2. Lesson Module Outcomes:
• In this lesson students will:
▫ Learn the definition of media literacy and how it
has changed over the years.
▫ Look at a brief history of media and pivotal
developments in more recent years.
▫ Understand the generation gap in regards to
media literacy and its affects.
3. Introductory Discussion
• Think about the following question on your own
for a few minutes and write down a definition.
Then discuss among the class.
• How do you define media literacy?
4. Media Literacy Defined
• According to the Center for Media Literacy:
▫ In 1992: Media literacy is the ability to
access, analyze, evaluate and create media in a variety of
forms.”
▫ Today: “Media literacy is 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 democracy.”
5. STOP!
• Go back and read the definitions again. What are
the main differences you see between how media
literacy was defined in 1992 and today?
6. Comparing the Definitions
▫ In 1992: It is the ability to
access, analyze, evaluate and create media in a
variety of forms.
▫ Today: It is the ability to
access, analyze, evaluate, create and
participate with media in a variety of forms.
▫ Key difference is the idea of PARTCIPATION.
▫ Why do you think participation has been added to the
definition? What are some examples of media (think
recent developments) that include participation?
8. • Now, watch "An Ever Changing World”
▫ This video clip was uploaded in 2009.
▫ It is a short animation looking at recent technological
and social changes in recent years and their effects.
• After looking at the previous graphic and this
clip, think about the major media developments
mentioned in each and how they include the idea of
participation.
• Both resources are from 2009. Have you seen other
changes in the media since? Do they involve
participation also? Discuss.
9. Participation Continued
• Think about the way media literacy has evolved
to include the idea of participation and how it
could affect different generations.
• The idea of a generation gap in technology is
nothing new, but today technology is developing
faster than ever.
• Is there a lack of understanding between parents
and/or teachers and their students?
10. Participation Continued
• Recent media developments including participation
▫ Google, Wikipedia, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, L
inkedIn, Flickr, Blogger…. The list continues.
• Think about these specifically in regards to a generation
gap. How many of your parents use any of these recent
media developments? What about your grandparents?
11. Case Study
• The Society for Information Technology & Teacher
Education held a study with 86 participants asking
what kinds of technology they use and how often.
• Researchers expected to see a strong divide in the
use of technologies by different generations, but the
divide was more about the reason for using these
technologies.
Differences in using technologies for a “need to know”
reason versus exploration for the sake of entertainment.
12. Audio Clip from MPRNews
• New study from Kaiser Family Foundation says
that teenagers/children spend up to 8 hours a
day consuming media, which is 2 hours above
the average just two years ago.
• Implications? Communication and technology is
widening the generation gap between today’s
teenagers/children and their parents.
13. Class Activity
• Looking more at the idea of a generation gap in media
literacy, think about the ways in which you get your
information today in comparison to your
parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.
• Chances are that you largely rely on Google or a similar
search engine such as Bing, Yahoo, Ask, etc. when you
have research to do or a simple question to ask.
14. Continued
• There are 31 billion searches on Google a month.
▫ How did we get answers before Google? Who did
the previous generations direct their questions to?
• Use the Internet, but avoid Google and the other
search engines to find the answer to the
following question:
▫ When did Google begin and by whom?
15. Continued
• Having trouble?
• Discuss the difficulties
you came across with
finding these answers
as a class.
• Have we become too
Google-dependent?
16. Assignment 1:
• Participate in the poll on the main page. After
submitting your answer, consider the other
options and write a summary ranking the way
you use these media sources and what for
(news, information, entertainment, etc.)
• In your summary, discuss how your poll answer
would differ from your
parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. and why
you think so.
