Are We Teaching Media and Information Skills?

When you peruse the set of important learning outcomes for today's students, identified by groups like the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, you're sure to find 'media literacy' and 'information literacy' given a high priority. Yet this recent post to our TLN daily discussion group raises the question: Are schools paying attention to these outcomes? This TLN member teaches in a large urban school system.

As a library media specialist, I have spent the last few years very discouraged. My school district has very rigid pacing charts and is extremely focused on test scores. This has led to a decreased use of the media center and less collaborative planning of research, and even less teaching of "research skills" -- how to do thoughtful Internet searches, use subscription databases, even the idea that everything on the Internet isn't accurate and reliable!

Some projects are assigned for students to do totally at home, and when students proudly share them with me, and I ask a question about their topic, they are totally unable to tell me a thing about it -- plagiarism at its best! Some teachers even feel they don't have time to bring their students to check out books because they are focusing on teaching writing for the writing test, and after all, they do "teach a few novels."

However, this year one teacher changed subjects and is willing to take the time to collaborate. We are working on a terrific project that actually uses library time, graphic organizers and the finished projects will be modeled after large trading cards to be posted around the room so the students will learn about the contributions of many African Americans. I am totally re-energized, and reminded that change starts small and spreads.

We wonder what media specialists in other systems are experiencing? Leave a comment!

Comments

[Nick Pernisco]

You bring up some very good points. I think that media literacy is a hugely important skill that teachers need to use to teach students about their world. I run a website called UnderstandMedia.com aimed towards teachers looking for resources in this area. I also have lots of information about using the internet, including effective ways to search Google (http://www.understandmedia.com/media/google-research.pdf). I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have on this topic.

[John Norton]

We took a look at Nick's site and found lots of useful stuff. Check it out at:

http://www.understandmedia.com

[Mathew]

I think the skill that students need is how to evaluate and compare multiple sources of information rather than absolutes about which sources are reliable. The idea that the internet isn't always accurate is true but not everything written in a book is correct just because it's written in a book.

With increasing numbers of media sources (who knew that the Nintendo Wii would provide up to the minute world news) students need skills to think critically about media and information. As a (traditional) literacy coach, I see where analytical media skills apply directly to traditional reading strategies and so I do not view this as taking time away from the core curriculum but instead it adds to it.

[John Norton]

This story about a recent youth survey by Microsoft points to another question about schools and information literacy -- copyright.

"Microsoft Corporation has released the results of a new online survey that found American teenagers between 7th and 10th grades are less likely to illegally download content from the Internet when they know the laws for downloading and sharing content online.

"According to the results, 49 percent of respondents said they are not familiar with the rules and guidelines for downloading images, literature, music, movies and software from the Internet. Only 11 percent said they understood the rules "very well." However, among teenagers who said they were familiar with the laws, 82 percent said illegal downloaders should be punished. In contrast, 57 percent of those unfamiliar with the laws said violators should be punished."

http://snipurl.com/youth_copyrt

[Bob Heiny]

Here's the link to the Microsoft sponsored curriculum with free downloads for teachers to use in classes addressing copyrights. The curriculum is in response to the study John mentioned. http://www.ipreducation.com/