The Importance of Media Literacy

Hello everyone,

I hope you are having a wonderful day.  It is hard to believe we are already into the second quarter.  When I visit classes, I can’t help but notice the tremendous amount of energy that our students have.  In each room, I see engaged students working together with faculty support to solve problems and develop skills.  Whether they are teaming together to address challenges in our community, creating websites to demonstrate their knowledge of Spanish language and culture, or figuring out the perfect reverb for the piano portion of “Don’t Stop Believing,” students are working hard and having fun.

Next week, November 2-9, is National Media Literacy week.  The Center for Media Literacy defines media literacy as “a 21st century approach to education. It provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms — from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy.”  Given the media-saturated world our kids live in, media literacy is crucial in helping them make responsible choices and make a difference.

The timing of this event is perfect as many of us have been exploring media literacy and finding multiple ways to bring it into the classroom.  Amy French-Troy, the Lower School Librarian and Director of Diversity and Inclusion, does a great deal of work with this topic.  Here’s what she has to say about it: 

"Fourth and fifth grade students are working on media literacy skills in several different ways. So far this year, we have spent time looking at gender bias and stereotypes in advertising, discussed Columbus’s arrival in North America through the perspective of the Tainos Indians (the indigenous people who greeted him), and will spend the next few weeks examining websites for certain criteria using a tool called RADCAB (relevancy, appropriateness, detail, currency, authority, bias)."

In our eighth grade advisory beginning next week, we are delving into the topic using two excellent films, Miss Representation and The Mask You Live In.  Our advisories in eighth grade are single-gender to allow for more open discussions, and as we dive into this material, this will prove particularly relevant.  Below, Middle School Dean Jess Mitchell talks more about what we’ll be doing.

"The average teenager absorbs more than 10 hours of media a day. The messages that our students receive are constant from the media, particularly about what it means to be a man or a woman. These messages can have damaging effects on their self esteem and the way they treat others. In light of this, as well as the fact that it is National Media Literacy week next week, we will start a series in our advisory programs on Friday that will challenge our students to evaluate and analyze what they are viewing and the messages they are receiving. Using clips from the critically acclaimed documentaries Miss Representation and The Mask You Live In our students will begin to dive into the real messages that they have received most of their lives that have defined their masculinity and femininity. The curriculum will introduce students to the concepts of media literacy and socialization, as well as the ways in which media shapes our culture. The advisories will analyze tough questions like: How does what we see shape our beliefs about ourselves and others? How do we overcome the media’s negative messages? What unique challenges do female leaders experience? How do we get more women into leadership?"

The content is rich, and the questions are deep. I am eager to embark upon this important topic with our students, and really excited to have this important topic woven into the fabric of our advisory time together. 

Finally, parent David Sutton has been working with several teachers at Dawson on media literacy.  Here’s what he has to say:

"Several teachers at Dawson have applied for a grant for targeted professional development and coaching such that more conscious and engaged critical thinking is infused into the K-12 curriculum. The avenues for integrating this skill are media literacy training, and design thinking coaching. The LabraGirl Film Project Media Literacy Teacher Professional Development Program will provide progressive media literacy training for Dawson faculty, equipping teachers, and ultimately students, with essential 21st century media literacy and critical thinking skills. Dawson teachers will gain inspiration and creativity through innovative, forward-thinking, and progressive curriculum development. Students will learn such skills as viewing media topics with empathy, yet with a critical eye on source and intent leading ultimately to an ability to have informed discussions on current, and historical, events."

If you’d like to learn more about media literacy, here are a few links:

Have a great weekend and a Happy Halloween!

Take care,

Heather