Week #7 Journal Entry

Quote:

 “Of course, such practices occur because to truly empower children and youth with the ability to design the content and form of their own messages would entail tremendous risk to the current educational system.”

Response: 

Earlier in the reading reference was made to the disparity between media production in school and media literacy skills,  “…student-based media production activities do not necessarily build media literacy skills.”.  That struck me as interesting, and a concept that I whole heartedly agree with, and then this quote gives credence to the previous.   Providing access to media resources does not provide the necessary media literacy skills, as in many things in a traditional school environment, most students mimic what they are shown and they learn the basics such as push this button now, and start this machine here, but they often do not learn the critical thinking skills necessary for making conscious decisions about why things are done.

Prior to my undergraduate literature experiences I would not have believed it was possible to teach critical thinking and analyzing.  Having survived those courses, and improved my ability to analyze and critically review literature I now believe that it is possible, but there are challenges to teaching this type of thinking in a traditional classroom.

The teacher in the classroom is taking something relevant and fun and presenting it in a relaxed manner that gets students to think.  By repetitively doing this on a regular basis she is ingraining in the students the need to watch, listen, and think.  This snippet of education is being presented regularly and in a very non-traditional way.  Many teachers might find this difficult to do because they are not educated on media literacy and its relevance, they do not feel they have the time to take out 5 minutes from the regular curriculum, or they just do not believe that it is relevant.

 

Resource:

http://addams.sd54.org/etruppa/about/

I went on the search for projects posted by inschool production companies.  I was not having much luck and then I came across this piece.  Wow, was I impressed by reading the lead in on this course.

“Media Production is intended to introduce the middle school student to production, performance, and theory involved in the creation of digital video and photography. Emphasis will include media literacy, manipulation of the message, technical aspects of video production, advertising, photography, and physical and verbal communication. In addition to concept oriented class assignments, students are responsible for collaboration, following directions, and critique of peer work, as well as, critique of their own work, on a daily basis.”

This is a comprehensive course developed and implemented in a middle school.  Apparently at least one school is getting it right and not only creating media productions, but also teaching media literacy in the process as well as the variety of skills required to be successful, yet under outcomes:

“Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
(*Depending on time, some of the items listed below might not be completed.)”

I’m not sure if one is to be impressed that the teacher is being honest or concerned that the goals have been set so high that there is a fear of failure from the beginning.  I sent the instructor and email early in the week and was disappointed to not receive a response.  I was curious to know how successful he was in accomplishing the outcomes. 

 After reviewing this curriculum I wonder if perhaps it is necessary to add such a course in all middle schools, to get students thinking and acting.  Then an inclusion of 5 minutes of media literacy in other coursework as seen in the reading example would have additional impact.

  

Citation:

Hobbs, R. (n.d.). Teaching media literacy: Yo, are you hip to this!. Center for Media Literacy, Retrieved from http://www.medialit.org/reading-room/teaching-media-literacy-yo-are-you-hip

 

Truppa, E. (n.d.). Media production course description. Retrieved from http://addams.sd54.org/etruppa/about/