What is media literacy?

Media literacy is the person being capable of applying their own learnings and knowledge and modify the learnings and information with the digital media resources by using the media creation tools to conduct the effective communication products. In other words, it is also the platform and medium to deliver the message, the type of forms to express the person’s ideas and knowledge through social media online, such as video, audio, websites to share the ideas. (Bulger & Davison, 2018)

Why is it important?

–      Media literacy is important due to its particularity, it is the medium and platforms allows people to communicate more effectively and learn information faster than before. This is the effective and productive way for people to communicate nowadays and allows people to have access to all the news and ideas faster. It is the essential communication tool for people to learn new literacy faster through the media.

–      Why is it dismissed? Backfire effect.

In the content of the society, information often spreads fast without the proof of authenticity. The various communication tools provide the chance for all the users to express knowledge and ideas faster than before. All the platforms and various communication tools are the fast way to learn new knowledge and information. However, most of the channels and producers are fact based, they lack proof and evidence. The example in the videos says the magic question” what is two plus two equals to,” the answer to this question in fact was uncertain. Hence there are now ways to verify the truthfulness for some of the information online, this is the challenge and dissemination of the word media literacy. People need to carefully read the information and understand the content.

–      Why should you aim for varied views but the factual consensus in your PLN?

Various views provide comprehensive information and ideas for the readers and receivers to fully understand the whole contents. Since some of the views and opinions may involve personal feelings and biases. By understanding the information critically helps people to evaluate and analyze the content better.

–       Open dialogues about media literacy and factual information can create conflict, why does this happen?

Various opinions and ideas often come with different aspects of the content. Students need to make sure the information was credible, accurate and reliable. Moreover, students need to evaluate the information critically and competently, and use the information accurately. For example, Covid-19 were discovered in Wuhan, China, the news was spread through channels and tv, this is the media literacy, and people have understood this disease and the solutions to stay healthy. However, if the receivers do not use information accurately, then the idea was deliberately spread as Chinese was the blame for this disease, and the conflict such as Asian hate was beginning ever since.

–      What is the benefit of having a PLN that values social literacy?

Everyone’s level of information literacy and fluency will rise in the community. The rising demands of ability creates more possibilities for all the interested users to establish their thoughts and ideas by using media literacy. Moreover, having a PLN network that values literacy also provides various ways of learning, and it gives people a more comprehensive information of the content, and it opens critical evaluation and open discussion for everyone to discuss the events.

Bulger, M., & Davison, P. (2018). The promises, challenges, and futures of media literacy. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 1-21.

Smith, J. (2020, November 02). EDCI 338 A01- SMITH, JULIE. Retrieved from youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_T9RghwJlI