Week 6 Lesson Plan: Is Superman Really All That Super? Critically Exploring Superheroes

Trading Cards:  Super Heroes

RLA.0.5.1.8  differentiate and apply comprehension strategies in literary and information texts to draw conclusions, predict, use context clues and summarize

RLA.O.5.1.10  compare and contrast text connections to self, to other texts and to world cultures in literary and informational texts

RLA.0.5.3.4  create an age-appropriate media product that demonstrates format, purpose, and audience

Students will be gathering, evaluating and analyzing data to communicate their discoveries in ways to suit their purpose and audience.

Can integrating media literacy into your classroom activities help prepare your students for taking the WESTEST?
 Yes, if you are teaching the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy effectively then you will be able to prepare your students for testing.  My personal belief is that if you find engaging, relevant, authentic activities for your students that promote critical thinking skills, foster the development of these skills, your end result will be independent thinkers and learners.

Double Journal Entry #6 " Learn Critical Thinking through Media Literacy Education"

Quote:  "Summers states, “Teachers who recognize the goal of teaching thinking rather than just imparting knowledge help students make connections beyond the content of the coursework” (2005, pp. 2) She suggests teaching critical thinking by applying it to the study of media literacy. This practice gives students the skills and knowledge needed to “access, analyze, evaluate and communicate” (NAMLE) media messages."

Response:  Creating (designing, constructing, planning, producing and inventing), Evaluating (checking, hypothesizing, critiquing, experimenting  and judging), and Analyzing (comparing, organizing, deconstructing, interrogating and finding) are all terms from Bloom’s Revised taxonomy that students must understand, and be able to “do” to be successful on standardized tests.  As classroom teachers, we actually have charts posted in our classrooms with Bloom’s terms, and titled “Must Know Words to Achieve Success on the WESTEST”.   Most WESTEST questions are not based at the beginning level of Bloom’s which includes terms such as recall and identify.  The depth of knowledge required to answer standardized test questions falls in the range of 2-4.  These questions require the use of critical thinking skills such as analyzing, evaluating, judging.   So, why not teach critical media literacy skills instead of  repetitive drilling of facts and trying to” teach to the test “ a few weeks before the actual test date?  

References:
Learn Critical Thinking through Media Literacy Education. (2010, October). In Medialiteracycolloquium'sblog: A Study in Media Literacy. Retrieved September 27, 2011, from http://medialiteracycolloquium.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/learn-critical-thinking-through-media-literacy-education/
Summers, S. L. (2005). Get Them Thinking! : Use Media Literacy to Prepare Students for State Assessments, pp. 2, 8, 9.


Additional Resource: 
 "By this point, you may be asking what does this have to do with media literacy? To educate the students, who are the future of the world and public, educators need to be brought up to speed on the present and future waves of technology that will ultimately distribute and provide news media to the masses. The educators need to be taught, so they can teach the future of the world of the news tools that are available to them. It would certainly be a work in progress, but in the far-off future, it would fix the problems of media illiteracy."     


I found this article relevant due to a current issue in education today.  Educators need more training that is pertinent to what is happening in today's world.

Educating the Educators. (2010, December). In Medialiteracycolloquium'sblog: A Study in Media Literacy. Retrieved September 27, 2011, from http://medialiteracycolloquium.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/educating-the-educators/

Double Journal Entry #5 : "I want to be a Mermaid!"

Quote:  "Strategies for critical analysis of media messages have been created that target teens; however, results so far indicate that teens are better-educated, but still fall victim to eating disorder behaviors and low self-esteem in terms of body image. "


Response:  This quote substantiates the need for critical media skills to be taught in educational and residential settings.  As a parent and teacher, I can validate that the concepts of physical, emotional and social well being are being taught in most physical education and health classes.  Instructional activities include; posters, brochures, commercials, advertisements, music deconstruction, and numerous other activities that promote healthy lifestyles.  But, some students that are creating these powerful messages are on the top of the victimization list.  In addition, mass media tactics mainly pursued by companies that are focused on stock piling assets, are overpowering intended educational outcomes.  Teachers and parents need to be informed, and assist teens with gaining a "voice" to represent themselves against mass media tactics to persuade teens to accept stereotypes.  This problem is difficult, and not one that has an easy solution.  A final thought, if teachers and parents are accepting and promoting stereotypes, how do we get our teens to evaluate and analyze media to make changes?


Reference:  Sauer, H., & Robles_Pina, R. (2003). What Adolescent Girls are Reading and the Way They Shape Body Image. In Advancing Women . Retrieved September 22, 2011, from www.advancingwomen.com


Additional Resource:  Beauty and Body Image in the Media
"Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that media images of female beauty are unattainable for all but a very small number of women. Researchers generating a computer model of a woman with Barbie-doll proportions, for example, found that her back would be too weak to support the weight of her upper body, and her body would be too narrow to contain more than half a liver and a few centimeters of bowel. A real woman built that way would suffer from chronic diarrhea and eventually die from malnutrition. Jill Barad president of Mattel (which manufactures Barbie) estimated that 99% of girls aged 3 to 10 years old own at least one Barbie doll.3"
Reference:  Gerber, R. (n.d.). Beauty and Body Image in the Media. In Media Awareness Network. Retrieved September 22, 2011, from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm
Barbie boots up. (Time, Nov 11 1996).http://www.time.com

Magazine Cover - 21st Century Woman

Double Journal Entry # 4 Defining New Literacies in Curricular Practice

Quote:  "A reconceptualized vision of new literacies education would include an explicit effort to enable students to acquire the ability to understand how visual media work to produce meanings. This effort would strive to develop literate people who are able to read, write, listen, talk, analyze, evaluate, and produce communications in a variety of media, including print, television, music, video, film, radio, hypertext, and the arts."


Response:  New literacies are in demand in educational environments and the workplace environment.  So when do we cease with the overload of content standards, and teaching to expose students to content because we must fulfill a monthly curriculum map and held accountable for test scores?  Very little room is left in curriculum planning that allows the "human factor" to have a voice in designing instruction.  Our focus is often narrow during the planning phases of instruction and we tend to leave out student engagement, authentic experiences and preparing our students to participate and have a voice in an ever-changing global society.  Promoting and providing teachers the opportunities to participate in and understand new literacies has to take place before the gap between traditional literacies and media literacies can begin to close in the curriculum. 

Semali, L. (2001, November). Defining new literacies in curricular practice. Reading Online, 5(4). Available: http://www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/lit_index.asp?HREF=semali1/index.html


Additional Resource:  I chose this as an additional resource since I've had the opportunity to converse and listen to R. Neil Shambaugh at a National Professional Development School Conference.


  "The payoff to innovative change is student engagement with the learning activities and room for personal expression and responses to the assigned tasks."

Shambaugh, R.N. (2000, August). What does it mean to be x literate? Literacy definitions as tools for growth. Reading Online, 4(2). Available: http://www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/lit_index.asp?HREF=/newliteracies/shambaugh/index.html

Magazine Deconstruction Week #4

1. What are the differences between the two covers? What techniques are used to attract your attention? Pay attention to body language, clothing, camera angle, lighting, color, eye contact ect. How do the difference influence what you think and feel about the person.  Arnold looks younger in the Fitness cover, his dark glasses, serious face, light hitting one side of his face, shadows are on the scarred side, maybe indicating "good boy, bad boy" image.  You can't see his eyes behind glasses, depicting mystery.  The Esquire magazine shows a few wrinkles, possibly indicating experience.  He is cast in and surrounded by red, white and blue colors, and font.  His eye contact indicates that he is "talking to you".  Pointing finger, just like Uncle Sam saying, " I want You"!  He is smiling indicating happiness, and an invitation that extends he is open to communication. This picture suggests that he is intelligent.  The fitness picture doesn't make me feel as if he is ready to represent anyone in politics.  

1. What do you find appealing or not appealing about the cover of the magazine?   I find the fitness cover more appealing than the Esquire. The Esquire picture gives me an uneasy feeling, maybe because I'm viewing this picture after what has transpired in the news recently?

2. What elements in the design make it appealing or not appealing?  Both covers use colors to attract the viewer, font size and color, in-style clothing, and lighting that highlights specific body features.

3. What elements are included on the cover to sell this magazine? Consider title, imagery, sensationalized headlines, exclusive articles, secrets, gossip, free gifts, and celebrity news.  Fitness:  Promises of quick fixes to fitness, Staying out of the gym could indicate saving money, and exclusive interview with Arnold.  Esquire:  The patriotic font and clothing, the headline: Man at his Best, with a beautiful, scantily dressed woman beside Arnold.  The headline by Scott Raab, ..the dead body in the foyer.. and the promise of telling you what the best music is available to buy.

4. Describe the type of content in one issue. Fitness:  Fitness equipment, supplements, exercise routines, and an interview with Arnold.

5. What products or services are advertised in the issue?   The overall of theme of becoming physical fit.

6. What lifestyle, values and messages are being promoted by the contents in the issue?  Stressing that it is seen as a sign of power and popularity to be fit, well-dressed, and tough.  Also, if you use Joe Weider products you too, can look like Arnold.

7.Describe the demographics for what you think may be the magazine’s intended target readership. Consider age, sex, interests and socioeconomic status: Middle-aged Men, middle to upper class, interested in fitness, politics, fashion and trends.

8. What features of the magazine indicate to you that this is the intended readership?   The almighty powerful icon, Arnold is used on both covers.

9. What personalities or celebrities are used to promote this magazine?  Arnold Schwarzenegger

10. Are these personalities or celebrities promoting or challenging stereotypical messages? How?Definitely promoting stereotypical messages.  For example, strong men, well-dressed, and groomed make great politicians.

 

Magazine Cover Deconstruction Week #4 Esquire...

1. What do you think about this person based on the cover of the magazine? How does he look?  How does he make your feel?  Arnold looks wealthy, healthy and he reminds of "Uncle Sam" saying, "I want you"!  His expensive looking ring, fitted suit, straight white teeth, manicured nails and smile instill a sense of power.  His clothing color would be considered very patriotic. 

2 What is the main purpose of this magazine?  Esquire magazine targets an audience of men.  If men are known to read this magazine, then  Men's fashion, trends, political news, interviews, automobiles, women models and being in the spotlight are probably important.

3. Describe who you believe is the magazine's intended readership.  Men in politics, powerful business positions and men that are striving to attain position in society.

4. What lifestyles, values, points of view are represented or omitted?  Again, using Arnold, an icon to symbolize power.  Patriotic values, being well-dressed and groomed, the red, white and blue text representing a commitment to country.  The caption that states, "The Next Governor of California. Really."  By placing "really" as a separate statement, can be viewed as an act of confirmation.  

Magazine Cover Deconstruction Week #4 Muscle Fitness...

  1. What do you think about this person based on the cover of the magazine? How does he look?  How does he make your feel?    Muscle fitness magazine used Arnold as a cover picture due to the fact that he is thought of as the ultimate representation of fitness.  Arnold looks tan, fit, his glasses are stylish and expensive looking, hair is perfectly styled, he is wearing leather gloves to indicate hard work, and the scars on his face indicate that he has "participated in a battle to achieve power or strength" and survived!  Honestly, exercise is important to me, so it does motivate me to some degree to work harder and eat healthy.  Just being honest... However, I do understand the use of popular actors to influence readers or viewers to feel as if they need to look like the image to be successful.  The large font and colors scream out the word "power".

2 What is the main purpose of this magazine?  One purpose of this magazine is to promote Joe Weider's workout equipment, magazine, and the contents and articles are most likely plush with advertisements for supplements.  The cover also promotes quick fixes to physical fitness.  The magazine wants the reader to purchase the magazine based on wanting to read articles that promise a "quick remedy" to look like Arnold.

3. Describe who you believe is the magazine's intended readership.  I believe that this magazine is intended for middle to upper class men.  Men that have busy lifestyles and don't have the time to exercise to get results, so they want to hopefully read an article to make workouts fit in their schedule.

4. What lifestyles, values, points of view are represented or omitted?   A lifestyle of fitness, money, and popularity are emphasized.  The cover is demanding that readers value body size, and that if Arnold follows these fitness routines, then you should too if you want a muscular body.  Omitted?  Important facts about age, present physical condition, equipment needed,  and supplements used.  Did Arnold really use these specific techniques listed as part of his workout routine?  

Double Journal Entry #3

Quote:  "The basis of media literacy is that all messages are constructed, and when education begins with this
understanding of the social construction of knowledge the literacy process can expand critical inquiry into multiple forms of information and communication, including television programmes, Internet, advertising, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and books. Carmen Luke (2000) wrote ‘‘unless educators take a lead in developing appropriate pedagogies for these new electronic media and forms of communication, corporate experts will be the ones to determine how people will learn, what they learn, and what constitutes literacy’’ (p. 71)."

Response:  This article captured an overall view of what is happening in today's classroom. Standardized testing has dominated professional learning conversations and professional development opportunities. Choices of professional development opportunities do not usually include: "How to teach Critical Media Skills to your Students"  Honestly, I think if this topic were to be offered, the response from some might be:  "Is it on the test?" This response is understandable due to the pressures and accountability of testing.  But, it is time for  innovative facilitators of learning to become aware of these much needed media skills and devise ways to place in their curriculum and participate in developing the pedagogy for the new electronic media and communication tools.   Using tools to become media literate, learning about the various forms of media, and interpreting the true messages of media was easily incorporated into my 5th grade writing curriculum.  How disconcerting that if teachers do not participate in the pedagogy development, then corporate experts will determine what constitutes literacy?

Kellner, D., & Share, J. (2005, September). Toward Critical Media Literacy: Core concepts, debates, organizations and policies.Taylor and Francis Journals, 26(3), 369-386. Retrieved September 7, 2011, from http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/


Additional Resource:  I've attached a link to a "Student Workbook" that is full of ideas and cartoons for teaching media literacy.
Student Workbook

Worsnop, C. M. (n.d.). Media Literacy through Critical Thinking. N.p.: NW Center for Excellence in Media Literacy. Retrieved September 8, 2011, from http://depts.washington.edu/nwmedia/sections/nw_center/curriculum_docs/stud_combine.pdf

Old Spice will transport You to the Ocean? (Commercial Deconstruction)

Old Spice was originally owned by the Shulton Company and purchased by Proctor and Gamble in 1990.  Their advertising is centered around the nautical theme.  This particular commercial was part of a three day campaign by Proctor and Gamble to garner 6.7 million views in a 24 hour period and create a viral online video campaign that included the "star" of the commercial to blog and answer online questions.
I believe that the target audience for this commercial is lower to middle class, women and men (teens to adults), and any ethnicity. However, the message seems to indicate that the "ladies" should go out and buy the product for her man possibly indicating that the woman does the shopping.   The clean, spacious bathroom, water running for aesthetics, muscular, beautiful man, smiling to indicate happiness, that is demanding attention from women with a towel wrapped around his waist are part of the visual and audio tactics to appeal to the viewer.   The tropical scene, the ocean, the yacht, white-horse (most likely depicting a knight in shining armor) is used to create a sense of calmness and romanticism.  I believe that the hidden message is that if your significant other uses Old Spice, they will look like the model. (The Beautiful People tactic - Language of Persuasion)  An upper-middle to upper class lifestyle is presented through the use of clothing, the yacht, horse-back riding on a beach in a tropical area.  Also it is assumed that tickets (probably to a sporting event, will not be used and replaced with diamonds, if your man uses Old Spice.  The text, "Smell like a man, man" is suggesting that you will be a man if you use the product.  The only positive message that I can assume is one of practicing good hygiene.  The negative message is that people that use old spice will have a particular look, body style and economic status.  Also, that the viewer may feel that their "man" isn't good enough if he doesn't measure up to the old spice man.   This commercial may empower people that already use Old Spice, have a well honed body and can afford to buy Old Spice.  It may disempower people with poor self-body images, unable to afford Old Spice, and question their relationships.  The media maker's interests are served due to what some in society believe to be the acceptable way to "look", it will make them go out and buy the product and in some way feel as if they are "supporting" or making a connection with the model in the commercial. If you want more information about Proctor and Gamble or the history of Old Spice you can go the proctor and gamble website and read financial information, supporters, etc...

Old Spice Video Message

The Man Your Man Could Smell Like. (2010, February 5). In Youtube. Retrieved September 7, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Corporate Media Attack on the American Workforce?

Century Link

The tactic of branding has a pervasive influence on the American worker and consumer.  As we become more aware of critical media skills and strategies, we should be able to analyze and evaluate what corporate media attacks are being used to empty our wallets and raise the unemployment rate.  The Quest becomes CenturyLink commercial is presented in an appealing, everyone work together, raise your "status" format.  What is not shown in the commercial is the hidden message that merger or bigger doesn't mean better for the American worker.  The commercial does not mention the potential loss of 660 job positions within Quest, the overcharges for internet service, and the unavailability to rural customers.
Personally, I've had experience with merging companies advertising high speed connections, better rates, and reaching more customesr. But, for some reason they haven't seemed to reach my house! Since I reside in a rural area it is a constant struggle that comes with letter writing, phone calls, and being put on a waiting list.  Unfortunately, we have to accept the one offer available for internet service and pay the price.

Media's Effect on Politics/Related Resource/ A Seven Power Lens on 21st Century Literacy

This youtube video clip is a resource related to Double Journal Entry #2. (Seven Power Lens)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHdczToQS7k&feature=related

 

Media's Effect on Politics. (2009, July 29). youtube. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHdczToQS7k&feature=related

Double Journal Entry #2 Monocular or "Eyepatch"? A Seven Power Lens on 21st Century Literacy

Quote:  "The tools of visual, media, and information literacy must be taught in school because they will
(or won’t) be used at home."
Reaction:   As a parent, the first experience of teaching my son to evaluate and analyze media manifested itself in the form of  television advertisements.  Watching the toy rockets zooming 100 feet in the air,  matchbox cars making triple loops around a plastic track, shoes that make you jump higher than anyone on your team... It took much practice and determination to make him realize that he needed to read the fine print, and that a particular company was trying to use persuasive tactics to get money.  Now, at age 16, he still needs to be reminded when getting "tweets", instant messages, "pushes from media sources" that he must verify that an event has actually occurred.
From the teacher perspective, we must be cognizant that our students are being saturated with media in various forms. They report to school with sensationalized stories and pictures that they believe to be true. We do our best to provide techniques and strategies to prove that these stories and pictures are valid.  It can be difficult to get this point across when they live in environments that accept the "news" as the gospel truth.  Critical media skills must be built into our curriculum and activities provided for students to practice these skills in the classroom.  Thus, teachers need to be informed and given the opportunities to learn effective strategies to implement.
Finally, are we going to be parents and educators that teach our children to use a "monocular" and bring visual, media, and information literacy up close and in focus?  Or, will we allow the "eyepatches" to stay in place and allow ourselves to accept forms of media as it is presented?

Abilock, Debbie // Multimedia Schools; Nov2003, Vol. 10 Issue 6, p30