Media literacy is the ability to ACCESS, ANALYZE, EVALUATE, CREATE, and ACT using all forms of communication.In its simplest terms, media literacy builds upon the foundation of traditional literacy and offers new forms of reading and writing.Media literacy empowers people to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators and active citizens.
National Association for Media Literacy Education
Contact info:
Vangalen at uw.edu (best)
425-352-5332
UW2-218
Office Hours: By Appointment.
Course Overview and Goals:
This course will deepen critical media and digital literacies while supporting work with children and youth in a highly mediated culture.
In this course, you will learn to:
- articulate the need for critical media literacy education
- demonstrate skills of media creation across multiple genres
- analyze multiple forms of media to critique overt and implicit messaging, including racial and gender bias.
- evaluate the authenticity and credibility of a range of media sources.
- develop instructional strategies for teaching critical media literacies to diverse students
Readings
Mike Caulfield’s Web Literacy for Student Fact Checkers (and open source text available for free online)
A second book that you’ll read in a small group, chosen from the list on the menu above.
Essays, media making guides and other materials linked to the schedule each week.
Class Schedule
See pages for each week’s class under the “course schedule ” menu
Access and Accommodations:
Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are welcome to contact DRS at 425-352-5307 or uwbdrs@uw.edu. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s), and DRS. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.
On-line Privacy and Identity:
Much of the work that you do this quarter will be in public digital spaces. As part of learning about building a digital identity, you must use the same user name across the tools that we use. You are free to choose an identity that masks your true identity or to use your real name and identity in our public work this quarter. You are not required to publicly identify yourself as a member of this class in any of the work that you do. We’ll talk more about making these choices in class.
Inclement Weather
Check the campus website for information on campus closures due to inclement weather. If the campus is open but I’ll be canceling class, I’ll be posting an announcement at the top of this home page.
