Media Literacy

It is amazing the difference in media literacy from the 19th and 20th century to the 21st century.  Students and teachers have access to media of all sorts, which reach beyond just print material from books.  Technology has improved therefore the literacy of students has improved, there are different ways for students to express themselves, analyize, and evaluate texts, that relate to real world issues.  I didn’t even think about the difference between centuries on how students now have the ability ot create, and participate in their own literacy, through many outlets on the web, by using various multimedia sites that encourage and improve a higher form of literacy.  It is so important for people to be literate today, because as a society we consume a very high rate of media through tv, the internet, newspapers, magazines, billboards, radio, music, video games, and much more.  Students have to learn how to adapt and be able to understand the world around them through communication that involves other media that is more visual and readily available compared to books/print.  The world of media is more complex, can be more difficult to understand and have embedded messages, therefore it is necessary that as teachers we help to teach and further the knowledge of students throught these same types of media, since it is what is in the real world.  We have to provide students with the skills to be able to analyze the message behind media and the construction of the media source.

Advertisement