Critical Thinking About Media: Critical Thinking About Media: Media Literacy Skills All Media Literacy Skills All
Students NeedStudents NeedFrank W.BakerFrank W.Baker
media educatormedia [email protected]@aol.com
Media Literacy ClearinghouseMedia Literacy Clearinghousehttp://www.frankwbaker.comhttp://www.frankwbaker.com
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101
What do we want What do we want students to know about students to know about
the media?the media?
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101 “ “It would be a breach of our duties as It would be a breach of our duties as
teachers for us to ignore the rhetorical teachers for us to ignore the rhetorical power of visual forms of media in power of visual forms of media in combination with text and sound…combination with text and sound…the the critical media literacy we need to teach critical media literacy we need to teach must include evaluation of these must include evaluation of these mediamedia, lest our students fail to see, , lest our students fail to see, understand, and learn to harness understand, and learn to harness the persuasive power of visual media.”the persuasive power of visual media.”
NCTE Resolution on Visual/Media LiteracyNCTE Resolution on Visual/Media Literacy
IRA/NCTE Standards for the IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language ArtsEnglish Language Arts
6. Students apply knowledge of language 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions, structure, language conventions, media media techniquestechniques, figurative language, and genre , figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.nonprint texts.
8. Students use a variety of technological and 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, databases, computer networks, videovideo) to ) to gather and synthesize information and to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.create and communicate knowledge.
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101Conventional:Conventional:
Read --------------- Write Read --------------- Write
Contemporary:Contemporary: Analyze-------------Produce Analyze-------------Produce
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101 87% of U.S. teens between 12 and 17 years 87% of U.S. teens between 12 and 17 years
of age use the Internet; just 66% of adults do of age use the Internet; just 66% of adults do so; so;
81% of teen Internet users play games 81% of teen Internet users play games online;online;
76% get news online76% get news online;; 51% of teen Internet users say they go online 51% of teen Internet users say they go online
on a daily basis; on a daily basis; 43% have made purchases online; and 43% have made purchases online; and 31% use the Internet to get health info31% use the Internet to get health infoSource: “Teens and Technology: Youth Are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Source: “Teens and Technology: Youth Are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Mobile Nation” (2005) & "Life Online: Teens and Technology and the World to Come," (2006)Mobile Nation” (2005) & "Life Online: Teens and Technology and the World to Come," (2006)
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101 “ “Our students are growing up in a Our students are growing up in a
world saturated with media world saturated with media messages…yet, they messages…yet, they (and their (and their teachers)teachers) receive little or no training receive little or no training in the skills of analyzing or re-in the skills of analyzing or re-evaluating these messages, many of evaluating these messages, many of which make use of language, moving which make use of language, moving images, music, sound effects.”images, music, sound effects.” Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101 American Association of School LibrariesAmerican Association of School Libraries International Reading AssociationInternational Reading Association Natl. Board of Prof. Teaching StandardsNatl. Board of Prof. Teaching Standards National Council for Teachers of EnglishNational Council for Teachers of English National Middle School AssociationNational Middle School Association Partnership for 21Partnership for 21stst Century Skills Century Skills White House Office of National Drug Control White House Office of National Drug Control
PolicyPolicy
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101
What is media literacy?What is media literacy?
OROR
Why should your students become Why should your students become media literate?media literate?
Media literacy is concerned with helping students Media literacy is concerned with helping students develop an informed and critical understanding develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of mass media, the of the nature of mass media, the techniquestechniques used used by them, and the by them, and the impact of these techniquesimpact of these techniques. More . More specifically, it is education that aims to increase specifically, it is education that aims to increase the students' understanding and enjoyment of the students' understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, how they how the media work, how they produce meaningproduce meaning, , how they are organized, and how they how they are organized, and how they construct construct realityreality. Media literacy also aims to provide . Media literacy also aims to provide students with the ability to create media products. students with the ability to create media products. (Source: Media Literacy Resource Guide, (Source: Media Literacy Resource Guide, Ministry of Education Ontario, 1997)Ministry of Education Ontario, 1997)
What media literacy is:What media literacy is: Set of skills, knowledge, & abilitiesSet of skills, knowledge, & abilities Awareness of personal media habitsAwareness of personal media habits Understanding of how media worksUnderstanding of how media works Appreciation of media’s power/influenceAppreciation of media’s power/influence Ability to discern; critically question/viewAbility to discern; critically question/view How meaning is created in mediaHow meaning is created in media Healthy skepticismHealthy skepticism Access to mediaAccess to media Ability to produce & create mediaAbility to produce & create media
video
Media literacy in SC ELAMedia literacy in SC ELAElementaryElementary MiddleMiddle High SchoolHigh School
Recognize Recognize details, setting, details, setting, characters and characters and cause and effect cause and effect in material from in material from nonprint sourcesnonprint sources
Demonstrate Demonstrate the ability to the ability to distinguish distinguish between fact between fact and opinion, to and opinion, to compare and compare and contrast info contrast info and ideas, and and ideas, and make inferences make inferences in regard to in regard to what is viewedwhat is viewed
Analyze Analyze nonprint sources nonprint sources for accuracy, for accuracy, bias, intent and bias, intent and purposepurpose
Media literacy in SC ELAMedia literacy in SC ELADraft of Revised ELA Standards Draft of Revised ELA Standards
(2006-2007)(2006-2007)
Standard 1Standard 1The student will read and The student will read and
comprehend print and nonprint texts.comprehend print and nonprint texts.
Standard 7Standard 7The student will access and use The student will access and use
information for a variety of purposesinformation for a variety of purposes
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101
““If video is how we are If video is how we are communicating and persuading communicating and persuading in this new century, why aren't in this new century, why aren't more students writing more students writing screenplays as part of their screenplays as part of their schoolwork?“schoolwork?“ Heidi Hayes JacobHeidi Hayes Jacob Ed Consultant Ed Consultant
Media literacy 101Media literacy 101
“ “Movies, advertisements, Movies, advertisements, and all other visual media and all other visual media are tools teachers need to are tools teachers need to use and media we must use and media we must master if we are to master if we are to maintain our credibility in maintain our credibility in the coming years.”the coming years.”
Jim Burke, fromJim Burke, fromThe English Teacher’s CompanionThe English Teacher’s Companion
Core ConceptsCore Concepts All media are constructedAll media are constructed Media are constructed using unique Media are constructed using unique
languages with their own set of ruleslanguages with their own set of rules Media convey values and points of viewMedia convey values and points of view Audiences negotiate meaningAudiences negotiate meaning Media = Power + ProfitMedia = Power + Profit
Source: Center for Media Literacy www.medialit.orgSource: Center for Media Literacy www.medialit.org
All media are All media are constructedconstructed
What is this?What is this?
No, this is a PHOTOGRAPH of a horse.No, this is a PHOTOGRAPH of a horse.
Media are constructed Media are constructed using unique languages using unique languages
with their own set of ruleswith their own set of rulesLanguage of filmLanguage of film
Camera Camera Lights LightsSound/MusicSound/Music Sets Sets Editing Editing
Media convey values and Media convey values and points-of-viewpoints-of-view
Audiences negotiate Audiences negotiate meaningmeaning
Media = Power + ProfitMedia = Power + Profit Big 6 MediaBig 6 Media
FOX (News Corp) FOX (News Corp) NBC (GE) NBC (GE) CBS CBS ABC (Disney)ABC (Disney)CNN (AOL/Time Warner)CNN (AOL/Time Warner)VIACOMVIACOM
What are the implications/ramifications if only 6 What are the implications/ramifications if only 6 companies control magazines, newspapers, TV, companies control magazines, newspapers, TV, radio, newspapers, Internet, film, etc.?radio, newspapers, Internet, film, etc.?
Advertiser~AudienceAdvertiser~AudienceThis programThis programis brought tois brought toyou by theyou by thesponsor.sponsor.
You areYou arebrought tobrought tothe sponsorthe sponsorby the by the program.program.
Critical thinking questionsCritical thinking questions Who produces/pays for media?Who produces/pays for media? For what purpose(s) was it made?For what purpose(s) was it made? For which ‘target audience(s)’?For which ‘target audience(s)’? What What techniquestechniques attract attention; attract attention;
increase believability?increase believability? Who or what is omitted and why?Who or what is omitted and why? How do we know what it means?How do we know what it means? Does it contain bias or stereotypes?Does it contain bias or stereotypes?
TechniquesTechniques
TechniquesTechniques
TechniquesTechniques
well known case well known case of of the digital the digital creation of creation of a a magazine cover magazine cover featuring a featuring a woman who woman who does does not exist not exist
TechniquesTechniques
TechniquesTechniques
TechniquesTechniques
TechniquesTechniques
The box of Oreos was not in the original NBC “Friends:”The box of Oreos was not in the original NBC “Friends:”it was placed there virtually for DVD/syndication exposureit was placed there virtually for DVD/syndication exposure
Critical Thinking QuestionsCritical Thinking Questions Who produces/pays for media?Who produces/pays for media? For what purpose(s) was it made?For what purpose(s) was it made? For which ‘target audience(s)’?For which ‘target audience(s)’? What What techniquestechniques attract attention; attract attention;
increase believability?increase believability? Who or what is omitted and why?Who or what is omitted and why? How do we know what it means?How do we know what it means? Does it contain bias or stereotypes?Does it contain bias or stereotypes?
Applying critical thinking Applying critical thinking questions to examplesquestions to examples
Visual LiteracyVisual Literacy
Languages of TV-FilmLanguages of TV-Film CameraCamera LightsLights Audio (including music)Audio (including music) Post production (editing, SFX)Post production (editing, SFX) Set designSet design Actors: wardrobe; expressionActors: wardrobe; expression
Deconstructing Deconstructing CommercialsCommercials
Half of the room watchesHalf of the room watches the other half closes their eyesthe other half closes their eyes Make a list of what you heard/sawMake a list of what you heard/saw
Cell phone Cell phone commercialcommercial ScriptScript
The Language of filmThe Language of film
To Kill A MockingbirdTo Kill A MockingbirdOpening creditsOpening credits (symbolism) (symbolism)The Pocket WatchThe Pocket WatchA Sound In The Night A Sound In The Night (fear)(fear)
Tuck EverlastingTuck Everlastingwoods scene woods scene (music)(music)
Tobacco advertisingTobacco advertising
Activity
Frank BakerFrank Bakermedia educatormedia educator
[email protected]@aol.com
Media Literacy ClearinghouseMedia Literacy Clearinghouse http://www.frankwbaker.comhttp://www.frankwbaker.com
Critical Thinking About Media: Critical Thinking About Media: Media Literacy Skills All Media Literacy Skills All
Students NeedStudents Need
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