Why Media Literacy matters in your PLN

To put it simply, media literacy can be perceived as the ability of an individual to identify different kinds of media and the kind of messages they are sending. In this regard, media comprises of print media (i.e. magazines, newspapers, and posters), radio broadcasts, theatrical presentations, and tweets among many others. It is key to be able to understand those forms of information and have the ability to make sense of what they are presenting (EDCI 338 A01-2.40min). Media literacy is very important, especially in the current information age because its helps us o process what we see or hear in the media. For instance, what initially comes to one’s mind when they see a particular image in a magazine or on television, is largely based on their own judgement, their past experiences, or even at times their outlook or worldview. However, those images have the ability in themselves to sway or conjure to think in a certain manner.

The way an image is presented can be biased, and thus influence the audience to take a particular direction of reasoning about an issue. Owing to the technological developments that have occurred in the recent past, there are many write-ups, views, videos, and images that seek to sway the way we think about certain matters. According to the video EDCI 338 A01 (3.40min), the sources may not have facts and may present biased views about matters. Therefore, an open dialogue about the media literacy and factual information easily creates conflicts as there are many grey areas of half-truths and facts that people easily overlook or assume. Many people do not view the media objectively, or they lack the purpose of trying to analyze they information being presented. They assume that the creator of the information or image has already done their research and that what they present is true and not biased, without knowing that in most cases, it is quite the opposite (Trilling & Fadel, 66).

In my PLN, therefore, my goal will be to find out through analysis of what is being presented, especially when it comes to varied views. My analysis will have the ultimate goal of getting factual consensus, which involves taking into consideration both sides of a depiction or an argument. I will do the analysis with a clear understanding that people tend to create media to influence us in a certain way.

Works Cited

21st Century Skills – Learning for Life In Our Times Trilling, B & Fadel, C – Digital Literacy Skills – Media Literacy pp.66 https://learning-oreilly-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/library/view/21st+Century+Skills:+Learning+for+Life+in+Our+times/9780470475386/fade_9780470475386_oeb_c04_r1.html#h2

EDCI 338 A01- Smith, Julie (Video). Media Literacy – Course YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/Z_T9RghwJlI