DEJ # 7 Measuring the Acquisition of Media Literacy Skills

Why did the authors do this study?  The researchers examined " the impact of media literacy instruction in  a secondary language arts curriculum, which was developed in one district, to determine its effects on students’ reading, listening and viewing comprehension, writing, and skills of message analysis" (Hobbs and Frost 335).
How did the authors do this study?  The authors used nonequivalent groups research design;  a quasi-experiment, which consists of using a test group and a control group from a different community, instructors using similar instructional practices, with similarities in school size and demographics. The grade level, length of instructional time, pre and post tests, and shared materials were consistent.
What did the authors conclude from the data analysis?   The results were indicative that media literacy instruction improved the students' ability to comprehend, analyze and evaluate information.  In reference to writing, there wasn't a significant difference between the treatment and control group  "These results indicate that the infusion of media literacy into the grade 11 English class did not detract from the teachers’ ability to support and strengthen the growth of students’ writing development"(Hobbs and Frost 344).

What is the significance of the study?   This study allowed the authors to voice their findings that media literacy integrated into a curriculum can be just as rigorous and valid as traditional literacy.  

How do these findings influence your position on media literacy and school curriculum?  This research was conducted with seven, grade 11 teachers with the same objectives, activities and texts in real-world contexts.   However, we need to do further research into instructional strategies, teacher attitudes and other existing variables to further promote media literacy integration in the curriculum.  

After reading and analyzing the data from this article, an instructor that correlates media literacy skills with  critical thinking skills, will be able to design authentic instruction for students without the burden of worry that he/she is not meeting the necessary requirements of literacy.

Hobbs, Renee, and Richard Frost. "Measuring the Acquisition of Media Literacy Skills." Reading Research Quarterly 39.3 July (2003): 330-55. Web. 7 Oct. 2011.