Blog #3 Media Literacy

Media Literacy is defined by the Center for Media Literacy as

a 21st century approach to education. It provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate and create messages in a variety of forms — from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy.

It short, it is the skill set needed to intelligently read, understand and interpret all media sources. It is a skill we are not teaching our children.

In 2001 a Media Literacy Summit met in Washington D.C. to discuss media literacy among our children and drug prevention. Its findings (National Drug Control, 2001) establish that not only is media "omnipresent in the lives of American youth" but also that negative influences inundate such media intended for children's consumption. Without teaching children how to read, interpret, and analyze this information the media establishes learning pathways not necessarily positive.

These media come in all forms, not just through the Internet and Web 2.0 tools. But by shutting the door on these tools in the classroom – purportedly to protect our children – our education system is effectively ignoring the very real need for children to develop those media literacy skills that would provide them more valuable protection. Regardless of their access to web technologies in school, children are already using these "omnipresent" technologies and are influenced by them daily. It's akin to telling our young children to walk to school alone without teaching them about the dangers of traffic, strangers, or approaching stray animals.

To mitigate these media influences we shouldn't be closing the classroom accesses to Web 2.0 tools and the Internet. Instead we should be incorporating instruction in their safe use from an early age. Studies have indicated that even basic media literacy training can reduce the negative influences of media (DeBenedittis, 2003-2007).

Indeed, teaching media literacy to our children can ultimately have a more substantial impact in keeping children safe than trying to block their access to a broad range of tools – an approach that clearly doesn't work. Even with library and school access to social networking websites severely limited or non-existent a 2007 National School Boards Associated report indicated that nearly 75 percent of children have MySpace pages (Villano, 2008). Addressing technology and media literacy has become as essential as teaching a child how to read, write, and cross the street safely.

References

Center for Media Literacy. (2002-2007). Media literacy: A definition. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/rr2def.php

DeBenedittis, P. (2003-2007). Media literacy for prevention, critical thinking, self-esteem. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://www.medialiteracy.net/

Office of National Drug Control Policy, W. (2001, January 1). Helping youth navigate the media age: A new approach to drug prevention. Findings of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign Media Literacy Summit White House Conference Center, June 01, 2002. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED465153) Retrieved August 13, 2009, from ERIC database.

Villano, M. (2008, May 1). What are we protecting them from?. T.H.E. Journal, 35(5), 48-54. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ797266) Retrieved August 16, 2009, from ERIC database.