The Hounds of Misinformation: What Sherlock Holmes Can Teach Us About Media Literacy

A letter from Sherlock to Watson My dear Watson,  In a world overflowing with information, the ability to distinguish truth from deception is a skill as critical as any detective’s keen eye. This is why I find the study of ‘media literacy’ so intriguing—it is, in many ways, the modern art of deduction. I was … read more »

Let’s Talk About: Media Literacy

As an educator, it’s essential to grasp the significant role CNN plays in the ‘CNN Effect,’ a term coined to describe the profound impact of CNN on the news industry. Since its inception in June of 1980, CNN has transformed news delivery, shifting from periodic updates to 24-hour coverage. This shift has made real-time information … read more »

Media Literacy Week 2022

Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2022 starts October 24 and ends October 31! The United States celebrates from October 24 to October 28. According to Media Literacy Now, Media Literacy is the ability to: Decode media messages (including the systems in which they exist). Assess the influence of those messages on thoughts, feelings, and … read more »

Let’s Talk About: Media Literacy

As we begin to resume our K-12 charge – educating the children of our nation – we will need to contend with the diverse issues that our students have been hearing about. From the Black Lives Matter movement to the upcoming presidential election and everything in between, students have been inundated with media. There is … read more »

Why You Should Be Teaching Media Literacy in Your Classroom

Media Literacy is an important topic that all teachers should be involved in teaching. According to Common Sense Media, media literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and understand the messages they’re sending.  A more detailed definition of media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and create media in a … read more »

News…is it real or is it fake? Media Literacy Today

The New York Times was first published on September 18, 1851! The world was a very different place then. Today the words Fake News are a stark reminder of the amount of information our students receive every day. How can we help our students know what is real and what is fake? By teaching Media Literacy. According … read more »

Media Literacy in a Presidential Election Year

Bombarded by television ads in this presidential election year, especially in battleground states, many of us tend to press the mute button on the remote or change the station. However, as teachers, we should be thinking about the messages our students are getting when watching TV and as they live their everyday virtual lives. Media literacy, … read more »

AI Literacy Starts Here: Practical Classroom Approaches for Middle School

Middle school students are shifting from passive consumers of technology to active, engaged digital citizens. They’re building their perspectives, experimenting with social media, and discovering the power of their voices. Teaching AI literacy means more than showing them how to write prompts — it means demystifying the technology and pulling back the curtain so students … read more »

Celebrating Family Literacy: Engaging Ideas for All Ages

“Literacy is the most basic currency of the knowledge economy.” Barack Obama In 1994, Congress passed a joint resolution designating November 1 as Family Literacy Day. This day kicks off Family Literacy Month and emphasizes the importance of reading and learning together as a family. It’s vital to emphasize to students and families of all … read more »