Smart Media
Smart Learners critically examine information online
Evaluate currency, accuracy, reliability and purpose of online content
Know how to verify online information
Analyse the construction of digital media
Consider how we construct our own media
The Kawa of Care supports empowering our young people as smart learners to:
make the most of this opportunity to learn lots of new things and to share these with others.
always be in the right place, at the right time when online and if in doubt ask their teacher or parent.
To achieve this learners need to be media literate and develop their ability to analyse, evaluate and respond to various forms of media. This includes understanding what media is, making informed judgements about media and most importantly, creating and sharing their own media.
"Because of our lived experiences digital citizenship is better when it’s a shared conversation" Dr Kristen Mattson
Images for Digital Citizenship conversations
Engaging in conversations about media through the use of images and video can provide opportunities for your learners to analyse, question and share their ideas about media.
When selecting media content, be alert to experiences that are unique and in response to your community. Designing learning that is personalised and inclusive, takes into account your learners' aspirations, interests, identity, language and culture. For example this resource, Images for Digital Citizenship conversations curated and shared by Dr Kristen Mattson, includes lots of images and helpful lesson ideas to get started.
While this and other online resources may include images that are useful, take into consideration content that is unique to your learners and local community. e.g. Bradley Lane Project, Glen Innes
Through creating and sharing their own media Smart Learners develop their ability to understand that media is constructed. Learning how to search for and acknowledge media content that is available for reuse also enables learners to analyse and evaluate media.
How to See: Perspective, Bias & Point of View created by Michael Hernandez
"A sequence of experiences and mentor texts. Helps learners to see the limits of knowledge, and how our eyes, mind and culture can fool us. Then take it to the next level by having students produce a podcast based on their experience." Michael Hernandez
Michael's lessons could be repurposed and may also serve to inspire learning design in response to your students.
"Media Literacy = Information Literacy + Media Production" @cheryltice
Smart Media Slide decks have been designed as possible starters for lesson design. They can be copied, repurposed and contextualised in response to your learners and curriculum learning areas.
Google has partnered with the educators at Pear Deck to create custom, interactive presentations and vocabulary flashcards to accompany the Be Internet Awesome curriculum.
We recommend previewing lessons and considering how best to use with your learners. Because lessons are created using Google Slides they can be copied and repurposed in response to your learners. Copies can also be used independently of the Pear Deck app.
Example from Cheryl Torrie: thinking about scams and phishing and the ways that people online try to get things like your password or personal data.
Lessons for all levels focus on how learners can be critical consumers and creators of news and media? New Zealand does not have a general “fair use” defence, as exists in United States copyright law, referenced in some lessons.
Creating and sharing their own media empowers learners to be media literate
Created for ISTE 2019 session this resource for teachers defines and explores info and media literacy and the importance of teaching critical thinking skills. Includes helpful readings and recommendations for lesson design.
How might you challenge your learners' to think critically about media?
Creating an Infographic - Visual representation of information
Vector Portraits: Google Draw and Polyline Tool
Create a Collage in Google Draw: by Kelsey Morgan
A quick video that highlights why it’s so important to check your facts. By the News Literacy Project.
