Media Literacy in the Classroom

In this media-saturated world, it seems critical that the education system redefine literacy and make changes to the traditional English Language Arts curriculum. Students obviously need some sort of change because they are bored and not motivated to read the classic literature we force down their throats. We think kids aren't reading and writing anymore, but that is simply not true. They aren't doing it in the form the older generation is used to--opening a text and reading from left to right or taking pen to paper--they are reading widely in ways we are only beginning to grasp because these kids were born with the Web at their fingertips. They are used to getting whatever information/knowledge they need at the touch of a button.

We need to channel this exciting new energy for media and the Web so students can learn to critically analyze the images being thrown in their faces every day. Renee Hobbs' book Reading the Media is just the sort of thing our education system needs for its' youth. Her program teaches kids to look at all the media images with a critical eye--students are still learning the essential elements of the N.Y.S. Standards--learning to comprehend information, summarize it, organize it, analyze it, synthesize information into new ideas and finally to evaluate everything that the media throws at them. Students can now learn these skills with a curriculum that they can sink their teeth into with relish. The media is of high interest to adolescents, thus leading to intrinsic motivation. Without motivation, learning will never occur.