Teaching Media Literacy
There are a number of resources that are easily available to help guide those educators who want to incorporate or use media literacy and production in their teaching. I have compiled this list and am always interested in finding out more about what's available, so feel free to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.
Lesson Plans & Workshop Ideas
There are lots of media educators and programs who are excited to share their lessons, workshops, and experiences with other people in the field. Included here are some of the many places to look for examples to get you start. If you're interested in looking at my own examples, check out the "Lesson Plans - Media Literacy" tab.
The Media Literacy Clearing House is run by media literacy expert Frank Baker and it has a vast number of resources about media literacy education. Ranging from lessons plans to scholarly articles, this site has tons of resources for those interested in media literacy.
The Media Education Lab at Temple University and run by media literacy expert Renee Hobbs offers lots of online resources for teachers. With everything from clarification of copyright law to suggestions for lessons and curricula, this is a great site for educators looking for inspiration.
The Global Action Project is a youth media program in New York City, but it also has a number of workshops and lessons available for download. Check out their curricular materials here.
The Media Literacy Project, based in Albuquerque, NM also provides a lot of online resources and curricular ideas and tools, in addition to offering trainings for educators.
The Educational Video Center in New York City has a number of lesson plans, teacher forums, and other online resources for both new and old media educators. In particular, it has an extensive curriculum available for purchase.
The Center for Educational Pathways works with students in its afterschool programs, the Comic Book project and the Youth Music Exchange, but it also has curricular resources available for educators and offers trainings or workshops from time to time.
The Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change is an intensive 3-week summer program in Austria that brings together students and faculty to work on projects about new media in the world. The website has a number of resources developed through these trainings.
The Media Literacy Clearing House is run by media literacy expert Frank Baker and it has a vast number of resources about media literacy education. Ranging from lessons plans to scholarly articles, this site has tons of resources for those interested in media literacy.
The Media Education Lab at Temple University and run by media literacy expert Renee Hobbs offers lots of online resources for teachers. With everything from clarification of copyright law to suggestions for lessons and curricula, this is a great site for educators looking for inspiration.
The Global Action Project is a youth media program in New York City, but it also has a number of workshops and lessons available for download. Check out their curricular materials here.
The Media Literacy Project, based in Albuquerque, NM also provides a lot of online resources and curricular ideas and tools, in addition to offering trainings for educators.
The Educational Video Center in New York City has a number of lesson plans, teacher forums, and other online resources for both new and old media educators. In particular, it has an extensive curriculum available for purchase.
The Center for Educational Pathways works with students in its afterschool programs, the Comic Book project and the Youth Music Exchange, but it also has curricular resources available for educators and offers trainings or workshops from time to time.
The Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change is an intensive 3-week summer program in Austria that brings together students and faculty to work on projects about new media in the world. The website has a number of resources developed through these trainings.
Guides & Online Resources - Back to Top
A growing number of people are joining the media literacy education movement and sharing their work, findings, and tips. Check out these resources if you need help getting started or want new ideas.
Listen Up! has a great list of resources for media educators about different media and the stages of production. Check it out here.
The Youth Media Reporter is a great source for resources, both scholarly research and personal experiences, about youth media.
iEARN is a great online, international platform in which teachers share ideas and discuss key questions about using new media and technologies in school
Adobe Youth Voices offers resources for educators seeking to use and incorporate technology into their teaching, including a software donation program, which you can find more out about here.
Listen Up's Groovy Media Sourcebook is a great resource for people looking to start their own youth media organization or expand it as part of an existing program. It brings together advice from established groups about recruiting, teaching, and documenting results.
Media Education Wales released "Using Film in Schools: A Practical Guide," which is a great resource that you can download in PDF here. It has lots of details about how to use film for educating students of all ages, as well as details about equipment, planning, and funding and partnering organizations for groups in the United Kingdom.
MediaEdu is a British organization that has a number of different resources for you to use and check out. It also has a great list of media literacy stakeholders from all over the world, including some of the organizations listed here, but also many, many more. Check out the stakeholders list by clicking here.
The Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning highlights the work on media literacy done through the MacArthur Foundation and shares a number of stories and examples of media work from across the country. It's a good place to go to for ideas and to develop connections with others working in the field.
If you're interested in digital stories, the Center for Digital Story Telling has a number of resources available online, which you can find here, and also offers workshops and trainings.
For resources about using film in your lessons, take a look at the following sites, all based in England:
The British Film Institute has a page specifically dedicated to education and helping educators interested in film.
The English and Media Centre offers resources for English teachers, and includes a page devoted to media in English education.
Film Education, as evidenced by its name, supports the use of film throughout education.
Films for Learning helps schools incorporate and effectively use film while also providing an online community for educators.
Planet SciCast is a great resource for science teachers, providing innovative ideas for how to use short, student-made films in class.
Listen Up! has a great list of resources for media educators about different media and the stages of production. Check it out here.
The Youth Media Reporter is a great source for resources, both scholarly research and personal experiences, about youth media.
iEARN is a great online, international platform in which teachers share ideas and discuss key questions about using new media and technologies in school
Adobe Youth Voices offers resources for educators seeking to use and incorporate technology into their teaching, including a software donation program, which you can find more out about here.
Listen Up's Groovy Media Sourcebook is a great resource for people looking to start their own youth media organization or expand it as part of an existing program. It brings together advice from established groups about recruiting, teaching, and documenting results.
Media Education Wales released "Using Film in Schools: A Practical Guide," which is a great resource that you can download in PDF here. It has lots of details about how to use film for educating students of all ages, as well as details about equipment, planning, and funding and partnering organizations for groups in the United Kingdom.
MediaEdu is a British organization that has a number of different resources for you to use and check out. It also has a great list of media literacy stakeholders from all over the world, including some of the organizations listed here, but also many, many more. Check out the stakeholders list by clicking here.
The Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning highlights the work on media literacy done through the MacArthur Foundation and shares a number of stories and examples of media work from across the country. It's a good place to go to for ideas and to develop connections with others working in the field.
If you're interested in digital stories, the Center for Digital Story Telling has a number of resources available online, which you can find here, and also offers workshops and trainings.
For resources about using film in your lessons, take a look at the following sites, all based in England:
The British Film Institute has a page specifically dedicated to education and helping educators interested in film.
The English and Media Centre offers resources for English teachers, and includes a page devoted to media in English education.
Film Education, as evidenced by its name, supports the use of film throughout education.
Films for Learning helps schools incorporate and effectively use film while also providing an online community for educators.
Planet SciCast is a great resource for science teachers, providing innovative ideas for how to use short, student-made films in class.
Trainings & Technical Assistance - Back to Top
http://medialiteracyproject.orgThere are a number of groups and organizations that offer training to teachers, educators, and adults interested in learning about and using media literacy in their work with young people. Since you need to learn how to use equipment, typcially these sites only provide local trainings. There are, however, some that branch out, and if you're interested in brining a training to your school or organizations, it's always worth getting in touch to see if there are any possible options.
Frank Baker of the Media Literacy Clearinghouse and the Media Literacy Project both offer trainings and professional development opportunities for educators nationwide. Get in touch with them to see about presenting at or working with your school.
The Center for Educational Pathways offers trainings, workshops, and curricula for teachers based of their youth media programs: The Comic Book Project and the Youth Music Exchange.
Youth Learn offers trainings for teachers and educators interested in using technology and media to inspire their students.
In Philadelphia, a number of groups and organizations offer training for teachers and interested adults in media production. Check these out if you are looking for some ways to learn new things and get practice making your own media.
The Hamilton Commons at WHYY offers a variety of training courses for teachers that are Act 48 approved. You can get hands-on practice using cameras and editing software and engage in discussions about how to use this in your own classroom or program.
The Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership is a collaborative effort of a number of different groups in the Philadelphia area, and
it provides both professional development opportunities as well as online resources for educators.
Scribe Video Center has a number of workshops throughout the year for adults, teachers or not, to learn a variety of media production skills ranging from editing to green screen techniques.
World Savvy's Media and Arts Program (MAP) offers trainings, lesson plans, and guidance for educators interested in using media in their curriculum. It currently offers specific trainings in New York City and San Francisco, but is also active in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
In New York City the Educational Video Center provides trainings and workshops for educators interested in youth media work and can adjust to meet teacher-specific needs and goals.
Further north, in Ithaca, NY, you can use Project Looksharp as a resource. It provides summer trainings for teachers who want to use media literacy in their classrooms and offers a number of other resources. In addition, City Voices, City Visions, based in Buffalo, NY, provides active trainings for hundreds of urban teachers.
Frank Baker of the Media Literacy Clearinghouse and the Media Literacy Project both offer trainings and professional development opportunities for educators nationwide. Get in touch with them to see about presenting at or working with your school.
The Center for Educational Pathways offers trainings, workshops, and curricula for teachers based of their youth media programs: The Comic Book Project and the Youth Music Exchange.
Youth Learn offers trainings for teachers and educators interested in using technology and media to inspire their students.
In Philadelphia, a number of groups and organizations offer training for teachers and interested adults in media production. Check these out if you are looking for some ways to learn new things and get practice making your own media.
The Hamilton Commons at WHYY offers a variety of training courses for teachers that are Act 48 approved. You can get hands-on practice using cameras and editing software and engage in discussions about how to use this in your own classroom or program.
The Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership is a collaborative effort of a number of different groups in the Philadelphia area, and
it provides both professional development opportunities as well as online resources for educators.
Scribe Video Center has a number of workshops throughout the year for adults, teachers or not, to learn a variety of media production skills ranging from editing to green screen techniques.
World Savvy's Media and Arts Program (MAP) offers trainings, lesson plans, and guidance for educators interested in using media in their curriculum. It currently offers specific trainings in New York City and San Francisco, but is also active in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
In New York City the Educational Video Center provides trainings and workshops for educators interested in youth media work and can adjust to meet teacher-specific needs and goals.
Further north, in Ithaca, NY, you can use Project Looksharp as a resource. It provides summer trainings for teachers who want to use media literacy in their classrooms and offers a number of other resources. In addition, City Voices, City Visions, based in Buffalo, NY, provides active trainings for hundreds of urban teachers.
Communities & Organizations - Back to Top
In general, the following organizations are useful resources and
communities for media educators. Many have forums to join to get support
and ideas, and some also offer trainings and other resources.
The National Alliance for Media Art and Culture (NAMAC) has a number of ways for American media makers and educators to connect. It has a number of different trainings and resources available and has dedicated some of its work to youth media in particular, which you can see by clicking here.
The National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) is an American group working to connect media literacy educators and provide support to encourage the development of the field. It provides great resources, reviews, and ways to connect with others who share your same belief in the importance of media literacy education.
The Action Coalition on Media Education (ACME) is another national group in the United States that works to connect stakeholders in media education, and it focuses on supporting educators while also working for democratic media reform.
Project New Media Literacies (NML) provides a number of resources for media educators and researchers and keeps you up to date on the latest information out there in the field. Based in California, the group also has an online community to join for help and support.
The Communication Initiative Network has a lot of resources available for stakeholders, including a list of organizations across the world that work with youth media as well as reports and other pieces of "shared knowledge."
Common Sense Media provides an online community for parents and concerned adults to talk about media and its role in youth culture today. Recognizing that media has an important role, it focuses on giving adults tools to help young people make informed decisions as they interact with and use media in their daily lives.
The Gateway Media Literacy Partners is a community for anyone interested in media and media literacy. Based in St. Louis, MO, this group supports and encourages one another as each individual works to improve and spread media literacy.
The Youth Media Learning Network has a wide variety of supports and resources for media educators. Based in Chicago, the organization has a range of ways to support educators, including a fellowship opportunity and trainings.
In New York State, the Educational Media and Technology Association firmly believes in the important use of technology and media in the world of education and works to support educators who share and practice this view.
The National Alliance for Media Art and Culture (NAMAC) has a number of ways for American media makers and educators to connect. It has a number of different trainings and resources available and has dedicated some of its work to youth media in particular, which you can see by clicking here.
The National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) is an American group working to connect media literacy educators and provide support to encourage the development of the field. It provides great resources, reviews, and ways to connect with others who share your same belief in the importance of media literacy education.
The Action Coalition on Media Education (ACME) is another national group in the United States that works to connect stakeholders in media education, and it focuses on supporting educators while also working for democratic media reform.
Project New Media Literacies (NML) provides a number of resources for media educators and researchers and keeps you up to date on the latest information out there in the field. Based in California, the group also has an online community to join for help and support.
The Communication Initiative Network has a lot of resources available for stakeholders, including a list of organizations across the world that work with youth media as well as reports and other pieces of "shared knowledge."
Common Sense Media provides an online community for parents and concerned adults to talk about media and its role in youth culture today. Recognizing that media has an important role, it focuses on giving adults tools to help young people make informed decisions as they interact with and use media in their daily lives.
The Gateway Media Literacy Partners is a community for anyone interested in media and media literacy. Based in St. Louis, MO, this group supports and encourages one another as each individual works to improve and spread media literacy.
The Youth Media Learning Network has a wide variety of supports and resources for media educators. Based in Chicago, the organization has a range of ways to support educators, including a fellowship opportunity and trainings.
In New York State, the Educational Media and Technology Association firmly believes in the important use of technology and media in the world of education and works to support educators who share and practice this view.