Teaching Media Literacy

Neverexisted School District is beginning to emphasize what the school board calls "back to basics" instruction. Improving reading literacy and math compentency test scores is a high priority. As a result, many resources once reserved for media literacy courses are being funneled into other "more important" areas. One member even mentioned that media courses are a superfluous luxury because many students spend the majority of their time learning about technology and media independently. I, however, would tend to disagree.

With the recent trend in "back to basics" teaching, a very important aspect of our ever-evolving society is being ignored: media literacy. Neglecting this crucial and prevalent element of our world is shameful and possibly even dangerous. Our young people are deluged with advertisements, movies, television shows, music, internet websites, and other various media.
Teaching people, particularly our young people, how to manage this new, intense media super-sphere will be critical for the future of our world.

First, student-use of media is at an all-time high. And who can blame them? With all the new technology to connect people, students are finding new and exciting ways to socialize and entertain themselves. They are only responding to two of the strongest drives for young humans: socialization and stimulation. But how can we direct these uses in a manner that can aid these students when they reach adulthood? And how can we be sure to provide every student with access to this new technological world? A good friend of mine works as an engineer, and he says that over 50% of his job is spent communicating through various methods including emails, instant messaging, and online postings. Such a prominent aspect of the working world will certainly be useful for students to learn. Providing students a class in which they can study these elements and learn to communicate in the necessary multi-modal fashion will help provide some of the solutions to these problems.

Second, the all-encompassing media world is now no longer something to be sought out as it was in generations past. Now media is streaming straight into their bedrooms at cable modem and DSL speeds. Teaching our youth to comprehend the complexities behind media (motivations, methods, and biases) will improve their ability to make rational decisions rather than simply succumb to media influence. For example, certain advertisements suggest that every one needs an SUV because they provide the power, roominess, and safety crucial to living in America. A person could accept this assertion and go out to buy an SUV; however, minivans and larger sedans are typically more than enough for the average American. Investigating the truth behind the advertisement and connecting that with one’s actual transportation needs is an important skill, one that is not easily developed. Equipping students with the necessary skills to combat the overwhelming effect of media influence will help students make more rational decisions about their lives.

Third, media has had a powerful effect on our perception of reality. According to Dr. Richard Beach’s Teaching Media Literacy (n.d.), “Helping students understand the fact that realities of their lives are constructed encourages them to critique these constructions, for example racist construction of people of color” (p.4). Therefore, students’ ability to participate in critical thinking can be improved through analyzing media constructs. This effort will have the positive side effect of increasing societal awareness and improvement. De-constructing the media creations will help our youth see a different, and possibly truer, reality.

Finally, certain aspects of media can simply improve students’ literacy in other areas. Media is entertaining, and students are accustomed to these types of stimulations. Reading a book (particularly a textbook) does not necessarily provide the same level of stimulation necessary to spark students’ interest. Utilizing the various media to teach about literature, history, and other academic areas can help student gain a better understanding in those subjects.

Teaching media literacy provides students with many significant skills. First, guiding current student-use of technology down a constructive path is important for career success. Navigating through the media super-sphere will become increasingly vital to living as it continues to expand. Deconstructing media constructed realities will help students make more rational and informed decisions for the future of our society. Finally, media can benefit students’ learning in other areas of academia. Teaching media literacy is of the utmost importance in our ever-expanding media world.