The Media Education Foundation produces and distributes documentary films and other educational resources to inspire critical thinking about the social, political, and cultural impact of American mass media.
Type of Material:
Collection
Recommended Uses:
Students view videos as homework, and discuss the issues in light of mass media literacy in class.
Technical Requirements:
Includes many streamed videos
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Users will:
Improve critical thinking
Explain the social, political, and cultural impact of American mass media.
Target Student Population:
College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Professional. Communications studies majors, Library and information science majors, Film majors
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
basic education
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
A wide variety of social, political, and cultural impact documentaries regarding American mass media. Videos are available through paid streaming or download. Users can view the trailer for free. Video transcripts and discussion guides accompany each video. Dozens of resources discuss media education issues. Videos are clustered by topic, although each is self-contained and covers its scope well.Appropriate for a college audience.
Concerns:
The full-length preview of each video is free for viewing only if considering buying it; personal name and contact information is needed to access the preview. DVDs are $250 apiece, and subscriptions are higher. The separate resources are not explicitly linked to the videos.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Media literacy is an aspect of ICT literacy. Videos are clustered by media issue, and provide information in a compelling manner. The video discussion guides provide key points, discussion questions and assignments, along with a list of other resources. As such, the guides are assignment-ready to support media literacy.
Concerns:
ICT literacy standards are not explicitly stated. Each video presents unique ideas that are not tied directly to each other.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
These professional videos are engaging, and tell compelling stories that foster media literacy. They can be appreciated without the discussion guides, but the guides and other resources linked in the website deepen understanding. Videos are not close-captioned, but transcripts for the full videos are available.
Concerns:
The videos are presentations so are not interactive. Instead, the discussion guides facilitate interaction. It is somewhat hard to find the free resources.
Creative Commons:
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