Engaging Students With Critical Thinking & Media Literacy: 21st Century Skills Frank Baker media educator [email protected] Media Literacy Clearinghouse

Engaging Students With Engaging Students With Critical Thinking & Media Literacy: Critical Thinking & Media Literacy:

21st Century Skills21st Century Skills

Frank Baker Frank Baker media educatormedia [email protected]@aol.com

Media Literacy ClearinghouseMedia Literacy Clearinghousewww.frankwbaker.comwww.frankwbaker.com

March 12, 2007March 12, 2007

Engaging Students With Critical Thinking & Engaging Students With Critical Thinking & Media Literacy: 21st Century SkillsMedia Literacy: 21st Century Skills

With the advent and popularity of YouTube, With the advent and popularity of YouTube, Current TV, and similar venues, young Current TV, and similar venues, young people have become media producers.people have become media producers. DIY (do it yourself) DIY (do it yourself)

Multitasking “digital natives”


““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 receive little or no training in the skills of or no training in the skills of analyzing or re-evaluating these analyzing or re-evaluating these messages, many of which make use messages, many of which make use of language, moving images, music, of language, moving images, music, sound effects.” sound effects.” Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004Source: R.Hobbs, Journal Adult & Adolescent Literacy, February 2004


"With an ever-increasing range of media "With an ever-increasing range of media messages in so many forms, students messages in so many forms, students need to understand the process by which need to understand the process by which authors convey meaningauthors convey meaning about socially about socially constructed experience. The use of digital constructed experience. The use of digital media and popular cultural texts not only media and popular cultural texts not only stimulates young people's engagementstimulates young people's engagement, , motivation, and interest in learningmotivation, and interest in learning, but , but enables them to build a richer, more enables them to build a richer, more nuanced understanding of how texts of all nuanced understanding of how texts of all kinds work within a culture."kinds work within a culture."

Source: “Reading The Media,” R.HobbsSource: “Reading The Media,” R.Hobbs


"Today's students need to be "Today's students need to be critical critical thinkers, problem solvers and effective thinkers, problem solvers and effective communicatorscommunicators who are proficient in both who are proficient in both core subjects and new 21st century skills. I core subjects and new 21st century skills. I urge educators, business and community urge educators, business and community leaders and policymakers to work together leaders and policymakers to work together to create a 21st century skills initiative for to create a 21st century skills initiative for every school district in America. We owe every school district in America. We owe our school children nothing less." our school children nothing less."


““Students will be able to use technology Students will be able to use technology tools (e.g. multimedia authoring, tools (e.g. multimedia authoring, presentation, Web tools, digital cameras, presentation, Web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the for audiences inside and outside the classroom.”classroom.”


““It would be a breach of our duties asIt would be a breach of our duties asteachers for us to ignore the rhetoricalteachers for us to ignore the rhetoricalpower of visual forms of media inpower of visual forms of media incombination with text and sound..thecombination with text and sound..thecritical media literacy we need to teachcritical media literacy we need to teachmust include evaluation of these mediamust include evaluation of these media,,lest our students fail to see, understand, andlest our students fail to see, understand, andlearn to harness the persuasive power oflearn to harness the persuasive power ofvisual media.”visual media.”

NTCE Resolution on Visual LiteracyNTCE Resolution on Visual Literacy


““We are faced with theWe are faced with theconsequences of notconsequences of notteaching our children toteaching our children todecode the content. Thedecode the content. Thepersuasiveness of thepersuasiveness of theInternet will lead to moreInternet will lead to moreand more studentsand more studentspotentially beingpotentially beingmanipulated by the media”manipulated by the media”

Alan NovemberAlan Novemberauthor:author:

Empowering Students With TechnologyEmpowering Students With Technology


Recommendation:Recommendation:Becoming smarter about new Becoming smarter about new sources of information.sources of information.

““In an age of overflowing In an age of overflowing information and information and proliferating media, kids proliferating media, kids need to rapidly process need to rapidly process what's coming at them what's coming at them and distinguish between and distinguish between what‘s reliable and what what‘s reliable and what isn't.”isn't.”

Dec. 10, 2006

December 10, 2006


"In school, we spend "In school, we spend 13 years on reading 13 years on reading and writing. That's and writing. That's great, but how great, but how many years do we many years do we spend on media spend on media literacy? It's literacy? It's virtually zero. It virtually zero. It seems like a missedseems like a missed

Dr. David Thornburg,Dr. David Thornburg, Senior fellow of the Senior fellow of the

Congressional Institute for Congressional Institute for the Futurethe Future

opportunityopportunity."."


What is “media literacy?”What is “media literacy?”

Take a few minutes to draft a definition.Take a few minutes to draft a definition.

Consider its relevance in your Consider its relevance in your

curriculum area.curriculum area.


"Media literacy is concerned with helping "Media literacy is concerned with helping students develop an students develop an informed and critical informed and critical understanding of the nature of mass media, understanding of the nature of mass media, the techniques used by them, and the impact the techniques used by them, and the impact of these techniquesof these techniques. More specifically, it is . More specifically, it is education that aims to increase the students' education that aims to increase the students' understanding and enjoyment of how the understanding and enjoyment of how the media work, how they produce meaning, how media work, how they produce meaning, how they are organized, and how they construct they are organized, and how they construct realityreality. Media literacy also aims to provide . Media literacy also aims to provide students with the ability to create media students with the ability to create media products. " products. " Media Literacy Resource Guide, Ministry of Education OntarioMedia Literacy Resource Guide, Ministry of Education Ontario


““A growing body of research suggests A growing body of research suggests that media literacy instruction that media literacy instruction improves improves student reading, viewing, and listening student reading, viewing, and listening comprehension of print, audio, and comprehension of print, audio, and videotexts; message analysis and videotexts; message analysis and interpretation; and writing skillsinterpretation; and writing skills. As . As students progress, they develop students progress, they develop transferable analytical tools for learning transferable analytical tools for learning and gain concrete connections between and gain concrete connections between the curriculum and their experiences the curriculum and their experiences outside of school.”outside of school.”

Media Matters, Access Learning, March 2005Media Matters, Access Learning, March 2005


“ “Movies, advertisements, Movies, advertisements, and all other visual and all other visual media are tools teachers media are tools teachers need to use and media need to use and media we must master if we we must master if we are to maintain our are to maintain our credibility in the coming credibility in the coming years.”years.”Jim Burke, fromJim Burke, from

The English Teacher’s CompanionThe English Teacher’s Companion

video

Six Key Areas ofSix Key Areas ofMedia literacy educationMedia literacy education

1. Who made this text and why? (1. Who made this text and why? (AgencyAgency) )

2. What sort of text is this? (2. What sort of text is this? (CategoryCategory) )

3. How was this text produced? (3. How was this text produced? (TechnologyTechnology))

4. How do I make sense of this text? 4. How do I make sense of this text? ((LanguageLanguage) )

5. Who is the intended audience of this text? 5. Who is the intended audience of this text? ((AudienceAudience) )

6. What does this text say about its subject? 6. What does this text say about its subject? ((RepresentationRepresentation) )

Five core concepts (U.S.)Five core concepts (U.S.)

All media are constructedAll media are constructed Media are languages with their own Media are languages with their own

set of rulesset of rules Media convey values and points of Media convey values and points of

viewview Different people experience the same Different people experience the same

media messages differentlymedia messages differently Media are concerned with power/profitMedia are concerned with power/profit

Source: Center for Media Literacy

All media are constructionsAll media are constructions

media construct/represent reality

Media use their own Media use their own languageslanguages

The Language of IMThe Language of IM

BRBBRBBe Right BackBe Right Back

PIRPIRParents In RoomParents In Room

LOLLOLLaughing out LoudLaughing out Loud

The Language of FilmThe Language of Film

CamerasCamerasLightsLightsAudio (sound, music)Audio (sound, music)EditingEditingSet DesignSet DesignCostumeCostumeActors’ expressionsActors’ expressionsMakeupMakeup

Cell phone languageCell phone language

ROAMINGROAMING(is this about deer and buffalo?)(is this about deer and buffalo?)

SMART PHONESSMART PHONES(are there dumb phones?)(are there dumb phones?)

DROPPED CALLSDROPPED CALLS(is everybody dropping their (is everybody dropping their telephones?)telephones?)

Media: values and points-of-viewMedia: values and points-of-view

Audience negotiate meaningAudience negotiate meaning

Media= Power + ProfitMedia= Power + Profit

The Big 6The Big 6

News Corp (FOX) News Corp (FOX) GE (NBC/Universal) GE (NBC/Universal)

CBS CBS Disney (ABC)Disney (ABC)

AOL/Time Warner (CNN)AOL/Time Warner (CNN)VIACOMVIACOM

Purpose of TV?Purpose of TV?

This program is brought toThis program is brought to

you by the sponsor.you by the sponsor.

Purpose of TV?Purpose of TV?

You are brought to the You are brought to the sponsor by the program.sponsor by the program.

Engaging Students With Critical Engaging Students With Critical Thinking & Media Literacy: 21st Century SkillsThinking & Media Literacy: 21st Century Skills

Revised ELA StandardsRevised ELA Standards Guiding Principle 8 Guiding Principle 8

An effective English language An effective English language arts curriculum provides for arts curriculum provides for

literacy in literacy in all forms of media.all forms of media.

Engaging Students With Critical Engaging Students With Critical Thinking & Media Literacy: 21st Century SkillsThinking & Media Literacy: 21st Century Skills

Current ELA: Communication: Viewing Grades 9-12Current ELA: Communication: Viewing Grades 9-12

Demonstrate the ability to Demonstrate the ability to make connectionsmake connections between nonprint sources and his/her between nonprint sources and his/her prior prior knowledgeknowledge, other sources and the world., other sources and the world.

Compare/contrast: Compare/contrast:

different viewpoints/treatment of a given different viewpoints/treatment of a given situation or eventsituation or event

Media literacy ideas for ELAMedia literacy ideas for ELA

Non-print texts (TV, film, music)Non-print texts (TV, film, music) Understanding bias & stereotypesUnderstanding bias & stereotypes Analyzing techniques of persuasion Analyzing techniques of persuasion

(for example– in advertising)(for example– in advertising) The language of TV/film The language of TV/film

(camera work, lighting, music)(camera work, lighting, music) Visual literacy (photography)Visual literacy (photography) Blogging; graphic novelsBlogging; graphic novels

Media literacy: Social StudiesMedia literacy: Social Studies

Analyzing editorial cartoonsAnalyzing editorial cartoons Examining historical photographsExamining historical photographs Studying past/present propagandaStudying past/present propaganda Understanding bias/stereotypesUnderstanding bias/stereotypes History of American broadcastingHistory of American broadcasting Understanding US communications Understanding US communications

policypolicy Analyzing political advertisingAnalyzing political advertising

Editorial CartoonEditorial Cartoon

Media literacy: Health EdMedia literacy: Health Ed

Body ImageBody Image Marketing/advertising of foodMarketing/advertising of food Tobacco, alcohol advertisingTobacco, alcohol advertising How media influences sex behaviorsHow media influences sex behaviors

Media literacy-critical inquiryMedia literacy-critical inquiry

WhoWho created/produced the message? created/produced the message? What was the producer’s What was the producer’s purposepurpose?? For For whose eyeballswhose eyeballs is this intended? is this intended? What What techniquestechniques are used both to: are used both to:a) attract attention b) increase believabilitya) attract attention b) increase believability Who or what might be Who or what might be omittedomitted and why? and why? Where can I go to Where can I go to verifyverify the message? the message?

Approaching media literacyApproaching media literacy

Still images (visual literacy)Still images (visual literacy)

Messages which incorporate imagesMessages which incorporate images(e.g. advertising)(e.g. advertising)

Moving images Moving images (languages of TV, film)(languages of TV, film)

Visual literacyVisual literacy

Applying the critical thinking/viewing Applying the critical thinking/viewing questions to historical and other questions to historical and other imagesimages

Images in AdvertisingImages in Advertising

Who created it?Who created it? For what purpose?For what purpose? For which audience?For which audience? Using what techniques?Using what techniques? What lifestyle is promoted?What lifestyle is promoted? Where (what publication) Where (what publication)

might you find this; why?might you find this; why? How does it make you feel?How does it make you feel? How might I change the How might I change the

message?message?

Moving images: TV & FilmMoving images: TV & Film

The languages of TV & film include:The languages of TV & film include:

CAMERACAMERA LIGHTSLIGHTS SOUNDSOUND EDITINGEDITING SET DESIGNSET DESIGN

Moving images: TVMoving images: TV

TV Commercial: TV Commercial: Cell PhonesCell Phones (audio and video) (audio and video)

Everyone listens Everyone listens (with their eyes closed) (with their eyes closed)

At the conclusion, open your eyes andAt the conclusion, open your eyes and

write down everything you HEARDwrite down everything you HEARDScript

Moving images: TVMoving images: TV

VISA commercialVISA commercial

Critical analysis & deconstructionCritical analysis & deconstruction Setting; Time of daySetting; Time of day Role of musicRole of music Facial expressions as customer Facial expressions as customer

meets cashiermeets cashier Implied message intended by VISAImplied message intended by VISA

Process of film makingProcess of film making

Would your students know the Would your students know the process of film making?process of film making?

Script or screenplayScript or screenplayStoryboardStoryboardProductionProductionPost productionPost production

Film in the classroomFilm in the classroom

"If video is how we are "If video is how we are communicating and communicating and persuading in this new persuading in this new century, why aren't century, why aren't more students writing more students writing screenplays as part of screenplays as part of their schoolwork?"their schoolwork?" Heidi Hayes JacobHeidi Hayes Jacob

Ed ConsultantEd Consultant

Film in the classroomFilm in the classroom

“Movies are a door to knowledge — knowledge of society, knowledge of history, knowledge of art…..movies (taught to) students (makes them)think critically about film and it provides them with a deeper understanding of this uniquely influential art form.”

Martin ScorseseFilm director

Moving images: filmMoving images: film

Docu-drama Novel AdaptationDocu-drama Novel AdaptationOpening techniques Opening techniques Opening

ActivityActivity

TKAM screenplay excerptTKAM screenplay excerpt

Read the opening to Read the opening to Because of Winn-DixieBecause of Winn-Dixie

In your group, storyboard this scene In your group, storyboard this scene from your POVfrom your POV

Student media productionStudent media production

AnimactionAnimaction: Anti tobacco PSA messages: Anti tobacco PSA messages

One camera video production: One camera video production: VermontVermont

WorkshopsWorkshops

Invite Frank Baker to be a part of your nextInvite Frank Baker to be a part of your next

professional development opportunity.professional development opportunity.

[email protected]@aol.com

(803) 254-8987(803) 254-8987

Media Literacy ClearinghouseMedia Literacy Clearinghouse

www.frankwbaker.comwww.frankwbaker.com

Documents

Engaging Students With Critical Thinking & Media Literacy: 21st Century Skills Frank Baker media educator [email protected] Media Literacy Clearinghouse