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Integrating Media Literacy Education into Math, Science and Music and the Arts

Why study media related to math and science?

The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (ENC) on their page, Becoming Literate in Mathematics and Science, says: “We all agree that schools must prepare young people to be math literate, science literate, and technology literate, but we are not always sure what the literate citizen should look like. From understanding net gains and losses, spreadsheets, and annual reports to the composition of matter and the chemistry of the universe, math and science literacy affects the decisions we make in our personal and community life.”

In addition to checking specific teaching resources below, read these important articles on how journalists often accept the results of surveys and purportedly scientific studies as "revealed truth," rather then examining how the numbers and reported conclusions are manipulated to serve the agenda of those who published them: "Polls Give Numbers, But Truth is More Elusive," "Factoid Watch: Food Poisoning's Phony Figures," "Are U.S. Students Behind?" and "Not All Domestic Violence Studies are Created Equal.". [Thanks to MediaChannel.org for leads to these.]

Math

Media messages cite statistics, polling data, stock market reports, sports results and other numerical data that viewers and listeners need to accurately understand. During election cycles, it's particularly critical that citizens know how numbers (who's ahead in the polls, how many voters believe what, etc.) can be manipulated to influence the message.

Are there online lesson plans related to math and media?

• PBS Teacher Source has a lot of good material linking many of their programs to math activities for grades preK-12 and by topic (algebra, data analysis, numbers and operations, statistics and probability, etc.)
• Media Literacy Clearinghouse has good links to advertising, credit cards, sports advertising and other topics with good jumping-off points to making math literacy relevant to everyday life. The Math in the Media page has some basic information that will be helpful, especially to middle school teachers.

How about books or other resources?

For the best books and teaching materials selected and reviewed by members of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, visit TeachMediaLiteracy.org and use the pull-down menus at the top of the page to select your grade level and curriculum area Science/Math, then hit the GO button.

A very good book from the source mentioned above is Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists by Joel Best.

Also, consider incorporating filmmaking into your classwork as a way to jump-start learning. Check out this outstanding site at The Director in the Classroom for why and how this can engage students and enhance learning like nothing else you might try.

Science

As societies become ever more dependent on technology, chemistry and other man-made processes, citizens need to become more aware of how these affect us as individuals, nations and planetary inhabitants. Governments once undertook consumer protection as a given, however we now live in a less-regulated society, and corporations have a much greater ability to “spin” their messages to influence public opinion about subjects as important as the safety of our food supply, biotechnology, gene splicing and more. It has never been more important to learn how to ask the right questions about what we hear about the natural world and about those who seek to change it with their man-made products and processes.

Are there online lesson plans or resources related to science and media?

• UC Santa Barbara's Earth Sciences Educational MultiMedia Visualization Center offers "high quality visualization-enhancing materials about the Earth Sciences, harnessing the power of new multi-media imagery tools to bring our science to life.  Our goal is to make Earth information broadly accessible and as interesting, exciting and fun as possible for uses in all levels and forms of education." Free graphic image files for teachers to use in the classroom to help illustrate lesson plans and other teaching activities.  
• PBS Teacher Source has a lot of good material linking many of their programs to science activities for grades preK-12 and by topic (botany, geology, chemistry, and much more).
• The Director in the Classroom explains why having your students make a film on any topic, science included, engages learners like nothing else you might try.

How About Books?

• Trust Us We're Experts: How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Your Future by John Stauber, Sheldon Rampton
• Toxic Sludge is Good For You: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry by John Stauber, Sheldon Rampton
• Mad Cow U.S.A. by Sheldon Rampton, John Stauber

For additional excellent books and teaching materials selected and reviewed by members of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, visit TeachMediaLiteracy.org and use the pull-down menus at the top of the page to select your grade level and curriculum area Science/Math, then hit the GO button.

Music and The Arts

• M.U.S.I.C. (Musicians United for Songs in the Classroom) is a wonderful non-profit organization with a site that promotes the educational use of songs by teachers in all subject areas. Founder and president John Chase says, "Song lyrics are an excellent teaching tool that will engage, excite and motivate young people. The creative process of analyzing and interpreting song lyrics helps students to develop essential research, writing, critical thinking, and media literacy skills." Highly recommended.
• Check our Visual Literacy section of this website for some useful links.
• Media Literacy Clearinghouse has a TV & Video Production page with many links.
• Check out this outstanding site at The Director in the Classroom for why and how making films in the classroom can engage students and enhance learning like nothing else you might try.
• Lesson plans on photography and visual literacy and the language of film can be found via links on the Media Literacy Clearinghouse website.

For Teachers of All Subjects

What are the best overall media education websites, and how can I most easily find information on them?

Use the search box in the upper left corner of this page to search what we consider to be the top media literacy sites on the web. Just enter your search term(s) and you'll get results from the best on the web.

How can I locate a media education speaker for a workshop or conference?

That one's easy! Visit our Media Literacy Speakers Bureau™ here on this website.

Are there organizations and professional development opportunities to help me with my media literacy teaching?

Yes. Check  out our Community page, and review our Calendar of conferences & events.

Is there a media literacy list serve or discussion group I can join to network with others like me?

Yes, our Community page has that information.

Once you learn to look and listen with media-literate eyes and ears, and to create your own messages in new media formats, your life will never be the same. That's good! Enjoy the journey.

Many thanks to media literacy consultant/speaker Frank Baker (editor of Media Literacy Clearinghouse and advisor to MediaLiteracy.com), for his help with this Teaching section.