Introduce
In today’s digital age, media literacy is crucial. As media platforms expand and the ways in which stories are told through different mediums, the ability to interpret and navigate new media is an essential 21st century skill. Welcome to the CyberWise guide, where we explore the world of media literacy and its importance in an increasingly digital environment.
What is media literacy? 🧠🖥️
Media literacy can be viewed as an expanded definition of literacy. This includes not only the ability to read and write, but also the ability to effectively interpret and understand various forms of media information. Simply put, media literacy enables individuals to critically analyze, evaluate, and create media content across a variety of platforms.
The rise of participatory culture🙌🌐
Living in a participatory culture means actively participating in the digital environments in which individuals spend much of their time. This culture is characterized by low barriers to artistic expression, strong support for media creation and sharing, knowledge transfer from experienced users to beginners, and an atmosphere where contribution is valued. It provides opportunities to socialize and learn in a community-oriented atmosphere. This does sound like a great learning environment, doesn’t it?
Challenges in the classroom🎒📝
Unfortunately, integrating new media into the classroom can be a challenge. Although new media offer great potential for education, they struggle to find their place in traditional educational settings. One way to understand this challenge is to briefly review the history of media literacy. Less than 20 years ago, the Internet was widely used by the public and everyone was excited about the possibilities it offered. About $55 billion was spent on technology in the first decade. Yet despite such significant investments, the metrics for success have remained unchanged. The words “It’s not working” began to echo.
Transformation from passive to participating🔄💻
A closer look at the timeline reveals one reason why it doesn’t work. Computers were introduced into education, but the platform and technology remained largely a passive viewing experience. Participatory experiences are not prioritized. So the question is: What skills are needed for participatory culture?
Definition of new media capabilities🤝📖
Experts at USC’s New Media Literacy Program define the skills needed to participate in new media, and interestingly, these skills are not purely technical. They revolve around social and behavioral aspects that are best learned through collaboration and connection. The list of skills includes:
- Collaboration
- Network
- Cross-media navigation
- Collective intelligence
- Judgment
- Multitasking
- Visualization
Methods that need to be updated👨💻🔋
Given the significant shift towards a participatory culture, there is still much work to be done in developing digital media curricula that consider these new skills. The focus should be on teaching digital citizenship to address safety and privacy concerns for both adults and children. Unfortunately, these concepts are largely excluded from the classroom.
Emphasis on digital citizenship📱🔒
Many experts believe that adopting new approaches to digital citizenship is critical to equip students with the skills they need in the digital world. Technology standards for schools should emphasize digital citizenship and updated literacy. These new standards should be based on the skills children are taught when they are connected to digital devices.
Digital Citizenship Resources 🌟🧑💻
Fortunately, there are a wealth of digital citizenship resources online that make incorporating these concepts into the classroom easier than ever. By taking advantage of the opportunities that come with living in a participatory culture, media literacy becomes fun and beneficial for everyone involved.
Through a comprehensive understanding of media literacy and a focus on digital citizenship, together we and younger generations can be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate and succeed in the digital environment. 🌐🔍🌈
– #medialiteracy#digitalcitizen#participatoryculture#newmediaskills#education
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