Using Media As A Catalyst for Writing

Frank W. Baker

media educator

fbaker1346@aol.com

Media Literacy Clearinghouse

http://medialit.med.sc.edu

The media

What do you want your students to know about “the media”?

The media literacy approach

Traditional ModelREAD----------WRITE

New ModelDECONSTRUCT---CREATEANALYZE--------PRODUCE

What is “media literacy”?

Take a few minutes to answer:

What does media literacy mean? OR

What should our students be “media literate”?

Media literacy

the ability to---

access, analyze, evaluate & produce

both print & electronic media

Source: 1992 Aspen Institute Nat’l. Leadership Conf.

Media literacy- AMLA

Media literacy empowers people to be both critical thinkers and creative producers of an increasingly wide range of messages using image, language, and sound. It is the skillful application of literacy skills to media and technology messages. As communication technologies transform society, they impact our understanding of ourselves, our communities, and our diverse cultures, making media literacy an essential life skill for the 21st century.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy Maps

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org

Media literacy in South Carolina’sELA teaching standards

Communication: Viewing

The student will comprehend and analyze

information he/she receives from nonprint

sources.

Grade 2begin recognizing details, setting, characters, and cause and effect in material

from nonprint sources

Media literacy in South Carolina’sELA teaching standards

Grades 3-5 demonstrate the ability to make

predictions about the content of what he/she

views

Grades 4-5

Begin evaluating the ways that different

nonprint sources influence and inform

Media literacy in South Carolina’sELA teaching standards

Grades 6-8 demonstrate the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion, to compare and contrast information and ideas, and to make inferences

Grades 6-8 evaluate the ways that the use of language, the medium, and the presentation contribute to the meaning and impact of a message

Media literacy in South Carolina’sELA teaching standards

Grades 9-12

Demonstrate the ability to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the techniques used in nonprint sources for a particular audience.

Teaching Strategy

Still Photographs

photos from historyphotos from history

photos from photos from magazines/newspapermagazines/newspaper

photos in photos in advertisementsadvertisements

Moving Images

TV/streaming TV/streaming commercialscommercials

Motion picturesMotion pictures

The languages of TV & Film

CAMERAS

Positioning (high, low) Movement (pan, tilt)

Physically moving the camera SOUND (narration, music, sound effects) LIGHTING EDITING (post production) SETS & COSTUMES

The writing (producing) connection

ElementaryElementary- have students create cereal boxes using - have students create cereal boxes using

words and colors and other attractivewords and colors and other attractive featuresfeatures

- have students design a print ad based on - have students design a print ad based on a favorite toy commercial using techniques a favorite toy commercial using techniques of persuasionof persuasion

The writing (producing) connection

Middle SchoolMiddle School- storyboard and script a favorite scene/ad storyboard and script a favorite scene/ad

from TV/filmfrom TV/film- design the cover of a CD or DVDdesign the cover of a CD or DVD- create a counter tobacco ad after learning create a counter tobacco ad after learning

how to read an adhow to read an ad

- examine alliteration in a hip-hop song- examine alliteration in a hip-hop song

The writing (producing) connection

High SchoolHigh School- students create a 30 second news promo students create a 30 second news promo

based on info found in the morning based on info found in the morning newspapernewspaper

- Examine stereotypes portrayed in film Examine stereotypes portrayed in film and/or televisionand/or television

- Write a film or television reviewWrite a film or television review