Media Literacy in the Classroom
...rienced, this is especially important. Even if bad weather threatens, students should know how to easily access information through media. In fact so much information is easily accessible through media that its teaching should be widely embraced. Cultural transmission is the third function and it refers to education and socialization, whether prosocial or antisocial. When watching television, viewers see characters in shows and internalize behavioral norms. By watching movies or films we learn cultural history, which can also be gained from magazines, newspapers, and books. For some teachers, this function might be the most frightening. Perhaps a teacher is apprehensive about teaching new cultures or new ideas through television or film because they might mistakenly think that it would be impossible to return to books and writing as teaching tools. But why not incorporate all media forms? What is important is to find a balance between forms and realize that multiple forms – movies and books, for example – can be useful and necessary for a well-balanced education. The final function of media is entertainment. Some teachers might think that students would only focus on entertainment if they use television in the classroom. However, if used and taught properly, students will understand the value of media literacy far beyond entertainment. That said, it is also important to know that the entertainment side of media does provide enjoyment and gratification. Teachers want classroom learning to be prosocial, which can be achieved through “old” methods such as reading and writing. But many new types of technology that incorporate media can be especially effective in prosocial teaching. Antisocial learning is a valid concern among educators as there is a raging debate regarding the effects of televised violence on the behavior of children. Some are concerned that exposure to such violence could send messages that might inadvertently undermine cultural values. However, keep in mind that kids watch violent television and movies at home; in the classroom teacher interaction could be used to advantage to pre-empt negative reactions to what is seen. In 1993 there was only one teacher training program in media literacy. In just one year that number jumped to 12 different programs throughout the United Sates. It just takes one teacher in a group to get excited about a concept and to subsequently get other teachers excited, too. Key concepts regarding media literacy have also now been adopted by British and Canadian educators. One key concept is that the construction of messages is invisible to the readers of newspapers or the viewers of television. However, learning to notice and understand the construction of messages helps one become a more critical and questioning reader and viewer. However, this kind of noticing does not come naturally when reading or watching television. It is a learned behavior that should be taught. In my opinion, one of the primary reasons to teach media literacy is that the messages being conveyed through media help in the understanding of real world situations and popular culture. The reason why media messages are so powerful is that viewers and readers depend on them to understand culture. Children are thought to be more vulnerable to media influences because they have less real world experiences that can be used as comparatives. But if children are taught through media beginning at an early age, it would likely help them cope outside the classroom. Is our world really as dangerous and violent as it appears from reading newspapers or on televisio...