Kids in a Media AgeBy Rhonda Carrier

Incarnation Catholic School

Tampa, FL

Updated 4/14/15

Previously Named:

Raising Kids in a Media Age

Pope Francis

The Internet is a “gift

from God” that

facilitates

communication, but

the obsessive desire

to stay connected can

actually isolate people

from their friends and

family.

Pope Benedict XVI:41st World Communication Day

The relationship of children, media, and education

can be considered from two perspectives: the

formation of children by the media; and the

formation of children to respond appropriately to the

media.

Training in the proper use of the media is essential

for the cultural, moral and spiritual development of

children.

Media Literacy Big Idea

Media literacy is a life-

long skill essential to

digital citizenship,

informed-decision

making and

active participation in

our society.

Media Literacy

Essential Question #1What are the most

influential media in my life?

Trend #1: Media Convergence

Mass media is a

means of public

communication

reaching a large

audience.

Examples are TV,

radio, newspapers,

and now so much

more …

The digitization of

information blurs the

division between

types of media.

The smart phone,

camera, GPS, social

media apps, music,

etc., plus Internet

portals can all be on

one mobile device.

Trend #2: Media and Teens 92% of American

teens (ages 13-17) go online daily with mobile devices.

Nearly 3/4ths have access to smart phones, 30% have basic phones, 12% have no phones.

24% of teens report being online almost constantly using mobile media devices.

Trend #3: Media Multi-taskingSeveral Activities Simultaneously

Music

Games

Instant messaging

Social apps

Reading

Homework

Other ??

Media Multi-tasking

Media Literacy:

Essential Question #2How does media influence me?

Media LiteracyInfluencing Attitudes & Beliefs

Language

Narratives

Denotation and

Connotation

Representation

Re-presentation:

Whose Reality

Institutions

Media Ownership

Audience

Funding Corporate

Institutions

Advertisements

Language The media uses

pictures and sounds to convey meaning.

If denotation is the dictionary definition of a word, then connotation is the word's meaning by association. Denotation: a rose is

a bush in the garden. Connotation: giving a

rose means love.

We Learn to Read MediaWhat is the narrative? Denotation & Connotation

Your understanding

relies on your ability

to respond to both

layers at the same

time.

Compare the text and

visual language of this

1950s ad with a

version that might be

created today.

Reading the MediaDenotation & Connotation

Who created the message?

What is the target

audience?

What creative techniques

are used to attract

attention?

How might different people

understand this message

differently?

What values, lifestyles and

points of view are

represented in, or omitted

from, this message?

What is the narrative?

Representation Representation is the act of

communicating using

symbols.

If I give you an apple, I

have given you an apple;

If I give you a picture of an

apple, I have given you a

representation of an

apple.

“Re-presentation” is reality

with a shift due to varying

perspectives.

Representation“Re-presentation” based on beliefs and point of view.

Printed 1/26/2014 Printed 1/26/2014

Representation“Re-presentations” for US & international markets

Surprise Unexpected Event Do we all see and hear the same thing at the same event?

We each “re-present” the event through personal perception.

Representation

Professional Accuracy

Narratives help to explain what is happening in the world, but not all narrative representations are valid or accurate.

What are the consequences when professionals aren’t truthful or don’t fact check?

Hurricane Sandy

photo??

Representation

Use Credible, Verified Sources

5W’s for evaluation

Who published it?

What is the purpose?

Where is the information

from (a valid, reliable

source)?

When was it created?

Why use the info?

Graph from factcheck.org

Institutions

Media institutions are

big business.

Increasing

consolidation of media

institutions limits

points-of-view and

perspectives.

Media Consolidation

Media Institution Profits

Audience

Audience is the word

used to describe

people who consume

media products

Without an audience,

the media would be

talking to itself.

Advertising Funds Media Advertising is one of

the major ways in which media producers make money.

Manufacturers pay the media to promote images of their products, which they hope will encourage people to buy them.

So, media institutions must turn audiences into customers.

Audience into Customers According to the FTC,

children between the

ages of 2 and 11 view

more than 25,000 TV

advertisements

annually.

By some estimates

young people see

more than 8,000

brands per day.

Targeting Tween Customers8 – 12 year olds

There will be an

estimated 23 million

tweens by 2020.

Many have disposable

incomes from gift,

allowances, and odd

jobs.

Tweens spend approx.

$50 billion of their own

money/annually

Tweens influence

parent purchases.

Pester Power: An

estimated $188 billion

is spent each year

because of children

directly influencing

their parents.

Ads, Ads Everywhere Up to 60% of

newspapers are ads.

Ads appear on

commercial TV up to 4

times/hour.

Even many non-

commercial

broadcasts advertise

their own

merchandise.

Ads or News?Can You Tell Which is Which?

Ads as EntertainmentSuper Bowl Ads Are Big Business

What if No One is

Watching?Record to watch later.

Skip the ads.

The New Strategies …

Product PlacementsTop Sports Figures Wear the Ads

Brand Recognition = Brand Loyalty = Profits

Placement in Video GamesBrand Recognition = Brand Loyalty = Profits

Product PlacementBrand Recognition = Brand Loyalty = Profits

Ads on YouTube VideosBrand Recognition = Brand Loyalty = Profits

Internet Interactive AdsBrand Recognition = Brand Loyalty = Profit

Targeting CustomersBrand Recognition = Brand Loyalty = Profit

A successful logo is

strong enough to be

identified even from

the first letter of the

logo.

My international

school students in

Japan could identify

most of these brands.

Pope Benedict XVI:41st World Communication Day

Educating children to be discriminating in

their use of the media is a responsibility of

parents, Church, and school.

Media Literacy:

Essential Question #3How do media I create or use

manipulate opinion or emotions and

determine self-image and lifestyle?

The following are samples

student media projects.

Links to Student Products Gr 7 Blogs (Edublog)

Gr 6 Mi Plato (coded: MIT Scratch)

Gr 7 Prophecies (coded: MIT Scratch)

Gr 8 ICS, a Second Home (Animoto)

Gr 8 Photo Manipulation(ICS wiki)

Gr 8 Photo Manipulation (ICS wiki)

Gr 8 Human Development Essays: #1 Essay & Photo Essay (ICS

wiki)

#2 Essay & Photo Essay (ICS wiki)

#3 Essay & Photo Essay (ICS wiki)

#4 Essay & Photo Essay (ICS wiki)

Print Resources Dunlap, Jay. Raising Kids in the Media Age. Hamden, CT: Circle,

2007. Print.

Wall, Peter, and Paul Walker. Media Studies for GCSE. London: Collins, 2002. Print.

Wittekind, Erika. The Big Push: How Popular Culture Is Always Selling. North Mankato, MN: Compass Point, 2012. Myon. Web. <http://myon.com/>.

ICS media literacy wikispaces: http://icsmedialiteracy.wikispaces.com/ICS+Media+Literacy+Home

ICS wikispaces home: http://icstampa.wikispaces.com/ICS+Wiki+home