Reaction: I believe that media literacy needs to be an actual class or subject taught in schools, beginning in Kindergarten. Children are, at a young age, using technology and the internet for school as well as entertainment. They should be taught that everything they see isn't exactly truthful or accurate information. I give the example of Wikipedia. Some people do not realize that anyone can write down information on there and it can be incorrect information. Then you have a student doing a Google search on a subject and most likely Wikipedia comes up and since the information on there is laid out easy to read and the whole subject you are searching for on there they may use that site. However, let's say someone wrote something incorrect on there and the student uses that information, they will get their facts wrong for the assignment they are doing. I think we as educators need to be able to help our students to "weed" out the useless information and be able to find information that is reliable and correct. They also need to know that most places advertise to make money to run the site so they may sway their opinions to fit into that of their advertisers that are paying them. Media literacy has to become a course in which we begin at a young age to teach our students so they will better be able to be informed and know what they are looking for when using the internet.
Related content:
This cartoon shows this guy who has to go to a psychiatrist because advertisers on the web don't target him. In fact advertisers target everyone, so the guy must be crazy right?
References:
Article:
David, J.L. "Teaching Media Literacy." Educational Leadership. 66:6, p. 84-86. Web: October 9, 2011.
Image:
Web retrieved October 9, 2011 from bonnie-vie.net photo by Schwadran from Fiona Otway.
Kindergarden kids should be started out slowly into using technology! Totally agree. Most students that age are already dabbling around with their parents computers and cell phones. Why not integrate it into the classroom.
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