Blog Post #2: Media Literacy
The topic of information literacy is an interesting topic to look at, especially with all the information and disinformation out there today. With the internet and social media, there is an overabundance of information that is, most of the time, not fact checked. Being informationally literate does not have to be complicated, but it does require some effort in order to ensure that you are consuming correct information.
 |
| Helpful tips for media literacy https://medialiteracynow.org/challenge/what-is-media-literacy/ |
However, since many places and people just post their opinions online and state them as fact, it can create a challenge. One would think that looking to reputable news agencies would be enough, since the first guiding principle of the Journalists Code of Ethics is to seek truth and report it (Valenza, 2016). Many news agencies seem to have let that principle be one that is not as important. As stated in the Liturigists podcast, you need to ask questions of the materials that you are reading/watching (McBride et al., 2017), not just read/watch it and trust that everything stated is the truth. With the understanding that not everything is true, comes the need to and requirement to do your own research and find quality resources to either agree with or disagree with whatever point is being made. Which is an essential skill for anyone but especially students and those where doing research is important (American Library Association, 2015).
Typically, I do not try to stay up to date on news. I hear about things through social media like most people, but I usually do not look into things further. If there is something big going on that I feel like I should be more knowledgeable about, then I will look into researching and learning more about that topic.
In my job, both previously as a music teacher and now as a librarian, I try to be up to date on things that are relevant to my profession. But I have always been a "I don't know, but I will find out and get back to you" or "let's look that up and find out" kind of person. When you teach younger children, it can be easy to be knowledgable about the things kids tend to ask about. Occasionally, a kid will ask a question that stumps me and we use that as a learning opportunity for both of us. This way, they get their question answered, we both learn something new, and they see that even adults have to find out answers sometimes.
Let's find out image from the Tootsie Pop commericals.
I am similar to you, Adam, in that I don't stay up to date on news or politics. I don't want to spend my time anxious or upset so I spend most of my life uninformed. The podcast and reading passages from this week made me reflect on my information diet, which I have labeled as "bland". I guess I have some work to do in this area of my life.
ReplyDeleteI teach Pre-K, and I love when they ask questions that I cannot answer! We love doing "research" together to learn new information. Their inquiry frequently drives my instruction, which often culminates in the creation of new units where we all learn new information together. The research process and learning new information is fun for us all, and like you said, teaches kids that adults don't know everything. Learning how to find and select important, relevant information is a key component of digital literacy so I feel that these research experiences introduce this skill in an authentic way.
Adam
ReplyDeleteI see great minds think alike. I used the same template for my blog. Your post is engaging and fun to read. It is imperative that we as librarians make sure that the information literature that is in our libraries are as accurate as possible and not be afraid to challenge the status quo. Digital literacy for Pre-K is a tender age to aid the growth of the mind and gives students a leg up for early research practices and skill building. Great post
Thank you for sharing your reflections on information literacy. You made some really great points with the challenges educators and learners face in today’s media-saturated world. I especially appreciated how you mention being the kind of person who says, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” That mindset models intellectual curiosity and responsible information-seeking behavior, which are at the heart of media literacy.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your thoughtful post! It’s a good reminder that we all have a role to play in fostering a culture of thoughtful, informed engagement.
Adam,
ReplyDeleteYour discussion of the importance of information literacy in a world where information is created and shared without much limitation is a wonderful reminder to be wary of the information we are consuming. As 6th-grade English Language Arts teacher, this is a lesson that I teach my students throughout the year. Similar to you, I am open with my students when I am unsure about the answer to their questions, and I use it as an opportunity to model effectively finding reliable sources in order to find the answer.
Adam, I am the same with my information diet--the majority of it comes from mindless, fact-less posts on social media. It is important for us as educators to be aware of our personal habits regarding information so that we can be non-hypocritical in our teaching students. We can instill a sense of curiosity in regards to information so that our students may take it upon themselves to seek out truthful facts instead of taking things for "face value." We can do this by diligently assessing our personal information habits and ensuring we are practicing a healthy information diet.
ReplyDelete