Weeks+8+(March+8,+2010)

Media literacy is the ability to use critical thinking skills to assess ALL types of media while questioning what lies behind them, what the message is, who the message is intended for and why. There are 3 main stages:
 * Media literacy and Comic Life (guest speaker Barbara McLaughlin) **
 * What is media literacy?**
 * 1) Managing your "media diet" (choosing what media to expose yourself to or not)
 * 2) Learning how to critically view all media content
 * 3) moving into a deeper analysis of the product (e.g.: who produced it? why? who profits? who decides?)

Media literacy is becoming increasingly important in our society because of the ubiquitous nature of media. Media literacy is now mandatory all across Canada from K-12. Marshal McLuhan was the first to comment on the importance of the medium that is used to disperse information. Here is an interview with McLuhan in which he talks about his theories:

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During class, Barbara talked about different writing process with us. Here's what she had to say:

The writing process (traditional) is different that the **digital writing process with comic life**
 * -** The media literacy triangle is made up of **text**, **production** and **audience**
 * we teach the kids that they have to write for a particular audience, they have to follow a certain format
 * this shows that all media messages are constructions


 * Writing process traditional**
 * pre writing (brainstorm, organizing)
 * writing (drafting)
 * post-writing (revision, peer editing, etc)


 * Writing process with Comic Life:**[[image:comic_life.jpg align="right"]]
 * pre writing (brainstorm, storyboard, script)
 * writing (drag and drop images, text bubbles)
 * post-writing (revise with images and frames)

**Taking a look at Bloom's Digital Taxonomy**
 * The Horizon Report:** how technology can empower students



Image accessed at http://wayspace.wayzata.k12.mn.us/blogs/digitaleyes/files/2008/12/blooms_digital_taxonomy_wth_collab1.jpg


 * Note that texting is at the bottom, showing that this is how kids communicate, it's an integral part of their lives