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Literacy, New
Media, and Creative
Pedagogies for ECE
Classrooms
EDU T&L 5226
What is Media Literacy:
• Access
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Communicate or Create
Media refers to all electronic or digital
means and print or artistic visuals used to
transmit messages.
Literacy is the ability to encode and decode
symbols and to synthesize and analyze messages.
Media literacy is the ability to encode and
decode the symbols transmitted via media and
the ability to synthesize, analyze and produce
mediated messages.
Media education is the study of media,
including ‘hands on’ experiences and media
production.
Media literacy education is the educational
field dedicated to teaching the skills associated
with media literacy.
You and Media
• What kind of media do you use on a daily
basis?
• How much time do you spend using a
screen?
• How much influence does your media have
on you?
• Do you think you are influenced by the
hidden messages in media?
Media Literacy Introduction Activity
• Activity: Media Literacy
While watching this video, ask yourself:
• Who is the intended audience?
• What stereotypes are promoted?
• What techniques are used to engage, inform, persuade, and educate?
• Who benefits/profits from the message being told in this way?
• Who or what might be omitted and why?
• How was the media message created and constructed?
• Watch “Real Bugs”
http://projectlooksharp.org/?action=generalmedialiteracy#twister
What Media Literacy is NOT
• Media bashing
• Protection against media we might disagree with
• Just about television
• Limited to video production
• How to use audio-visual equipment
• Only teaching with media; it is also teaching about the media
Media Usage Statistics
for kids
- 42 percent of children under 8 years old have a TV in their
bedroom.
-Half (52 percent) of all zero- to 8-year-olds have access to a
new mobile device such as a smart phone, video iPod, or
iPad/tablet.
More than a third (38 percent) of children this age have used
one of these devices, including 10 percent of zero-to 1-year-
olds, 39 percent of 2- to 4-year-olds, and more than half (52
percent) of 5- to 8-year-olds.
- In a typical day, one in 10 zero- to 8-year-olds uses a smart
phone, video iPod, iPad, or similar device to play games, watch
videos, or use other apps. Those who do such activities spend an
average of 43 minutes a day doing so.
Why should we
teach Media
Literacy?
Kids as Consumers
Media Test
How many of
these do you
think a second
grader can
identify?
21st Century Skills
The term 21st century skills refers to a broad set
of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character
traits that are believed—by educators, school
reformers, college professors, employers, and
others—to be critically important to success in
today’s world, particularly in collegiate programs
and contemporary careers and workplaces.
Generally speaking, 21st century skills can be
applied in all academic subject areas, and in all
educational, career, and civic settings throughout a
student’s life.
With 21st Century Skills Students can:
• Develop proficiency and fluency with the tools of technology
• Not just phones and TV
• Build international cross-cultural connections and relationships
with others so to pose and solve problems collaboratively and
strengthen independent thought
• New version of pen pals? Discussion forums, think tanks, chat rooms
• Design and share information for global communities to meet a
variety of purposes
• Blog, podcast
With 21st Century Skills Students
Can? (con’t)
• Manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of
simultaneous information
• Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multimedia
texts
• What this class is about.
• Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these
complex environments
• No cyberbullying, no naked pics, stay off inappropriate sites
Do you
think we
are
teaching
these skills?
How can we help
kids understand
what they are
seeing?
Five Key Questions for Deconstructing Media
• Who created this message?
• What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?
• How might different people understand this message
differently from me?
• What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented in,
or omitted from this message?
• Why was this message sent?
Dissecting of TV Programs for Kids
Lesson Plan Idea 1:
Students will identify the
“stereotypes” presented in a
popular TV show.
Discuss what a stereotype is and
give examples.
Show video
Identify stereotypes for
adults/teachers, cheerleaders,
popularity, nerds, etc.
Dissecting of TV Programs for Kids (con’t)
• Activity/Homework: Watch one TV program and identify the
stereotypes, write them down and bring them back for
discussion.
• Would this activity help raise children’s awareness of
stereotypes used in programming for them? How can we
alter this to meet the needs of younger children?
Internet Advertising: It’s Everywhere!
Lesson Plan Idea 2:
Students will access,
analyze and evaluate
internet advertising.
Discuss what websites
are most popular for
children.
Show Jing video of
internet advertising.
• PBS Kids
• Disney Channel
• Nick Jr.
• You Tube
• Sesame Street
Internet Advertising: It’s Everywhere! (con’t)
• Activity: On Smartboard pull up several child centered
websites and have students identify advertising. Questions:
What is being marketed? Why did the company choose this
site? What persuasive marketing was used?
• Would this activity help raise children’s awareness of
advertising used on internet sites for them? How can we
alter this to meet the needs of younger children?
The Making of an Advertisement
Lesson Plan Idea 3:
Students will create their
own persuasive advertisement
using manipulative techniques
used by corporations.
Opening questions: What
kind of things go into making
a commercial appealing?
(Discuss Ideas: slogan,
emotion, senses)
Watch video and discuss
manipulative techniques.
The Making of an Advertisement (con’t)
• In a group create your own ad persuading children to do
something they typically do not like to do. Be sure to
incorporate manipulative techniques.
• Present ads to class.
• Post Questions: What manipulative techniques did each group
use? Was it persuasive? Would this help raise your
awareness of ad manipulation? How can we alter this to
meet the needs of younger children?
Useful Ideas for More Lessons
• Media Literacy Clearinghouse Website
• Super Bowl Ads
• The Lamp
• Media Breaker
Websites that go
with all levels of
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Teaching Internet
Safety to Kids
• Power point presentation
and discussion
• Jeopardy game
Media Education in Social Studies
• How historical events are portrayed in textbooks and
other places
• Columbus Day
• Elections
• Political ads - propaganda
• Laws
• What laws are passed, who they effect
• 2nd amendment
• Affordable Care Act
Media Education in Other Topics
• Math
• Manipulated statistical information
• Colorful graphs and charts that support message
• Science
• Manipulate by emotion – global warming, endangered animals,
ethical issues (stem cell research, medical treatments)
• Health
• Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
• Body image
Using Media to teach Literacy
• What types of media can we use with
students to teach literacy?
• Low tech and high tech
• How has media reached inside our school?
• Here are a couple of examples we will be
exploring this semester.
• Literacy Shed
• Story Jumper
Discussion
Point
What do you think of this
statement? True/False
If true, should this change?
How can we make the change?
“Outside of the classroom young
people regularly engage with
music and videos via MP3
players, constantly text their
friends with their cell phones,
check the latest videos on
YouTube, and even upload ones
themselves. But, upon entering
the classroom they are expected
to disengage from this
interpersonal, producer-oriented,
digital world.”
Technology in
Schools:
List types of
old technology
used in schools
(before your
time)
List current tech
used in schools
(your school
experiences)
What does the
future hold?
Common Core Standards and Media
• Ohio Common Core Standards
• Language Arts
• Reading Standards for Literature
• Reading Standards for Informational Text
• Reading Standards: Foundational Skills
• Writing Standards
• Speaking and Listening Standards
• Language Standards