Media literacy education has traditionally focused on teaching students how to critically analyze and interpret media messages. However, as technology continues to rapidly evolve, the meaning of media literacy and how it is taught in schools has expanded. Here are seven ways media literacy has evolved in schools.
1. Understanding digital citizenship
Media literacy now includes an emphasis on digital citizenship – teaching students how to engage in responsible behavior when using digital media, including social networking, online research, digital communication, and online privacy.
2. Recognizing fake news
In today’s world, fake news is a real concern. Media literacy education is now focusing on equipping students with the skills to identify fake news, distinguish between news and propaganda, and critically evaluate information.
3. Analyzing advertising
Media literacy education used to focus only on analyzing traditional advertising, but as marketing techniques continue to evolve, media literacy now involves understanding and critically evaluating influencers, branding, and other marketing techniques.
4. Understanding media production
Media literacy education is not just about analyzing existing media messages, but also creating original media content. Students now learn how media messages are created, including the use of visuals, sound, and storylines.
5. Encouraging diversity and inclusivity
Media literacy education now focuses on encouraging diversity and inclusivity, including analyzing media messages for their portrayal of gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. This allows students to understand the impact media can have on social attitudes and beliefs.
6. Using media to express themselves
Media literacy education has evolved to encourage students to use media to express themselves, whether it be through creating a video, designing a website, or writing a blog post. This allows students to develop their own voices while learning to critically evaluate the messages in different media.
7. Empowering students
Finally, media literacy education now aims to empower students to become active and responsible media consumers. By teaching them how to critically analyze, create, and share media messages, students can become media literate and make informed choices.
In conclusion, media literacy education has evolved significantly in recent years to adapt to the changing media landscape and equip students with the necessary skills to be responsible and critical media consumers. As technology continues to advance, it is important for schools to continue to evolve their media literacy programs to best serve the needs of their students.
