AMCC MediaLab
Training in media literacy in a school context
Concept
The increase in plurality, the multiplicity of information channels and the participation of more social actors promotes, on the one hand, the democratization of communication and access to information systems, but on the other, it makes everything more complex and demanding in terms of the necessary degree of media literacy. to understand the value of each message and its impact on society (Frota, Cortés, & Melo, 2024). The increasing digitalization of information systems in general, and social media in particular, has changed consumer habits, transforming access to information, as a facilitator, and the way it is assimilated. In this sea of information, students, in particular, have the difficult task of interpreting the message conveyed and recognizing the credibility of the media and information sources, and media literacy is the key to surviving in this ocean (Abdul Latif, Ahmad, Imma, Zambri, Bakar, Razak and Kamal, 2024).
The North American National Association For Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) simply defines media literacy as “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and act using all forms of communication”, offering new forms of writing and reading, as it “empowers people to be critical thinkers and creators, effective communicators and active citizens”. Media literacy makes use of all users' experiences, whether on social media or reading news online anytime, anywhere. In this sense, NAMLE points out some of the essential starting questions that help to better understand the message we find in these interactions, as well as the use of different technological platforms in this user experience. These are the questions that we should all ask ourselves, when faced with media consumption, and which we indicate in the tables below.
Authors and Audiences
Authorship
- Who did this?
- Who was and who wasn't involved in creating this?
- When was this done?
Purpose
- Why was this done?
- What do you want me to do?
- Who is the target audience?
Economy
- Who paid for this?
- Who profits with this?
Messages and Meanings
Content
- What does this want me to think (or think about)?
- What can anyone learn from this?
- Which meanings, values, and perspectives are obvious, and which are implicit?
- What is omitted that could be important to know?
Techniques and Format
- How does the format or method of communication impact my media experience?
- What techniques are used to communicate meaning, and why?
- How do these techniques communicate this message?
Reflections and Assessments
Interpretation
- What is my interpretation?
- What can I learn about myself by reflecting on my interpretation of this?
- How might different people understand this message differently?
Answers
- How does this make me feel?
- How do my emotions influence my interpretation of this?
- If you feel the need to respond, what actions could you take that would be productive?
Credibility
- Is this a fact, an opinion or something else?
- What are the sources of information, ideas or statements?
- How believable is this (and how do you know)?
- How do I know I can trust this source to give me reliable information on this topic?