Using Memes in Information literacy - Kat Halliday and Anne-Lise Harding

Editor's Notes

• #4 The term “meme” rose to prominence in the 1990s, accompanying the rise of the internet and personal computer. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “meme” is a noun that means an idea, behavior, style or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture. Richard Dawkins, a British scientist, first used the term “meme” in 1976 book The Selfish Gene to mean “a unit of cultural transmission”. When he created the word, he sought a monosyllable that sounded a bit like “gene”. “Mim” was a root meaning mime or mimic, and “-eme” a distinctive unit of language or structure. Since Dawkins' introduction of the concept, "meme" has taken on a broader meaning, especially in the age of the internet. Online memes often consist of images, videos, or phrases that spread rapidly through social media platforms, often with humorous or satirical intent. These internet memes represent a modern manifestation of Dawkins' original idea of cultural units of transmission.
• #6 Cognitive Engagement: Attention and Interest: Memes are often humorous, visually appealing, and easily shareable. This can grab students' attention and spark their interest in a topic. Emotional Connection: Memes can evoke emotions such as humor, surprise, or curiosity, which can enhance memory and engagement with the material. Information Retention: Dual Coding Theory: This theory suggests that people remember information better when it is presented both verbally and visually. Memes often combine text with images, reinforcing learning through multiple channels. Chunking: Memes often simplify complex ideas into concise and memorable formats, making information easier to digest and remember. Social Learning: Peer Sharing: Memes are inherently shareable on social media and other platforms. Students can easily share educational memes with each other, promoting discussion and collaboration. Community Building: Shared humor and references through memes can create a sense of community among students, which can enhance learning outcomes. Contextual Learning: Real-World Relevance: Memes often reference current events, popular culture, or internet trends. Connecting educational content to these references makes it more relevant and relatable to students' lives. Accessibility and Diversity: Universal Appeal: Memes are a global phenomenon, transcending cultural and language barriers. This makes them accessible and relatable to diverse groups of students. Multimodal Learning: Memes can be created using text, images, videos, and even audio. This appeals to different learning styles and preferences. Examples of Educational Memes: Historical Events: Memes can be used to summarize historical events, key figures, or important concepts in a humorous or memorable way. Science and Math: Complex scientific theories or mathematical formulas can be simplified and made more approachable through memes. Literature and Language: Memes can highlight literary devices, famous quotes, or key themes from literary works. Test Prep and Study Tips: Memes can offer mnemonic devices, study strategies, or tips for exam preparation. By leveraging the principles of humor, visual learning, social sharing, and relevance to students' lives, educators can use memes as a creative and effective tool to enhance learning, engagement, and retention of educational material.
• #7 1. Spotting Fake News: Meme Analysis: Create memes that contain misleading information or fake news headlines. Ask students to analyze these memes, identify the misinformation, and explain why the meme is misleading. Fact-Checking Memes: Share memes with exaggerated claims or false information. Challenge students to fact-check the claims and provide evidence to support their findings. 2. Source Evaluation: Meme Origins: Discuss the origin of memes and how they spread. Encourage students to investigate the original source of a meme and evaluate its credibility. Meme Templates: Show students different meme templates and discuss how they can be manipulated to convey different messages. This helps in understanding how images can be used to distort information. 3. Critical Thinking: Contextual Analysis: Examine memes within their cultural and historical context. Discuss how memes reflect societal attitudes, biases, and trends. Message Interpretation: Analyze the message of a meme and discuss the intended audience. Encourage students to consider how memes can shape perceptions and beliefs. 4. Copyright and Fair Use: Create Original Memes: Teach students about copyright laws and fair use by having them create their own memes using original images or those with appropriate permissions. Remixing Memes: Discuss the concept of remix culture and how memes often involve remixing images or phrases. Talk about the boundaries of fair use in meme creation. 5. Information Verification: Meme Fact-Checking: Share memes that contain statistics, quotes, or data. Ask students to verify the accuracy of this information using reliable sources. Reverse Image Search: Teach students to use reverse image search tools to verify the authenticity of images used in memes. 6. Digital Literacy: Meme as a Genre: Discuss memes as a form of digital communication. Explore different meme formats, styles, and genres, and how they convey messages. Privacy and Online Safety: Use memes to discuss issues of privacy, online security, and the risks of sharing personal information online. 7. Discussion and Reflection: Meme Debates: Present controversial or thought-provoking memes for discussion. Encourage students to analyze different perspectives and critically evaluate the arguments presented. Reflective Writing: Ask students to write reflections on how memes influence their perceptions, attitudes, and understanding of various topics.
• #8  Reflect on why: Be appropriate Be relevant Don’t be cringe Know your memes Alt right More examples of memes and their use by alt-right: https://www.isdglobal.org/explainers/memes-the-extreme-right-wing/
• #9 "Digital blackface" refers to the phenomenon where non-Black individuals use images, GIFs, or emojis featuring Black people to express emotions or reactions online. This behavior can perpetuate stereotypes, appropriate Black culture, and reinforce racial inequalities in online spaces. Here are some key points to understand about digital blackface: 1. Origin and Definition: The term "digital blackface" gained traction in discussions about online behavior and racial representation. It refers to the use of Black people's images, GIFs, or emojis by non-Black individuals to convey emotions, reactions, or humor in digital communication. 2. Examples: Sharing a GIF of a Black person clapping, rolling their eyes, or expressing surprise as a reaction in online conversations. Using emojis with Black skin tones to represent oneself, especially if the user is not Black. Posting memes or images featuring Black people to express humor or convey a point. 3. Issues and Concerns: Appropriation: Digital blackface can be seen as the appropriation of Black culture for entertainment or expression without understanding or respecting its significance. Stereotyping: It can perpetuate stereotypes about Black people, reducing them to limited, often caricatured expressions of emotion or behavior. Racial Insensitivity: Using Black images as a form of entertainment or amusement can be racially insensitive and dismissive of the struggles faced by Black communities. Inauthenticity: Non-Black individuals using Black images to represent themselves online can be seen as disingenuous or misleading. 4. Impact: Racial Inequality: Digital blackface contributes to a broader pattern of racial inequality and discrimination, even in seemingly harmless online interactions. Normalization of Stereotypes: By perpetuating stereotypes, it can normalize harmful beliefs and attitudes about Black people. Marginalization: It can marginalize Black voices and experiences, as their images are used without their consent or understanding of the cultural context. 5. Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity: It's important for individuals to be aware of the cultural significance of the images, GIFs, or emojis they use online. When choosing digital expressions, consider the source, context, and potential impact on others, especially marginalized communities. 6. Promoting Diversity and Representation: Encourage the use of a wide range of images, GIFs, and emojis that reflect diverse cultures and identities. Support and amplify content created by Black creators, ensuring authentic representation and appreciation of their work. Addressing Digital Blackface: Education: Raise awareness about digital blackface through discussions, workshops, or educational materials. Reflection: Encourage individuals to reflect on their online behavior and consider the implications of their choices. Promoting Authentic Representation: Advocate for platforms to include diverse and authentic representations of people in their image and emoji libraries. Respecting Consent: Always consider the consent and feelings of the individuals depicted in images or GIFs before using them for personal expression. In summary, digital blackface involves the use of Black images for non-Black individuals' online expression, often perpetuating stereotypes and appropriating Black culture. Understanding its impact and promoting cultural sensitivity can contribute to more respectful and inclusive online interactions.
• #11 Appropriate: topic allows, know people, universal sense of humour Relevant: discuss, introduce