Week 7 D.E.J.

Why did the authors do this study?
The authors wanted to determine the impact of implementing media literacy in language arts curriculum on secondary school students.

How did the authors do the study?
The authors selected 11th grade English classes from two different schools with similar demographics.  The first school incorporated critical media literacy skills into the classroom, while the second school did not.  Students were evaluated on writing, critical reading, critical listening and comprehension skills.

What data/results emerged from the study?
Students who received media literacy instruction were more skilled at identifying main ideas, construction techniques, comparing and contrasting information, understanding and interpreting contextual evidence, and identifying an author's purpose and target audience.

What do the authors conclude from the data analysis?
The authors concluded that incorporating media literacy into the curriculum is a valid and effective teaching method.

What is the significance of the study?
The significance of this study is that it validates media literacy as an important instructional tool.  Students who receive instruction in critical media literacy scored better in listening comprehension than those who did not.

How do these findings influence your position on media literacy and school curriculum?
These findings strengthen my belief that media literacy is vital and can be incorporated in school curriculum in a wide variety of subjects and ways.

Hobbs, R., & Frost, R. (2003). Measuring the acquisition of media-literacy skills. Reading Research Quarterly, 38(3), 330-355.