1. WHAT IS MEDIA LITERACY?
MODULE 1: The Basics

2. Lesson Module Outcomes:
• In this lesson students will:
▫ Learn the definition of media literacy and how it
has changed over the years.
▫ Look at a brief history of media and pivotal
developments in more recent years.
▫ Understand the generation gap in regards to
media literacy and its affects.

3. Introductory Discussion
• Think about the following question on your own
for a few minutes and write down a definition.
Then discuss among the class.
• How do you define media literacy?

4. Media Literacy Defined
• According to the Center for Media Literacy:
▫ In 1992: Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze,
evaluate and create media in a variety of forms.”
▫ Today: “Media literacy is a 21st century approach to
education. It provides a framework to access, analyze,
evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety
of forms – from print to video to the Internet. Media
literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in
society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-
expression necessary for citizens of democracy.”

5. STOP!
• Go back and read the definitions again. What are
the main differences you see between how media
literacy was defined in 1992 and today?

6. Comparing the Definitions
▫ In 1992: It is the ability to access, analyze,
evaluate and create media in a variety of forms.
▫ Today: It is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate,
create and participate with media in a variety of
forms.
▫ Key difference is the idea of PARTCIPATION.
▫ Why do you think participation has been added to the
definition? What are some examples of media (think
recent developments) that include participation?

7. Almost every piece of this timeline includes PARTICIPATION

8. • Now, watch this video clip called “An Ever Changing
World”, which was uploaded in 2009.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuKu6PZXCIY
• After looking at the previous graphic and this clip,
think about the major media developments
mentioned in each and how they include the idea of
participation.
• Both resources are from 2009. Have you seen other
changes in the media since? Do they involve
participation also? Discuss.

9. Participation Continued
• Think about the way media literacy has evolved
to include the idea of participation and how it
could affect different generations.
• The idea of a generation gap in technology is
nothing new, but today technology is developing
faster than ever.
• Is there a lack of understanding between parents
and/or teachers and their students?

10. Case Study
• 86 participants asked what kind of technology they
use and how often.
• Expected to see the divide in use of technologies but
it was more in the reason for using these
technologies.
 “Need to know” versus exploration for the sake of
entertainment.
• http://editlib.org/p/27929

11. Audio Clip from MPRNews
• New study from Kaiser Family Foundation says
that teenagers/children spend up to 8 hours a
day consuming media, which is 2 hours above
the average just two years ago.
• Implications? Communication and technology is
widening the generation gap between today’s
teenagers/children and their parents.

12. Class Activity
• Looking more at the idea of a generation gap in media
literacy, think about the ways in which you get your
information today in comparison to your parents,
grandparents, teachers, etc.
• Chances are that you largely rely on Google or a similar
search engine such as Bing, Yahoo, Ask, etc. when you
have research to do or a simple question to ask.

13. Continued
• There are 31 billion searches on Google a month.
▫ How did we get answers before Google? Who did
the previous generations direct their questions to?
• Use the Internet, but avoid Google and the other
search engines to find the answer to the
following question:
▫ When did Google begin and by whom?

14. Continued
• Having trouble?
• Discuss the difficulties
you came across with
finding these answers
as a class.
• Have we become too
Google-dependent?

15. Assignment 1:
• Participate in the poll on the main page. After
submitting your answer, consider the other
options and write a summary ranking the way
you use these media sources and what for (news,
information, entertainment, etc.)
• In your summary, discuss how your poll answer
would differ from your parents, grandparents,
teachers, etc. and why you think so.