Teaching Media Fluency
Media fluency is defined as “the ability
to identify different types of media and understand the messages they’re sending”
(Common Sense Media, 2021). The two aspects of media fluency are consumption
and production, according to Lee Crocket of the Global Digital Citizen
Foundation (Future Focused Learning, 2016). He indicated that when consuming information
through multimedia sources, students need to be able to think critically about
both the message and the medium of communication. Similarly, when they share
ideas and information, students need to consider the desired outcome of their
message and align their media choices with their audience. Developing the
skills of listening to and leveraging media is important for today’s learners, as information continues to be shared in new and innovative ways.
Therefore,
there is a real and relevant responsibility to teach media fluency. As students
spend increasing amounts of time online, they are exposed to a great deal of unfiltered
information which required them to determine what is true and what is false (Gretter
& Yadav, 2018). The International Society for Technology in Education
(ISTE) has set forth information and media literacy competencies that are deemed
essential 21st century skills for students to develop. With the need
for media literacy instruction identified, implementation needs to be
addressed. Gretter and Yadav (2018) found that while most preservice teachers
had a positive attitude toward media fluency and viewed it as an important and
relevant skill to teach, there remained a need to improve teacher preparation on
the subject. Teachers and students would both benefit from improved teaching of
media literacy.
References
Common Sense
Media. (2021). What is media literacy, and why is it important? Commonsensemedia.org.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/news-and-media-literacy/what-is-media-literacy-and-why-is-it-important
Gretter, S.,
& Yadav, A. (2018). What do preservice teachers think about teaching media
literacy?: An exploratory study using the theory of planned behavior. The
Journal of Media Literacy Education, 10(1), 104-123. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=130245859&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Future Focused
Learning. (2016, February 16). Media Fluency [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=myYUGyAjqII
