Media Literacy
This course scrutinizes mass media from every angle: history, politics, psychology, technology, and philosophy. Our goal is to learn what shapes media messages, and how we can be discerning consumers of information online and in person.
What's included
16 pre-recorded lessons
16 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentAssignments
4+ hours per week. Students will be assigned to read and watch our course introductions to new concepts, and they will be assigned sources and practice exercises designed to test their understanding of those concepts.Letter Grade
Student grades will depend on participation and assignment completion and accuracy.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Intermediate Level
In this class we'll get below the surface of information online—news, advertising, social media, and more. Which is more reliable: cable news, news from a TikTok influencer, a rumor from your friend, or a claim you read about on a site you can't quite remember? Are any of these sources sincere? Which of them are interested in good information, and which of them are just interested in attention and entertainment? Join us in our semester-long Media Literacy course as we explore these questions and a host of others. Our goal will be to uncover what's going on below the surface when we're online, to see if we can develop more confidence and discernment in our noisy and chaotic information environment. Check out the course syllabus to see the planned course outline (though keep in mind that I reserve the right to edit this based on student needs and interests! I will inform you if any changes occur :) All of the content students need to learn each week's new concepts is included in the course, either as pre-recorded video, assigned reading, or an assignment that will help them practice what they've read and watched. I am available for questions via the Outschool messaging system throughout the week.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to engage with multiple forms of media with discernment and good judgment.Students will be able to express their ideas, incorporate criticisms of their ideas, and challenge the ideas of others.
Syllabus
16 Lessons
over 16 WeeksLesson 1:
What is "media literacy"? What is "humane technology"?
Laying the groundwork for a profound rather than a shallow understanding of the media through an understanding of incentives, humane technology, advertising, algorithms, and more.
Please direct all questions on class materials through the Outschool Classroom. Lesson 2:
"The medium is the message"; How accurate are our intuitions?
Understanding how the medium of delivery (TV, radio, podcast, social media, website, etc.) shapes the message itself (the message actually changes depending on the medium through which it's delivered!).
Understanding how our intuitive selves make sense of the world, and how our reflective selves make sense of the world.
Please direct all questions on class materials through the Outschool Classroom. Lesson 3:
History Part 1: The partisan, penny, and professional presses
The development of journalism from the 1700s through today.
Please direct all questions on class materials through the Outschool Classroom. Lesson 4:
History Part 2: The collapse of time and space
The shifts that brought us to a world where distance no longer matters.
Please direct all questions on class materials through the Outschool Classroom. Other Details
Parental Guidance
We will periodically utilize articles from ground.news in order to find headlines and other content for practicing our understanding of key media literacy concepts.
Students will be supplied login credentials for enrollment. We will utilize a third party site for course content. Please direct all questions on class materials through the Outschool Classroom. Email address are not collected nor are they stored.
Please direct all questions on class materials through the Outschool Classroom.
Pre-Requisites
Students should be interested in journalism, the media, politics, and/or technology. This course is designed for students who want to be here and are ready to engage with the content.
Supply List
All materials required for the class are included.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined May, 2024
Teacher expertise and credentials
1 teacher has a teaching certificate
Utah Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
1 teacher has a Graduate degree
Master's Degree in Social Work from Temple University
2 teachers have a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in History from Brigham Young University
Bachelor's Degree in Human Development Family Studies from Brigham Young University
BA in History
BA in Philosophy
Teaching certificates in history and English
A decade of teaching experience in charter schools and international schools, utilizing the A-level and IB curriculumsReviews
Self-Paced Course
$25
weekly16 pre-recorded lessons
16 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 1 learner
Choose your start date
Ages: 14-18
