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Why Digital and Media Literacy �Matters Now

Renee Hobbs

University of Rhode Island USA

Media Education Lab

Email: hobbs@uri.edu

Twitter: @reneehobbs

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ACCESS RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS TALK:

https://mediaeducationlab.com/events/new-perspectives-literacy

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1969

International

Visual Literacy

Association

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1969

International

Visual Literacy

Association

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ACRL Information Literacy Framework

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expanding the concept of literacy

open access

multitasking

creativity

identity

curation

play

data ownership

representation

surveillance

addiction

disinformation

propaganda

EMPOWERMENT

PROTECTION

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SOURCE: NAMLE 2024

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Critical Literacy

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News Literacy

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AI Literacy

TRANSPARENCY

SAFETY

ETHICS

IMPACT

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VISUAL LITERACY

1969

1977

1989

1999

2016

2024

THE HISTORY OF NEW LITERACIES

INFORMATION LITERACY

MEDIA

LITERACY

CRITICAL

LITERACY

NEWS

LITERACY

AI

LITERACY

2010

DIGITAL

LITERACY

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Literacy is a Moving Target

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Literacy is a Moving Target

Responsive to changes in

media forms, genres, platforms, technology

and society

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Image created by Canva AI

Texts

The symbolic forms used to

convey meaning

Authorship

The people, platforms, and processes used to construct meaning through symbols

Literacy

The sharing of meaning through symbols

THE

COMMON

GROUND

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Media-Related Challenges in 2024

POLARIZED POLITICAL CLIMATE

PROPAGANDA & DISINFORMATION

MEDIA & MENTAL HEALTH

NEWS AVOIDERS

CENTRALIZED POWER

OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS

AI & THE

KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

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  • Why Media Literacy Matters
  • Feelings & Facts
  • Conflict Entrepreneurs
  • Free Speech, Hate Speech & Censorship
  • The Influencers
  • Going Down the Rabbit Hole
  • Preventing Violent Extremism
  • High Conflict
  • Targets of Propaganda

https://www.courageousri.com/

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Algorithms Personalize Entertainment

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Algorithms Personalize Information

Used with permission

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Used with permission

Algorithms Personalize Persuasion

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TECHNOCRACY

A society that is dominated by digital platforms

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SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM

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are the PRODUCT whose attention is sold for PROFIT

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2020

2024

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SALT LAKE CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY

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VIRGINIA

TECH

LIBRARY

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Media Education Pedagogies

CLOSE READING

DIALOGUE & DISCUSSION

CREATIVE EXPRESSION

National Council of Teachers of English (2023). Position Statement: Media Education in English Language Arts.

https://ncte.org/statement/media_education/

Exploring Representation and Power through Critical Analysis

Increasing Relevance by Critically Examining Digital Media & Popular Culture

Empowering Voice with Writing, Speaking, and Self Expression

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Media literacy

involves asking critical questions about what you watch, see, listen to and read

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Media literacy

involves creating media with an appreciation of its power and influence

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ASSIGNMENT: Create AI Characters

Interact with the Human Generator and create at least 2 characters. Then reflect on what you noticed about the process. Consider how your choices were structured on the platform.

Write an email that explains and illustrates the choices you made. Then reflect on the experience. After completing this activity, what new questions come to mind?

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Language, Media & Technology

Create Unreal Realities

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Language, Media & Technology

Create Unreal Realities

How Are You Preparing Your Patrons

To Be Both Protected & Empowered?

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Use critical questions about media

as both a creator & consumer to address

the unreal realities around you

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Why Digital and Media Literacy �Matters Now

Renee Hobbs

University of Rhode Island USA

Media Education Lab

Email: hobbs@uri.edu

Twitter: @reneehobbs