Media Education Week

While the week is over, the concept is something that should be considered past a one week period. This week, November 3-7 is Media Education Week that aims to educate the entire society on the use and affects of technology in today's world. It especially focuses on teachers bringing in technology into the classroom, and the need to educate our students on how to think critically and ethically about its use.

Here are some of the key questions and concepts brought forth on the Media Education Week Website :

http://www.mediaeducationweek.ca/

"Media education encourages an approach that is always probing, posing questions such as: Who is the audience of a media production and why? From whose perspective is a story being told? How do the unique elements and codes of a specific genre affect what we see, hear or read? How might different audiences interpret the same media production?

In the digital age, the principles of media education are the same as they've always been, but the existence of cyberspace is adding new and challenging questions. How, for instance, does technology affect how we relate to others? Is new technology enriching or undermining culture, learning and a sense of community? What roles do ownership, control and access play? What are the challenges in regulating a global, borderless medium like the Internet?"

In our Ed classes, discussions surrounding bullying and critical thinking are reoccurring themes, especially when considering integrating technology into the classroom. Can we monitor cyber bullying? Are we providing an alternate environment to intimidate? and so on. However, despite these concerns, the fact remains that our society is a technological society, therefore, I feel it is important to incorporate technology into the classrooms in order to prepare our students for life outside the education system. But I also feel that it is imperative that the students receive an education beyond the "how to's of technology". We must teach our students how to critically analyze the material they read, watch and create, and to think ethically about how these materials and creations affect those around them. Just because you cannot physically see the reaction of the audience, does not mean it is less hurtful or destructive.