullied, teased, or taunted in a way that seriously upset them.”

• 50% said they had “bullied, teased, or taunted someone at least once.”

Children and adolescents (8- to 18-Year-Olds) spend the following amount of time daily in front of the screen:

• 7.5 hours using entertainment media• 4.5 hours watching TV• 1.5 hours on the computer• Over an hour playing video games• Less than 25 minutes per day reading books (Survey 2010 Kaiser Foundation)

Teachers and Consultants in Delta & Schoolcraft Counties developed:

A preschool - high school, media education curriculum that was inspired by the SMART curriculum. It includes lessons that are integrated into language arts, math, science, and social studies.

The Elementary Curriculum

Objective 1: Raising Awareness of TV Habits (all screens)

Lesson 1 - Awareness of TV watched yesterday

Lesson 2 - Awareness of TV watched all week

Lesson 3 - TV displaces fun activities

Lesson 4 - TV addiction-Getting ready for the T.V. Turn-off

Objective 2: TV Turn-Off

• Lesson 5 - Opening Ceremony

• Lesson 6 - Spinning Dial of Ideas

• Lesson 7 - Making SMART Choices

• Lesson 8 - Closing Ceremony

Objective 3: Staying in Control

• Lesson 9 - Understanding SMART Talk-T.V.Budget

• Lesson 10 - Portrait of a TV Zombie

• Lesson 11 - Role-Playing Solutions

• Lesson 12 - Plan Ahead for Winter Break

• Lesson 13 - Alternatives to Watching TV

Objective 4: Helping Others Reduce TV Viewing

• Lesson 14 - A letter of Encouragement

• Lesson 15 - “We Can Help” Production

• Lesson 15a - Letter to the President

• Lesson 16 - “Exploring Your World” Quilt

Effects of Media Reduction On Playground Aggression

Average of Eight Schools

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Effects of Media Reduction On Negative Classroom Behavior

K-6th Grade

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Impact of No TV on 4th Grade MEAP (Jan. 2005)

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Math Writing

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Escanaba Junior HighFirst Reaction About The Program

• Ten Days Off The Screens• At first many middle school students were

against the program• Many of the students said things like:– This is stupid– Boring– No one will do it– Violent video games are just a game– I don’t get it

Research Project• For the 8th grade students Deb Lehto presented

them with a challenge. If you don’t think this is a problem then do the research.

• Students read and researched at least four resources about media violence and their assignment was to come up with:– Four problems– Four solutions– Data– Create a PowerPoint – Campaign product

Students Took Ownership

• As they read and identified problems they came up with their own solutions.

• They said things like:– Did you know there is more ADD and ADHD then

ever before?– Did you know that parents aren’t aware of what

“stuff” is out there in “cyberspace”?– Did you know there are more obese kids then ever

before?

Change In Answers To Interview Questions

What changed your mind?– School shootings– Changes in ADD and ADHD– Brothers and sisters have calmed down with

turning off the TV– Doing the research made us aware of the

problems

Samples of High School and Elementary Students

% of 7th grade (406) students who watched more than 3 hours of TV per school day.

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% of 7th grade students who watched 1 hour or less of TV per school day.

Effects of Media Reduction On Aggressive BehaviorYouth Correctional Center

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In randomized controlled trials the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum was proven to:

Reduce children’s requests for toys advertised on TV but that’s not all TV and movies sell…..

% of 7th grade students that had smoked at least 1 cigarette during their life. (66% to 80% Decrease)

Dartmouth Medical School published the results of a 10 year study on the effects of exposure to movie smoking.

• They concluded 35% of habitual smoking in teenagers and young adults can be directly attributed to earlier exposure to movie smoking.

• Movie smoking exposure was a stronger predictor of habitual smoking than having a parent or friend who smokes.

Kids who regularly watch R-rated movies take risks ranging from alcohol abuse to violence. Prevention Science, March 2010 Dr. James Sargent, Darmouth Medical School

% of 7th grade students that had at least 1 drink of alcohol during last 30 days.

(56% to 82% Decrease)

% of 7th grade students that at least 5 drinks of alcohol within a couple hours during last 30 days.

(81% to 86% Decrease)

% of 7th grade students that had used marijuana 1 or more times during the last 30 days. (72% - 93%)

www.cmch.tv

What do students say?