Media Literacy for Students

This media literacy guide will help students post responsibly in cyberspace.

Media literacy education teaches students to critically analyze what they see, hear and read in advertising, news and entertainment media. Now that youth are media creators in the digital world, they need to think critically about the content they create. Teach students to get into the habit of asking five key questions before they send, share or post in cyberspace.

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1. What is the purpose of my message?

  • Why     did I create, post or send the message?
  • Who     did I want to reach? Do I expect a response?
  • What     kind of attention might my message attract? Is it the kind of attention I     want?

2. Why did I use this technology to express myself?

  • Why     did I choose this form of communication – IM, e-mail, text message,    twitter, blog, social networking, chat, webcam, podcast, video or photo     sharing – and is it the best way to express what I wanted to say?
  • What     creative techniques did I use – photos, images, icons, emoticoms, lingo,    animation, avatar, music, sounds, colors, fonts, camera angles,    interactivity, photoshop?  If I use popular songs, video clips, clip     art, cartoons, logos, artwork or other cultural artifacts, do I need to     obtain copyright permission?
  • What     terms or conditions do I agree to when I use this technology tool?

3. What does the message say about my values, beliefs and behavior?

  • What     type of person does it suggest I am? Is this what I intended?
  • Does     the message tell things about me that I should keep private?
  • What     did I include or leave out and why? What could I communicate differently?

4. How might different people interpret my message?

  • Does     the person or group I sent the message to understand it the way I meant?
  • Do I     show respect for people’s privacy? Do I hurt anyone’s feelings?
  • How     might someone I did not intend to see my message interpret it, including     my parents and other family members, friends and classmates, teachers and     coaches, college recruiters, future employers, strangers or law     enforcement? How do I feel about what they think?

5. How do the choices I make affect me?

  • What     is my Net reputation? Is this how I want to represent my cyber identity?
  • How     might what I post affect me or my family and friends now and in the     future? Who might benefit and who might be harmed?
  • How     much control do I have over my online content? If I delete something, is     it gone forever? Who owns what I create? Who might profit from it?
  • Did I     break any laws creating, posting, or sending content? What are the     consequences of my actions?

The original version of this guide was published in “You Are What You Post,” Cable in the Classroom, July/August 2008. For more information, visit www.BobbieEisenstock.com

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