Media Awareness Network (MNet) is a specialist organization for teachers as well as parents. Their mandate is “to promote media literacy and digital literacy by producing education and awareness programs and resources.” I discovered their website, http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/index.cfm, after a brief search on Google for a ‘BC professional association.’
MNet is an excellent resource for teachers who wish to educate young minds about the influences they encounter in the media as well as online. Some issues that are addressed are media violence, media stereo-typing, online hate, information privacy, as well as media and Canadian cultural policies. Teachers can find lesson plans, classroom activities, background articles, Canadian resources for media education as well as media education learning outcome charts for each grade. As a future English teacher, I was attracted to one lesson plan in particular: “TV Dads: Immature and Irresponsible?" This topic could be infused into a critical thinking unit in an English classroom. Teachers and parents may also be interested in the educational games that can be found on this website.
For the last ten years, MNet has been working on a research project entitled Young Canadians in a Wired World (YCWW). “It is Canada's largest and most comprehensive investigation of the role of the Internet in the lives of children and youth.” Phase I of the research, done in 2000-2001, “explored what young people do online, how they perceive the Internet and what they know about it.” They “focused on areas of risk such as private and adult-only chat rooms, meeting Internet friends in person, exposure to sexually-explicit and hateful material and sharing personal information.” Phase II findings, in 2003-2005, “confirm that hazards still exist for young people online, but that an increase in parental involvement has positive impacts.” MNet is currently raising funds for Phase III. Some of their partners and funders include Telus, Youtube, Bell, Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, Entertainment Software Associations of Canada, Nova Scotia Teachers Union, The Manitoba's Teachers Society and CTV.
Another organization that MNet connects with is the British Columbia Association for Media Education (BCAME). The members of this association “have provided numerous workshops and presentations at conferences and events across the province” in support of “media education training for British Columbia teachers.”
One example of the many issues that are addressed on MNet’s website can be found in a republished article titled "Web of Hate" by Ros Davidson. It was originally published in Salon, October 16, 1998. The article suggests that internet ‘hate sites’ are the cause of the rise in hate crimes. "Experts say the Internet is playing a central role, allowing hate groups to recruit, network and plan events more easily..." The author believes that 'hate sites' target youth and young adults in attempts to recruit more potential leaders to their groups. They use 'hate music' as well as games with white-supremacist themes to influence younger audiences. The article also mentions that anti-homosexuality is a large part of the propaganda on these 'hate sites.' This was of particular interest to me, because of the numerous hate crimes against homosexuals that has been reported in the news lately. It is important to note that many of these websites are technically sophisticated and the common public may be directed to their sites without ever looking for them. Hate, prejudice and racism are issues in every society and in every decade. MNet recognizes that students are constantly surfing the net and that it is essential for adults to be aware of the potential dangers online. This comes to play in particular when a teacher assigns online research as homework.
As a pedagogical approach to this social issue, I could have my students find one of these sites and deconstruct the propaganda that is found there. The students would describe the information they find and then have them research other (more credible) resources to see if the information on the ‘hate site’ is factual or not. This way the students are learning to question what they read or hear. It would be a lesson in critical thinking. They could also research possible reasons for these hateful views. ‘Where do they come from?’ However, I am aware of the danger in this tactic. The controversial material could offend parents, administrators, as well as some students. It is possible that some students may agree with the material found on the ‘hate site.’ This pedagogical approach would need to be introduced slowly and carefully with the support of the administration.
In conclusion, I believe the Media Awareness Network is a very useful organization for teachers. Their resources are relevant and interesting for students as well as adults. There is no question that our society is saturated with the media. It is important that as teachers we can instruct our students on how to maneuver through the media and how to think critically about what they find.
No comments:
Post a Comment