This document discusses media literacy and how its definition has evolved over time. It defines media literacy in 1992 as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and create media, while today's definition adds "participate." This reflects newer media that encourage participation, like social media. The document also discusses how this evolution may contribute to gaps between generations in understanding and using media due to differences in needs, exploration, and dependency on tools like Google.

1. WHAT IS MEDIA LITERACY?
MODULE 1: The Basics

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?

7. Almost every piece of this timeline includes 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.