Join Learning for Justice for a webinar on critical media consumption! Joined by experts in the field doing the work from IREX and Columbia (Missouri) Public Schools, you will be introduced to media literacy concepts.
The Moment
Media Literacy Is Crucial for Making Informed Decisions
Media stories about the state of public education abound. So how do we make decisions and engage in critical conversations about the future of our public schools and society? We must be discerning about the information around us. Thinking about what information is provided, the source, why a story is developed, and whose perspective is represented and whose is missing can be valuable in evaluating accuracy and reliability and in understanding the intent behind media information.
Today more than ever before, we have access to a wide range of information from a variety of media sources, most notably online digital platforms, television, radio and print materials. However, the benefits of increased exposure to information and ideas are undermined by a media landscape that is filled with polarized messaging, manipulated content, disinformation and propaganda. Rhetoric and catchphrases — especially about complex and divisive issues — are abundant and often attempt to reduce complex concerns to simplified and biased explanations. Disinformation threatens our democracy.
Exercising critical thinking, being informed, and engaging with reliable information are important steps for resisting disinformation. This featured resource includes media literacy recommendations for evaluating accuracy and reliability, ideas for reflection and action, and links to resources for understanding media literacy.
Media Literacy Is Vital for Informed Decision-Making
Media literacy — being able to access, analyze and evaluate information for accuracy and reliability across a variety of mediums — is crucial for us to make informed decisions.
The Mind Online Podcast
Through conversations with scholars, educators and other experts, host Monita Bell explores the critical aspects of digital literacy that shape how we create and consume content online.
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Civics For Democracy
Understanding democratic values is an essential step in connecting how government works so we can resist disinformation and participate responsibly in civic life. Each of us has an important role in helping our communities and nation. To strengthen democracy in the United States, we must understand the systems of government, politics and the media. By learning more about the systems and structures that govern society, we can plan and execute action that will bring the U.S. closer to the nation that lives up to its democratic values. Civics literacy is crucial if our nation is to achieve an inclusive, multiracial democracy. The resources in this series can help to develop the civic knowledge, skills and dispositions essential for responsible democratic action.
Resisting Hate in Education
The media in today’s political environment is filled with divisive messages, especially from public figures who perpetuate hate along with disinformation. We all have a responsibility to resist hate in our society and to foster safer learning spaces for young people – especially those being targeted by hate and discrimination. Cultivating dialogue, engaging with facts, and protecting students’ right to learn are essential components in strategies for prevention, intervention and response to hate and bias. The resources in this series offer strategies to help us engage as a broader community across our differences and build networks to foster resilience and take action to resist hate and bias.
Learning from the Civil Rights Movement
Increasing pushback against a more inclusive society challenges us all to become more conscious about the knowledge and skills to participate in democracy. The Civil Rights Movement is a story of people who believed they could bring about change. Learning from the movement gives us models and strategies for action in our communities and our nation to create a more just society. Realizing one’s own capacity for action is an essential disposition for responsible citizenship. As we grow in understanding this history and its ongoing relevance to our lives, we can examine today’s justice issues and find ways to answer the questions: “How can I make a difference?” “How can we make a difference together?”