Media Literacy....

What is it? Why should we teach this to students?

A school library media center today has a multitude of resources: Internet, online databases, books, magazines, encyclopedias, and other print resources.

Information literacy is the set of skills and knowledge needed to be able to access these resources and assess their accuracy, reliability and credibility.

To be successful consumers of these resources, students need instruction and practice in these areas of media literacy:

• Awareness of one's own media habits and usage
• Understanding of how media messages influence and persuade (i.e., advertising; the language of television and film; understanding subtexts of messages)
• The ability to critically question/critically view media messages.
• The ability to create and produce media messages in all media formats, both print and electronic, using visuals as well as text

Media Literacy Resources

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/key_concept.cfm

http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/media_lit/related_study.shtm

The Framework for 21st Century Skills