How to Promote Media Literacy At Your School

I am asked all the time by school library media specialists how to
support media literacy education with their teachers and students.
Here are a few suggestions:

1. Peruse your own student and professional book collection. What do
you have that would support the teachings of advertising, bias, body image, 
the language of film, propaganda?  Need recommendations? See the 
resources portion of my website.

2. Become familiar with the 5 key principles of media literacy in the USA 
(listed below)

3. Know which standards in your state correlate to media literacy.

4. Plan a staff development workshop around the topic.

5. Consider working with students on a Media Literacy Awareness Campaign,
which I suggested some time ago. Read more about collaborating with them
on a Media Literacy Bulletin Board (below).   

6. Read:  Getting Started: Strategies For Introducing Media Literacy

Have questions: email me  fbaker1346@aol.com

I first proposed this idea to school library media specialists in South Carolina. Since then, I have traveled to both North Carolina, Ohio and Florida and recommended this project to LMS in those states. What follows is the original email to the SCASL list serve, followed by some helpful advice.  Frank Baker


Email sent to LMS via list serve April 23, 2004

Dear SC School library media specialists:
Many of you know me from my postings on this list serve and many of you know me
from my presentations on media literacy.
I write you today with a proposal:  I am looking for a few LMS who would agree to
start an awareness campaign about media literacy at your school.
 
If you're interested, read below. If not, you can delete this message.
 
1. I am hoping you might agree to create 5 bulletin boards, in a visible place,
during the 2004-2005 school year.
 
2. The 5 bulletin boards would each be devoted to the 5 principles of media literacy:
    a. all media are constructed
    b. media use unique languages with their own set of rules
    c. media exist to convey values and points-of-view
    d. different people see the same media message differently
    e. media are concerned with power and profit

3. The content of the boards could be your own ideas or those created by a collaboration
between you and your students.
 
4. Each bulletin board would list the concept and then provide examples. 
The examples are up to you.  For example: all media are constructed MIGHT show 
the process of making a television show, or how a music video is put together...
I don't want to dictate the content:
I would like to see your ideas (and perhaps the ideas of your students)

5. You would agreed to digitally photograph your bulletin boards, email them to me, for
placement on my Media Literacy Clearinghouse website:
http://www.frankwbaker.com
 
 
If you want to read more about the CONCEPTS, here are some resources:
http://medialit.med.sc.edu/skillsandstrategies.pdf  (4 pages)
 
Canadian version of key concepts (somewhat longer with more detail):
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/media_literacy/key_concept.cfm


If you'd like some clarification on this, feel free to contact me:  
fbaker1346@aol.com or if you prefer:
(803) 254-8987

Thanks alot. I look forward to hearing from you.
Frank
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LMS who are participating and who have submitted images:
 

LMS Name School Name Email Address Links to Bulletin Board Project Images       
Samantha McManus Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School smcmanus215@yahoo.com Project
Jo Ann Stover Sherwood MS
Columbus OH		 jstover@columbus.k12.oh.us Project
Jean Power Georgetown High School JPOWER@gh.gcsd.k12.sc.us Project #1
Project #2
Project #3
Brenda Branson Crowders Creek MS bransonb@clover.k12.sc.us Project
L. Douglas Simmons HE McCracken MS LDS8671@beaufort.k12.sc.us Project #1
Project #2
Project #3
Audra Alexander
Lea Roche		 Beaufort HS aca3198@BEAUFORT.K12.SC.US

 lr4347@beaufort.k12.sc.us		 Project
Angela Bardin Chapin ES abardin@lex5.k12.sc.us Project #1
Project #2



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Some suggestions to get you started:

1. Consider posting a definition of MEDIA LITERACY....(or ask students
to write what THEY think it is..and why it is important)
Here is a link to some good definitions.

2. See my article in the Sept issue of School Library Media Activities monthly.
(see also "Media Madness" article in the  Aug issue of School Library Journal )
See also  Media Savvy Kids, from the Nov/Dec Scholastic Instructor magazine.

3. Notice that media literacy is VERY different from information literacy.

4. Think about how you might use the media in your own school (i.e. magazines, newspapers, etc.) 
in your board development. ( or think about the media KIDS use at home: video games; TV; DVDs; etc.)

5. Suggestion: link media literacy to standards. I have some verbiage on my website here.

6. Be creative. Have fun. And email me fbaker1346@aol.com should you have questions along the way.

7. Attention Elementary LMS: the PBS Arthur website includes special programs
that are related to media literacy. This may provide some helpful hints.

This page last updated on: 12/13/2006