Critical thinking tools that make sense
Iowa children between the ages of 8 and 18 (not unlike children throughout America) spend more than 54 hours weekly on cell phones, computers, the internet, and television. They are largely not engaged in educational efforts and virtually unsupervised in terms of content and behavioral influence. The Partnership has identified the media, the entire digital environment, accessed by our children without supervision, as one of the most powerful contributors to high-risk behavior in children.
What is Digital Literacy?
Why is it Important?
Children need new literacy skills to go with the new media. Without these skills, they are at the mercy of marketers and are unable to manage the information either for appropriateness or truth.
Three Reasons to Teach Digital Literacy
First, one needs to become aware of how and when we use digital media. When people actually start counting the hours they spend with various media, they tend to be surprised at how much time they spend on televisions, cell phones and computers. The average school-age child now spends over 10 hours a day OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL devoted to electronic media. Once we are aware of how we use the media, we can begin to be more thoughtful about our choices with it.
Second, one needs to learn critical viewing and thinking skills. These include asking questions of any given media product to consider whose point of view is being represented, what meanings should be taken away from it, what technical and psychological tricks are used, and what points of view were left out.
Third, one needs to pay attention to who creates the media we consume and what are their goals? This includes political, economic, cultural, and sociological forces behind media creation and distribution, critically evaluating who stands to profit or lose.
*http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/digital-literacy-fundamentals
Media Literacy and Critical Thinking
Critical analysis of media is not something that has traditionally been taught, and children often have “blind faith and acceptance” of what is shown. This alone is dangerous. Consider, for example, the phrase “As Seen on TV.” This very phrase connotes that if something is seen on TV, then it should be not only trusted, but better than something that wasn’t seen on TV. Although that may be true in a given case, it should not be simply accepted as true.
Media literacy education supports other critical thinking skills that youth need to learn in schools. It can be easily integrated into multiple classroom curricula, including language arts, health, and social studies.
Historically, teachers find critical analysis skills difficult to teach in the classroom, perhaps partly because children expect that most subjects have a “right” answer. Critical thinking is therefore easier to train with media because it is easy to demonstrate that different people can take away different meanings from any given media portrayal or advertisement. This is the foot in the door for helping them learn to question their initial interpretations and to begin a process of critical evaluation.
Digital Literacy Resources
Digital Literacy is not one skill but many. At its core it is a set of critical thinking skills that help people to understand how the digital media work, what effects they have, and how to manage them to get the maximum benefits while minimizing potential risks. Iowa Digital Literacy makes sense of how the media affects children, families, and communities.
The Professor and the Ad Man Program
The Professor and the Ad Man is an in-school presentation that teaches children the five secrets about how advertisements affect the brain. This presentation can be used to kick-off or cap-off a unit of medial literacy and persuasive speech.
- 1 - Advertising is All Around You! (112 downloads )
- 2 - Fact Opinion Lesson (27 downloads )
- 3 - Weasel Words Lesson (23 downloads )
- 4 - Snap Crackle Pop! Persuasive Ad Techniques (36 downloads )
- 5 - Public Service Announcements (18 downloads )
- 6a - Final Project Part 1 (16 downloads )
- 6b - Final Project Part 2 (11 downloads )
- Media Literacy - Pilot Program (30 downloads )
- Posttest (22 downloads )
- Posttest Answers (10 downloads )
- Pretest (8 downloads )
- The Professor and the Ad Man (entire show) (27 downloads )
- The Professor and the Ad Man Final Presentation (21 downloads )
- The Professor and the Ad Man Teacher Survey (9 downloads )
- What Are Advertisers Really Telling You? (brochure) (19 downloads )
- Why Care About Digital Literacy? (20 downloads )
Lesson Plans
- 1 - Advertising is All Around You! (112 downloads )
- 2 - Fact Opinion Lesson (27 downloads )
- 3 - Weasel Words Lesson (23 downloads )
- 4 - Snap Crackle Pop! Persuasive Ad Techniques (36 downloads )
- 5 - Public Service Announcements (18 downloads )
- 6a - Final Project Part 1 (16 downloads )
- 6b - Final Project Part 2 (11 downloads )
- Handouts - Screen Time: Media Multi-Tasking, Wellness, & Academic Performance (69 downloads )
- Handouts - Understanding the Benefits & Risks of Digital Activities (61 downloads )
- Lesson Plan - Screen Time: Media Multi-Tasking, Wellness, & Academic Performance (73 downloads )
- Lesson Plan - Understanding the Benefits & Risks of Digital Activities (36 downloads )
- Media Violence and Aggression: Science, Fiction, and Facts, by Douglas Gentile (75 downloads )
- Media's Influence on Adolescent Substance Use (48 downloads )
- Posttest (22 downloads )
- Posttest Answers (10 downloads )
- Pretest (8 downloads )
- Security Literacy - Power Point Slides (5 downloads )
- Security Literacy Unit 1 (5 downloads )
- Security Literacy Unit 2 (4 downloads )
- Security Literacy Unit 3 (4 downloads )
- Security Literacy Unit 4 (4 downloads )
- Security Literacy Unit 5 (4 downloads )
- Security Literacy: 1 - High School Curriculum Overview (4 downloads )
- Security Literacy: 2 - Video Library (6 downloads )
- Slides - Screen Time: Media Multi-tasking, Wellness, & Academic Performance (64 downloads )
- Slides - Understanding the Benefits & Risks of Digital Activities (36 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 1 - Introduction (68 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 1 - Video (66 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 2 - Managing Time on Social Media (58 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 2 - Video (37 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 3 - Being Active on Social Media (58 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 3 - Video (31 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 4 - Using Social Media for the Right Reasons (34 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 4 - Video (26 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 5 - Feeling Good About Yourself and Strengthening Relationships on Social Media (40 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Lesson 5 - Video (34 downloads )
- Social Media Literacy: Unit Overview (34 downloads )
Other Resources
- Advertising and the Concept of Scarcity Poster (1 download )
- Advertising and the Concept of Scarcity Presentation (3 downloads )
- Advertising: TV to Table Poster (0 downloads )
- Advertising: TV to Table Presentation (0 downloads )
- Teaching Digital Literacy (45 downloads )
- Videogames and Why We Love Them Poster (2 downloads )
- Videogames and Why We Love Them Presentation (0 downloads )
Helpful Websites
Children and Screens
The vision of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development is: Our vision is to understand and address compelling questions regarding media’s impact on child development through…
18 Principles of Media Education
See Len Masterman’s excellent summary of the 18 principles of media education
Videos
Surviving Bad Episodes from 2013
Show #8 Drugs and Children: Secrets for Parents on location in Conrad, Iowa to talk Media Literacy Show Show #7 Drugs, alcohol, and all forms of risky behavior are…
How to Keep Your Child Safe from Internet Predators
Channel 5 in Des Moines featured Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, in their “We are Iowa” feature last night. Watch now!
Trends in addiction, including cell phone usage
Watch Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, talk about current trends in addiction, including the effects of cell phone usage, and what we can do to help ourselves and those around us….
Tips to limit children’s screen time in a healthy way
Watch Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, talk about how to help limit your kids screen time in a healthy way. Originally published on March 5, 2020 by Mediacom Newsleaders.
Media and Children: How the World is Changing
Watch a video of a presentation by Peter Komendowski, Executive Director of The Partnership for A Healthy Iowa, given on February 14, 2020 Click here to watch.
Surviving Bad Episodes From 2020
Show #36 A Reality Check for the Holidays. Celebrations can cover up a lot of stressors, but after the party is over reality happens. These can be tough times…
Peter Komendowski Talks About the Role of Seniors in Influencing Children
Peter Komendowski of Partnership for a Healthy Iowa talks about a variety of topics, including the roles that seniors can play in shaping the mindsets, behaviors and lives of children.
Mediacom Newsleaders Features The Partnership for A Healthy Iowa
The Partnership for A Healthy Iowa’s Executive Director, Peter Komendowski, talks about all the things affecting kids these days and how to create positive experiences. Watch the video!
Surviving Bad Episodes from 2016
Show #11 Therapy can be scary. When you are facing tough challenges, making bad choices, or paying the price for mistakes, you need help. Is therapy the answer? Can you…
Iowa Digital Literacy Project – Another Interview with Peter Komendowski
Peter Komendowski with the Iowa Digital Literacy Project talks about educating your children on safe and appropriate internet use.
Iowa Digital Literacy Project – Interview with Peter Komendowski
Peter Komendowski talks about the Iowa Digital Literacy Project