Presidential election years present ample opportunities for lessons in media literacy; depending on your outlook and your class dynamics, this is either exhilarating or terrifying. Either way, it’s necessary for us to play a role in helping students navigate the overwhelming messages that surround them. As I have written about in the past, I’ve found rooting my media literacy lessons in classic rhetorical analysis has been the most successful in eliciting meaningful class discussions....
To thrive and not just simply survive in a digital society, media literacy is a must. People of all ages need to be able to digest and analyze vast amounts of information from various sources. It is critical educators help students effectively create, access, analyze, and evaluate messages in a variety of forms. This resource list can help teachers help their students navigate this process. The National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE)--which boasts free membership--has resources,...
At an almost alarming rate, students these days are unable to determine news writing from opinion writing. In my two Journalism I classes, I conducted a pre-assessment experiment where students evaluated a news article and opinion article from the local newspaper. I asked students to read both pieces, underline the facts and opinions in each article and then decide which piece was from the news section and which piece was from the opinion section. Students were able to accurately identify facts...
As many schools and districts move to an e-learning format, this leaves production-based classes without their studios, equipment, and software. This doesn’t mean learning stops. The key is to give students options. Continue telling stories Of course, we want students to report the events around them. They can do this on their devices and post to their social media accounts. They can edit on their phones or online using software like WeVideo. A student can tag the teacher in all of his or her posts for their grade. In an ideal world, our students will want to continue producing. However, not all students have the same drive or family support. This is where flexibility and other...
Multiple surveys and studies have shown Americans remain unaware of the five freedoms the First Amendment guarantees. When more Americans can name characters from an animated television series than the freedoms outlined by the First Amendment, that is a clear indicator the time for education is now. That education starts with YOU. Here is a chance to spread the message and bring about awareness of the First Amendment. PRIZES: Prize sponsors include: the East Central College, Union, Mo., Journalism Program the Academy of Scholastic Broadcasting SchoolJournalism.org Drake University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication The Grand Prize will be: ...
At the start of the year, I welcomed 20 new students into the yearbook program. Only one student had returned from the previous year's staff. Helping our staff become a team has been a year-long process. Journalism classrooms have many valuable life and work skills that automatically come with the coursework: learning time management, how to work with numerous deadlines, how to work as an individual, but also within a team. For students unfamiliar to a fast-paced environment, as well as juggling many tasks, any type of Journalism course can be overwhelming. For students who struggle with organization and time management, it can feel chaotic. And for students who are not used to working with...
Multiple surveys and studies have shown that Americans remain unaware of the five freedoms the First Amendment guarantees. When more Americans can name characters from an...
MIPA is a state organization working in association with the Missouri School of Journalism; Journalism Educators Association, JEA; and the National Scholastic Press Association,...
January 14, 2017
