Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years – A Textbook for 21st Century Educators

Here’s a look at this new book's contributors and their chapters. It’s a line-up of some of the most important thought leaders in the field of young children, media literacy and educational technology: - See more here. 

NCTE 2014 Media Literacy Award Recipient Named

University of Buffalo (NY) Graduate School of Education doctoral student Denise Grandits, a middle school literature teacher in St. Amelia School in Tonawanda, is the latest recipient of the Media Literacy Award from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).  Read more here.

 

Close Reading of Media Texts

I've recently created this new website--which combines various resources for those educators who teach "close reading analysis" of media texts. The new page features essays I've written as well as resources from other reliable sources.

How to Close Read the Language of Film

When students are challenged to “close read” a movie, they must not only learn how to deconstruct the story, they must understand the many elements and techniques that are used by filmmakers to create the total effect, says expert Frank Baker, writng in this series about close reading for MiddleWeb.

Additionally, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) offers educators these free, downloadable teacher guides which are excellent resources for introducing and reinforcing the "languages of film."

Fourth Graders Demonstrate Media Literacy & Graphicacy In Magazine Cover Production Activity

Every year our fourth graders complete a state project. Instead of doing the usual travel brochure or poster with their research, we decided to have them pitch their states by designing a travel magazine cover. It sounds simple, but it actually incorporated the skills of media literacy and graphicacy. On the one hand, it required them to think about the message, and on the other, to visually construct the design to sell it. More from the ASIDE blog.