Differentiating with Media

Literacy Best Practices

What do we need to know? A real literacy gender gap does exist Understanding boys and their interests

should influence text selection Literacy programs should include both self-

selected and teacher recommended texts Specific strategies like front-loading, drama,

inquiry, and small group discussions best support close reading skills

from Learn NC

Research Says . . . Teen females have

outperformed teen males on all reading assessments at a relatively constant rate from 1971-1999.

Reading scores for males have remained stagnant while other groups have risen, making the gender gap “the most immovable discrepancy in literacy proficiency.”

from Learn NC

The Boy Code

MESSAGES: Don’t fail Live up to an image of

masculinity Hide emotions Don’t be perceived as

smart Fight through conflict Do not enjoy reading or

writing

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: Growing absence of

positive male role models Overabundance of hyper-

masculine models in the media

Unspoken understanding that boys who follow the code are never homosexual

Fear of being labeled as different

From Teaching Boys Who Struggle in School

When the “Boy Code” is in effect: A boy’s suppression of his emotional self actually

makes it harder to remain tough because he is “vulnerable to his emotions under duress.”

He has a hard time understanding his own pain or getting help, instead turning inward or acting out with cruelty, both of which generate further shame.

This inability to access emotions and feel empathy is hugely important to understanding and interpreting literature.

The less he communicates, the more he stunts the language skills necessary to express himself verbally and in writing.

From Teaching Boys Who Struggle in School

How media and digital literacy in the classroom can help: We can easily differentiate for multiple skill

and interest levels by providing for choice We can remix the voices of our students to

reflect this vide variety of interests We can provide an alternative to the boy

code by allowing for self-directed inquiry We can help all students to reshape their

self-images through media “texts” that reflect them as individuals

Connected Learning

Key Concept: CHOICE Allow students to make

clear and distinct choices about topic study

Set clear expectations and guidelines

Provide extended time for students to uncover views that are not immediately present

Allow students to modify or abandon projects that are not going well

Media and Choice

Arm students with skills to seek out and find relevant and useful information:

Using keywords Evaluating sources Fostering a healthy

skepticism Model and practice

metacognition

Encourage deep exploration into “nitty gritty” details:

Show students HOW to break down larger ideas

Explore multifaceted concepts

Connect form and function

Model as a co-learner

Another look at the learning process . . .

Formative Assessments:Practice Makes Perfect Provide low stakes, low risk assessments Use a wide variety of media tools Address common themes or skills while

offering topic choice Model digital communication regularly Encourage “word of mouth”

recommendations Student generated media projects allow

multiple opportunities for revision

Suggested Media Integration

Video – small chunks, closed-captioned Podcasts / Audio – individual listening, Voicethread Electronic Communication – model texts and

monitoring News and Current Events – reading for details Discussion Boards – provocative prompts and

modeled responses Flipped Classrooms Crowdsourcing – Skype in the Classroom Social Networks . . .

Social Networks and CrowdsourcingTOPICS

Digital footprints and digital identities

Tone and messaging Authentic audiences Using social networks

and crowdsourcing to your advantage

Encourage co-expertise

RESOURCES Twitter Facebook Tumblr Instagram Pinterest Yelp Craigslist Skype Evernote Hootsuite Ning

Student Generated Media

Digital Storytelling Narratives Documentaries Poetry and Spoken Word Remixed Media and Mashups

Public Service Announcements Websites Blogs Student Journalism

Resources

Connected Learning Digital Writing Links NWP Digital Is Skype in the Classroom UNC School of Ed WebQuest Center for Digital Storytelling Media Smarts Boys and Digital Literacy Summary R

eport ASCD text re: The Boy Code