What is Media Literacy

What is Media Literacy?
Technology won’t replace Librarians-Librarians who know technology will. ~Nancy B. Nassar

According to the Center for Media Literacy, “Media Literacy is defined as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and communicate messages…The process of critically analyzing and learning to create one’s own messages-in print, audio, video, multimedia with emphasis on the learning and teaching of these skills through using mass media texts in primarily school-based contexts.”

As a teacher and future librarian, I am concerned about the influence of the media on our students. There is a problem when families who cannot afford a $5.00 museum trip but are able to afford a $100 Nike sneakers.  How do schools create a hook for students who are influenced and attracted to the perceived life of movie stars, sports figures and the like?  I am not sure what constitute an effective Media Literacy program but I know that we have to engage in a discussion to incorporate  and fund activities that will prepare students to compete in the twenty-first century.

Oh! Have you all seen the life-like posters that ALA produced called "Celebrity Reads" @ the library, featuring celebrities reading books with children or holding a book?  These posters are really great, especially when you visit a library and see your favorite celebrity holding a book with a big smile on their faces.  This is a "Wow effect" with my students. 

I see the efforts that Brooklyn Public Libraries have made and will continue to make to entice, lure and attract youngsters to the library.  I was present at a Manga workshop at the Brooklyn Public in Spring 2008, conducted by a Pratt Grad and heard the conversations, listened to the buzz and saw the interested look on youngsters faces as they waited for Manga Mania. Great attendance and workshop that educated me on Graphic Novels and Manga Mania. The shelves in the YA section invite students to browse and mess up their displays. Great and welcome effect. 

When media literacy is presented, some teachers don't have a clue on how to meld media literacy and critical literacy with their daily classroom practices. A few years ago, teachers were required to live in the same neighborhood that they worked in so that they would be more familiar with the community's culture and educational values. People change and rules change but the point is that teachers/librarians must learn about the things and issues that turn kids on and work to capture that culture of users and producers the best way they can.  

There are schools that have wireless connectivity, desktops and laptops and all the amenities of a state-of the-art technology program, and are still not living up to their school's glorious mission statements of educating the whole child or preparing students for the twenty-first century, nor are they fulfilling the goals and objectives set forth in their school education plan. 

As a point of information, many schools receive classroom sets of  the Daily News and the New York Times but some teachers don't quite know how to incorporate aspects of the newspaper in their integrated programs.

Speaking of Media Literacy and newspapers, what do you all think about the satirical fiasco with the Post? Is this is a teachable moment?  

I am very saddened about the Dalton student that committed suicide? What do you say to students on Monday when school resumes?  

Media Literacy to me is a school wide program that require training, preparation, creativity, observation, reflection, student-centered learning with a multi-path progression.  Most importantly, schools must engage in a paradigm shift and schedule appropriate funding to libraries that will better equipped teachers with the resources that will enable students to compete in the twenty-first century. 

What is a Medium?

My discussion group consisted of Emily, Laurie, Jennifer, Suki and myself.  We focused our attention on finding a definition for the word "medium". We defined medium as the delivery mechanism to the content.  We also discussed the changes in relationships according to the mediums that are used.  

Today, we are inundated with information from a great many mediums and management of that information can be overwhelming.  In the article "The Anxiety of Absolescence" article stated that "what has changed in the age of electronic media is not the book per se but the way that books can be read now."  I agree with this statement and for me the feel of a book as I read my favorite novel is absolutely different from viewing text on a screen.  Information is moving at such a rapid speed that the book you've just read will soon become a movie or before a movie is released, pirates on the street can provide you with a bootlegged copy.  Imagine that!

In my line of work, gathering information serves best with multi mediums.  If it wasn't for live media and technology skills our students would have missed viewing the effects of Hurricane Katrina, The Oprah Winfrey School for Girls in South Africa and the Inauguration of Barack Obama as he took the Oath Of Office for President of the United States.  

In a way, critical literacy and cultural literacy work in tandem to assist us with the type of mediums that are available and how we learn to gather information from it. Technology have successfully carved  out a culture of users that are at ease with particular mediums. They want information that is collegiate/academic, entertaining/ amusing, fast-paced, readily available, live and happening. Their mediums of choice is high end, portable and multifunction.  These are the network of users who email, text, blog, read books on the Kindle, who must know, should know, cannot miss, shouldn't miss, get it now, set it and view later. 

As future librarians is not our responsibility to expose patrons/students to various forms of mediums, allowing them to find their niche?  We also discussed how communication have changed the way we interact with each other.  I am not sure whether I would blog if I wasn't enroll in this class but as I figure out and manage the rules of blogging, it will probably become an integral part of my interpersonal communication long after this class is over.

We are inundated with information that is filtered/unfiltered.  There are many patrons that clamor in the public libraries to obtain information from the computers but the waiting time is very long and the half hour working time too short.  The libraries do not have enough computers for the amount of patrons that want to begin their cyber journey.  So, how do we help students make sense of their world and develop critical thinking skills if we don't expose them to as many mediums as possible so that they can make informed decisions?  

What is a medium?  Whatever our definition is for the word"Medium", it will vary according to its users.  I think I can safely say that not one medium is better than the other providing that it satisfies your needs and fulfill your expectations.  

What is Critical Literacy?

What is critical literacy?

As a teacher, Critical Literacy is the way we teach students to view and respond to text. It is a standard of higher order questioning skills used by the teacher thus allowing students to think and use the resources around them to organize their world.

Critical Literacy can be spoken, written or viewed. In the classroom, teachers create a conducive environment that is print rich and reflect students' work in all forms. Activities supported by Critical Literacy are debates, narrative essays, poetry, biographies, plays, and dramatization. These are opportunities to question, problem-solve, create solutions and analyze for clarity and understanding.

For the Early childhood population and the elementary grades, there is a "text-text" and "text to self" component when dealing with Critical Literacy. How do students feel about what they are doing? What relationship do they have with the text? How do they relate to text? Do they have the taxonomy? Do they know the taxonomy? Do they know the writing standards - How to write a sentence? How to write a paragraph?). These are some of the questions that derive from an effective classroom.  The answers according to Freire is in the "question-posing concept" where students as well as teachers are learning together.

Is Gaming a component of Critical Literacy?

I think gaming would be considered a component of critical literacy because students are interacting, viewing, problem solving and applying what is learned to real life situation. We spoke in class about rules. Well the games have written rules and objectives that students must identify with to meet the challenges of being considered a winner. Students will develop and learn creative ways to navigate the game, develop a resolve that it is a game and not real life and create opportunities to conduct discussions on aspects of the game. (connection to self).

I tried the sample games Professor Hochman suggested. The games were entertaining and engaging and as I played I understood the attraction that youngsters have to gaming, but for me, well the jury is still out to lunch. Something can be said about gaming in the libraries, for students will stand and wait their turn just to either complete a game or begin a new challenge.

"Gaming" is not allowed in my elementary school but after playing the sample games, it is worth further investigation for inclusion in my school.

Introduction

This is my first attempt to blog. I should have chosen the name from one of my favorite picture book, "Leo The Late Bloomer" to represent my lack of knowledge with this new technology, but I am confident that my adventure will result in a happy ending like Leo.

My passion is teaching and learning. My dream position is that of the Library Media Specialist in a school but for now being an Early Childhood Teacher is quite satisfying. My greatest joy is to see the look of enjoyment on the faces of the children that I teach when I read their favorite book.

My academic life at Pratt is awesome. The professors are knowledgeable in their respective field and have given me the resources to help me transition from a good teacher to a better teacher. Socially, I continue to meet new individuals who share my passion. On many occasions we gulp coffee before class, share study tips and chew trident gum to keep awake on those long stressful nights.

I look forward to learning new things that I can apply in my day to day routine. I embrace my new learning with joy and ease.


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Introduction

Greetings everyone.

This is the first time that I have ever blogged. I am excited to learn how to blog with ease and enjoyment. At this moment I am nervous that information will be floating in cyberspace along with my pride. I feel confident so I am going to begin with my profile.

Teaching and learning is my passion. It warms my heart when I see the look of excitement on my students’ faces as I read their favorite stories. I enjoy my work but of course my dream position would be that of a school media center librarian.

My academic life at Pratt is awesome. Some professors have broaden my experiences and provided me with the tools necessary to become a more effective educator. I also met some wonderful students with almost the same passion. We shared study tips, and exchanged stories about our respective careers and positions. We also shared trident gum and gulp coffee to keep awake on those long stressful days.

I am excited about this class and I look forward to new ideas and new ways to incorporate instructional technology in my everyday routine.