Because technology is such a big part of Western Society it is no surprise that it also plays a very big role in the elementary school classroom. Students are introduced to iPad Apps in Junior Kindergarten, Smart Boards are gradually taking over for White Boards, Green Screens are used for school projects, Apple Laptops are available for students at the primary junior level… as technology outside of the classroom grows and develops, so does it inside. The problem with Media Literacy and Visual Literacy being such a big factor in the classroom is not teaching the children how to use the tools or navigate websites (2 year olds are using iPhone s without a hiccup), the issue is in teaching children to critically evaluate what they are seeing. Visual Literacy is not just present inside the classroom; children are exposed to media messages and manipulation through many different aspects of their daily lives.
But what is visual literacy? In the text Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom by Frank Baker visual literacy is defined as being “the knowledge of how images are read through a process of understanding, interpreting and evaluating” (2012, p.47). There are various different aspects of an image that can account for the way it is interpreted, such as “angle, framing, light, focus and composition” (Baker, 2012, p.47). Essentially, both inside and outside of the classroom, visual literacy is inferring a message from a visual image based on the stylistic elements as well as your own interpretation. The issue with the lack of a concrete message is that children and adults can be manipulated into receiving these visual messages in different ways.
The Lucky Charms commercial posted below illustrates how media targets children in the advertisements of junky and sugary foods. Through the use of music, cartoon characters, colour and a catchy phrase the Lucky Charms brand has targeted and convinced young children that they need to have this delicious product as a part of a good breakfast:
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j78mAqOzqw
But what is visual literacy? In the text Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom by Frank Baker visual literacy is defined as being “the knowledge of how images are read through a process of understanding, interpreting and evaluating” (2012, p.47). There are various different aspects of an image that can account for the way it is interpreted, such as “angle, framing, light, focus and composition” (Baker, 2012, p.47). Essentially, both inside and outside of the classroom, visual literacy is inferring a message from a visual image based on the stylistic elements as well as your own interpretation. The issue with the lack of a concrete message is that children and adults can be manipulated into receiving these visual messages in different ways.
The Lucky Charms commercial posted below illustrates how media targets children in the advertisements of junky and sugary foods. Through the use of music, cartoon characters, colour and a catchy phrase the Lucky Charms brand has targeted and convinced young children that they need to have this delicious product as a part of a good breakfast:
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j78mAqOzqw
The main thing to remember when considering visual literacy is that everything interpreted from an image is in the eye of the beholder. Every person can extract a different message from a visual image and there really is no right or wrong answer. There is the message that the author/producer was trying to portray, but this is not necessarily the message that the viewer interprets. As a teacher in this new digital age it is very important that our students are made aware of the manipulation and inaccuracy of information sometimes portrayed through visual literacy. Students need to be taught to evaluate images with a critical eye, and not take everything they see at a literal value.
References:
Baker, F. (2012). Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom. Washington, D.C., International Society for Technology in Education.
Leprechaun's Lucky Stars Lucky Charms TV Commercial. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved October 20, 2014, from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j78mAqOzqw
References:
Baker, F. (2012). Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom. Washington, D.C., International Society for Technology in Education.
Leprechaun's Lucky Stars Lucky Charms TV Commercial. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved October 20, 2014, from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j78mAqOzqw