Media Literacy

Alisonjane08. Media_Literacy_Brain. Novemeber 19,2008 [Online Image] 

Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2dmSrOL

What makes media literacy important? Why should our children know about it and why should teachers be teaching about it in school? To put it simply, media literacy connects the curriculum of the classroom to the curriculum of home. Through frameworks and structures developed by teachers at school, children can learn to excitedly discover the world and engage in open-ended inquiry in all of their environments.

There are several benefits of media literacy that I will discuss. Firstly, in this day and age technology has become an essential part of our daily functions. Incorporating media literacy curriculum in the classroom allows for students or digital learners to become wise consumers of the media. Students learn to manage their personal information appropriately while also learning to responsibly produce and project their ideas using the Internet or global media. Giving that we exist in a media-saturated world, it is also important for students to build their processing skills, rather than just content knowledge. All media are constructions and they do not simply reflect reality. Processing skills allows for students to analyze and understand any message in the media, ultimately providing students with important analytical skills for life.

Andre Hernandez. Media Literacy [Online Image]

Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2eeClcW  

Media literacy also creates an enriched environment for learning by helping students to connect what they are learning with real life. It also functions as a common approach for critical thinking that once learned, can be kept and applied for life. In terms of language and literacy development, media literacy would help enable my students to increase their ability and proficiency when communicating their thoughts. It also creates more platforms for students to communicate their own ideas and to share their thoughts and ideas in several different ways. 

As a teacher candidate I can understand how incorporating media literacy in my classroom provides an opportunity to integrate all subject areas, which ultimately helps students with cross-disciplinary learning and comprehension. Also I can recognize how media literacy allows for me to produce fresh and contemporary media content, which ultimately engages the students and creates a fun and enriching educational environment. It also transforms teaching dynamics by allowing the teacher to step aside and guide the students as they explore and discover, allowing students to transform and personalize their own learning experience.

Jason Rhode. Social Media Tools. December 08, 2009 [Online Image]

Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2dLKi7x 

I also recognize the need for media literacy to be a mandatory component in curriculum development. Media literacy needs to be seen as a priority and not an option. It can be sustainable over time if there are consistent frameworks that can be applied from grade to grade and teacher to teacher. Through this reinforcement and repetition, students would then be able to really internalize and apply the skills they require to successfully navigate the global media culture in which they are currently living. This is also important because it would ensure that all students, regardless of school, teacher or grade, would gain the same vital knowledge.

By teaching media literacy we are not only benefiting our students, we are benefiting all of society. Teachers need to encourage students to be respectful digital citizens so that they can successfully participate and contribute to online public discussions and debate. Without media literacy students become, "... drown[ed] in information but starved for knowledge." (John Naisbitt). 

As a teacher candidate I recognize that my students of today are the future and hope of tomorrow and I will do my part in ensuring that they have the knowledge and skills to succeed in a rich and diverse world. 

Resources 

Center for Media Literacy: 10 Benefits of Media Literacy Education

 Retrieved form: http://www.medialit.org/reading-room/10-benefits-media-literacy-education