What is Media Literacy and why is it Important?

        










     
        As stated in the article titled "What is Media Literacy?" by the Media Literacy Project “media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and create media.” In other words, individuals who are media literate are better able to understand the messages we receive from television, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, video games, music and all other forms of media. Media literate individuals are able to think critically about news, entertainment and advertisements. They ask questions such as “who is this targeting?” and “why is it important?” Media literacy teaches people to look for what is not in the media and to understand why certain messages and viewpoints were not included.

       Media literacy, in a general sense, means understanding the role of commercialism and advertising in shaping our media system. It also means understanding how class, race and gender influence the media we assimilate. It is important for individuals to understand that media in constructed by people and organizations based on their interests, biases, and viewpoints. Media literacy is important because it has been said to build social skills through the opportunities it provides for sharing ideas, listening, teamwork and collaboration.

        Overall, media literacy has altered the ways in which we communicate with each other in the 21^st century. It is important for young students and adults to be media literate because we are surrounded by technology tools and the internet in our everyday lives. Social media sites that youth usually use, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, are filled with advertisements. Youth and adults need to be able to think critically about the information they are being provided with in the media.

http://www.grcmc.org/medialit/what.php 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKlJOxwyMWU 

Review of a Web 2.0 Tool

       The web 2.0 tool that I have decided to review is VoiceThread. Prior to my Introduction to Technology class at National Louis University, I had never heard of nor used VoiceThread before. VoiceThread is similar to Microsoft PowerPoint in the sense that you can create and transition in between slides. However, one important difference between the two is that you can interact with the viewers of your VoiceThread presentation through video or voice recording.

        VoiceThread allows users to record themselves or their voices and add them to their presentation. What surprised me the most is that a user has the option to call their VoiceThread presentation and create their voice recording for each individual slide. Viewers of the VoiceThread presentation can also leave comments through voice and video recording as well. VoiceThread gives its users the opportunity to create a more interactive presentation without having to use other web 2.0 tools, such as YouTube or Skype.
       VoiceThread is also an effective tool that teachers can incorporate into their classrooms. One example is incorporating the use of VoiceThread in a first grade social studies lesson. The Illinois State Board of Education Standards for early elementary states that students should "identify key individuals and events in the development of the local community (e.g. Founders days, names of parks, streets, public buildings)." During this exercise, the teacher would be able to create multiple slides that contain images of historical individuals, parks and buildings. Students would be able to comment on each photo they identify and provide facts they know about them. VoiceThread is safe and easy enough to use in an elementary school setting under the supervision of a classroom teacher.

The Meaning of Technology "Affordances" and "Constraints" in Terms of Education

       The phrase "technology affordances and constraints" refers to the advantages and disadvantages of using technology, whether that be at home or for school purposes. The concept of technology affordances is discussed in greater depth in the article "Affordances of online technologies: More than the properties of the technology" by David Day and Margaret Lloyd. One main affordance of technology is its effectiveness in aiding student learning. For example, the use of iPads, iPods, smartphones, or even websites are tools that help engage students of any age and get them excited about learning. With technology, teachers are no longer limited to the traditional lecture and instructional structure of teaching a lesson. Instead of solely reading about a new concept and working on worksheets, students can use the technology available to them to play games and work on activities from websites that expose them to a new concept in a more fun and interactive manner.

    
   
     There are various apps and websites, for example, that provide math games or phonics activities that can be downloaded and used on almost any technology tool. Teachers can also use web 2.0 tools, such as YouTube where they can create their own profiles and add videos to their channel that they would want to share with their students. There are also multiple websites that provide a list of educational apps that can be downloaded to Android and Apple devices, such as the website, The Best Education Apps (iOS). However, although technology does come with its advantages, it also comes with its disadvantages, or "constraints."
      One example of a constraint in technology is that not every student in the classroom has access to technology tools at home. Many lower income households may not have the resources needed in order to provide students with internet or technology tools such as iPads or laptops. There are also lower income public schools that are not provided with the funding necessary to provide all students or classrooms with technology. There is also the matter of student safety when using certain websites or social media. For example, a recent problem that has been arising throughout the years is cyber bullying through social media. SO, it is important for educators and parents to be aware of technology affordances and constraints.

Concept of Flipped Classrooms

        If this is your first time learning about the concept of flipped classrooms, you may be asking yourself, “What are they? And how do they work?” Well, the flipped classroom is a pedagogical model where the traditional lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed, or in this case, “flipped.” In other words, students in a flipped classroom are required to watch short video lectures at home and be prepared to devote class time on exercises, projects and discussions related to the material they are learning. The flipped classroom allows teachers to spend more class time guiding and providing extra help to those students who are still struggling to grasp a particular concept. Students in this type of learning environment are also provided with the opportunity to develop their knowledge of a specific concept through hands-on activities in the classroom. In one common flipped classroom model, students watch five to ten minute lectures and are then provided with online quizzes. The online quizzes are available to help students test what they have learned and understand what aspects of the concept they still need to review.

      

            
       As a teacher using the flipped classroom model, I would prerecord my own video lecture of a particular concept for my students to watch. Since math is not one of my stronger subjects, I would make sure to provide a second video option for students who may not understand my method of teaching mathematics. I would also make sure to check my students’ scores on the provided quizzes to keep track of their progress and make sure they are receiving the guidance necessary to understand a specific concept to the best of their ability. I would also use class time to separate my students into groups so that I can work with the group of students who have questions regarding the lecture they watched the night before.

http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education?language=en#t-9614
https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7081.pdf
http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/flipping-the-classroom/

What are Some Important Best Practices for Technology in Education?

 

       According to the article titled, "Best Practices for Using Technology in Public Education" technology use varies by school. In order for teachers and students to utilize technology in an efficient manner, three components must be present: access to technology (hardware, software and infrastructure), professional development opportunities for teachers in the use of technology and on-going technical support to maintain the systems. The article emphasizes the presence of all three of these components for technology to be effectively used in public education. For example, if the students are provided with well-maintained computers but have a teacher who does not know how to effectively use them, then the computers become "expensive toys."
       Technology integration is the use of technology resources, such as computers, mobile devices, tablets, social media and digital cameras in the classroom. Successful incorporation of technology in the classroom is achieved when technology is routine and transparent, accessible, supporting the curricular goals, and successfully helping students achieve their goals. When effectively integrated into the curriculum, technology tools can provide teachers and students with up-to-date primary source materials, methods of collecting and recording data, learning that is relevant, and training for publishing and presenting their new knowledge. Types of technology integration include project-based activities, game-based learning and assessment, learning with mobile and hand-held devices, instructional tools like interactive whiteboards and student response systems, and web-based projects and exploration. Overall, teachers and students can benefit from the incorporation of technology in the classes. When accessible and used efficiently, technology can help engage student and aid towards meeting their academic goals. Teachers are also provided with another tools to help their students learn.

 http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description

http://www.cisco.com/web/strategy/docs/education/edu_tech_best_practices_wp.pdf