What is Media Literacy?
Media literacy encompasses the practices that
allow people to access, critically evaluate and create media. This means
individuals have to critically analyze media in all of its forms in a
variety of contexts.
Resources for "Fake News" Assignment
The blog MiddleWeb explores being selective with online resources.
One of the resources is entitled “Real Media Literacy: Spotting a Fake Story”.
This blog educates students on how to check if a source is reliable or not.
To allow students to become aware of fake news, I would ask them to explore spoof sites. I would incorporate spoof sites in the classroom by asking each of my students to do an assignment involving the creation of a fake news report. I would set the stage by saying that there are news articles that are out in the world that do not have true information so we have to be selective in what we read online. I would conduct the activity by telling my students to create an article, with a title, content and an image that has some incorrect information. I would assess this activity by observing if the student’s assignment has a title, content that matches the title, an image, a common theme throughout their article, an article that is organized and completed.
I have provided a link that has sample lesson plans for fake news activities.
This resource connects to Media Studies outlined in the Ontario Curriculum as it states, “4. Students will reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts” (p. 14).
To allow students to become aware of fake news, I would ask them to explore spoof sites. I would incorporate spoof sites in the classroom by asking each of my students to do an assignment involving the creation of a fake news report. I would set the stage by saying that there are news articles that are out in the world that do not have true information so we have to be selective in what we read online. I would conduct the activity by telling my students to create an article, with a title, content and an image that has some incorrect information. I would assess this activity by observing if the student’s assignment has a title, content that matches the title, an image, a common theme throughout their article, an article that is organized and completed.
I have provided a link that has sample lesson plans for fake news activities. This resource connects to Media Studies outlined in the Ontario Curriculum as it states, “4. Students will reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts” (p. 14).
Resources for teaching students about Cyber Safety
There are several resources that you can use to teach your students about internet safety. Students will learn to use a strong password and to not share it with anyone. They will learn to be selective with friend requests, be careful with what they post because it can never be undone, protect their laptop by installing antivirus software to safeguard their information, etc.
A resource I would use is "6 Internet Safety Games To Help Kids Become Cyber Smart". I selected this resource because it contains six games that are safe for the internet that educate students on how to be cyber smart.
I would use this resource by allowing students to play these games. I would let students explore all of the games and then have them play two of the games. After the exploration stage, I would have a discussion on what they learned about internet safety individually and then in groups. This resource teaches students how to stay safe online by allowing them to know the importance of safe passwords. One of the games, Webonauts, allows the students to move between modules and make decisions about password security, social media sharing, bullying, etc.
I have attached video that explores safe web
surfing:
This resource connects to Media Studies outlined in the
Ontario Curriculum as it states, “2.
Students will identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and
techniques associated with them are used to create meaning” (p. 14).
I would use this resource by allowing students to play these games. I would let students explore all of the games and then have them play two of the games. After the exploration stage, I would have a discussion on what they learned about internet safety individually and then in groups. This resource teaches students how to stay safe online by allowing them to know the importance of safe passwords. One of the games, Webonauts, allows the students to move between modules and make decisions about password security, social media sharing, bullying, etc.
This resource connects to Media Studies outlined in the Ontario Curriculum as it states, “2. Students will identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning” (p. 14).
Resources for Adding Gamification into the Classroom
Using game elements and mechanics can be very advantageous to use in the classroom setting. It is a way to learn and promote specific learning goals by having games that are fun and more engaging for the students. It will also keep them interested and they will actually want to learn instead of feeling forced to learn.
I would use gamification by using the resources and games online that are available to me as an educator. I would set up modules so students could work through the modules at their own pace. When they complete a module, I would give them an award. I think the award system would be advantageous for the students’ learning because they have something to look forward to and work towards. I have attached a link to an article which explores a 6 step process for how teachers can implement gamification into their classrooms.
I would use a program called DreamBox. DreamBox captures and assesses learners’ behaviours and strategies used to construct an answer. If you answer the questions correctly you earn coins so you can purchase customizations for your pages such as backgrounds, avatars and songs. You can also unlock mini-games and earn badges.
I have attached a video that discusses DreamBox:
This resource connects to Media Studies outlined in the
Ontario Curriculum as it states, “4. Students will reflect on and
identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for
improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and
creating media texts” (p. 14).
Talk soon!
Monica
References
All About MiddleWeb. (2013) Middle Web: All About The Middle Grades. Retrieved from: https://www.middleweb.com/
DreamBox Learning. (2019). Online Math Learning. Retrieved from: https://www.dreambox.com/canada
Keeley, J. (2017). 6 internet safety games to help kids become cyber smart. Retrieved from: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-internet-safety-games-kids-cyber-smart/
Mastrine, J. (2019) Fake News. Retrieved from: https://www.allsides.com/blog/cnn-fake-news
Ministry of Education. (2006). The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1-8 Language. Retrieved from:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language18currb.pdf
TeachThoughtStaff. (2016, April 17). A 6 Step Process For Adding Gamification To Your Classroom. Retrieved from: https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/6-step-process-for-adding-gamification-to-your-classroom/
Watchwellcast. (2013, May 2). Safe Web Surfing: Top Tips for Kids and Teens Online [Youtube]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=yrln8nyVBLU
Using game elements and mechanics can be very advantageous to use in the classroom setting. It is a way to learn and promote specific learning goals by having games that are fun and more engaging for the students. It will also keep them interested and they will actually want to learn instead of feeling forced to learn.
I would use gamification by using the resources and games online that are available to me as an educator. I would set up modules so students could work through the modules at their own pace. When they complete a module, I would give them an award. I think the award system would be advantageous for the students’ learning because they have something to look forward to and work towards. I have attached a link to an article which explores a 6 step process for how teachers can implement gamification into their classrooms.
I would use a program called DreamBox. DreamBox captures and assesses learners’ behaviours and strategies used to construct an answer. If you answer the questions correctly you earn coins so you can purchase customizations for your pages such as backgrounds, avatars and songs. You can also unlock mini-games and earn badges.
I have attached a video that discusses DreamBox:
This resource connects to Media Studies outlined in the Ontario Curriculum as it states, “4. Students will reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts” (p. 14).
Monica
References
All About MiddleWeb. (2013) Middle Web: All About The Middle Grades. Retrieved from: https://www.middleweb.com/
DreamBox Learning. (2019). Online Math Learning. Retrieved from: https://www.dreambox.com/canada
Keeley, J. (2017). 6 internet safety games to help kids become cyber smart. Retrieved from: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-internet-safety-games-kids-cyber-smart/
Mastrine, J. (2019) Fake News. Retrieved from: https://www.allsides.com/blog/cnn-fake-news
Ministry of Education. (2006). The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1-8 Language. Retrieved from:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language18currb.pdf
TeachThoughtStaff. (2016, April 17). A 6 Step Process For Adding Gamification To Your Classroom. Retrieved from: https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/6-step-process-for-adding-gamification-to-your-classroom/
