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Youth Media & Civic Engagement
Freedom of expression and social responsibility are key dimensions of citizenship. Democracies rely on people who are capable of self-governance and who are not merely spectators of a political sideshow. Media literacy education helps students become critical thinkers, encouraging them to become skeptical about political messages without becoming cynical about them. By constructing media messages, working collaboratively and participating in meaningful dialogue about social and political issues, students develop the ability to advocate for themselves and their communities, activating real citizenship skills.
 
                            MediaEd Forum
A Two-Day Online ConferenceMedia literacy education is often seen as part of the solution to many of the current challenges we face. We hear stakeholders from every arena declaring its importance.As our information ecosystems evolve, so do ideas about what it means to be "media literate" and whose responsibility that should be. For that reason, we offer four strands: AI LiteracyMis/Disinformation…
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                            Meeting of the Minds
The Meeting of the Minds (Montreal, November 14-15) is an in-person gathering and conference designed to create space for a rich collection of voices from multiple disciplines. Building on the interdisciplinary dialogue initiated by the…
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                            In Our Media Literacy Era: Fandom, Politics, and the Power of Critical Support
This Media Literacy Week, we’re talking fandom, politics, and critical thinking, all through the lens of Taylor Swift. The Media Education Lab and Swifties4Hope team up to explore how the worlds of fandom and politics overlap and diverge. Together, we’ll reflect on how we can support our favorite political candidates passionately while still thinking independently.Since our girl knows Aristotle,…
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                            Courageous Conversations are coming to PBS LearningMedia
We’re excited to announce a collection of free classroom resources created by Courageous RI, an initiative of the Media Education Lab. This collection of lesson plans, hosted on PBS LearningMedia and produced by Ocean State Media, features videos of Rhode Island students engaging in real, courageous conversations about issues that matter to them and their peers.Political violence and…
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                            Youth, Media, Identity & Expression
Youth Media, Identity, and Expression: Exploring Voice, Culture, and EmpowermentHow are young people using media to express who they are — and how can we better support those expressions across educational and cultural spaces?DATE:  Friday, October 3, 2025TIME:  12 PM ESTLOCATION: Zoom. Register.  In this interactive…
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                            Media Literacy in Massachusetts: A Landscape Scan
Many educators believe that Massachusetts could be a national leader in K-12 media literacy education. In interviews, educators shared the sentiment that leadership from DESE, superintendents, and community leaders are all essential. But mandates without funding are not effective and need to be accompanied by funding, guidance, and incentives. One teacher shared her perspective that “even with…
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                            Media Literacy in Action, 2nd edition 2025
The blurring of entertainment, information, and persuasion is reshaping work, life, and citizenship. As a result, our relationship to media has never been so important nor so complex. By asking critical questions about what they watch, listen to, read, and use, students can be better prepared to be responsible communicators who can use a variety of formats and genres for self-expression and…
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                            The Routledge Handbook of Media Education Futures Post-Pandemic.
Our team from the Media Education Lab is proud to announce the publication of The Routledge Handbook of Media Education Futures Post-Pandemic.This handbook showcases how educators and practitioners around the world adapted their routine media…
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                            Courageous Conversations
Bring media literacy and active listening to middle school, high school, college and adult learnersWith support from talented educators and experts who participated in the program, we’re proud to bring you the Courageous Conversations Curriculum. This book contains a collection of materials to help you bring media literacy and active listening into your middle school, high school or college…
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                            Media Literacy Smartphone
Learn how to use the Media Literacy Smartphone with learners of all ages! Download the free Learning Guide to bring the power of media literacy analysis to your learners!These easy-to-use cards, shaped…
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                            Teachers Guide, Media Literacy in Action
 This Teacher’s Guide will help you get the most out of the new textbook by Renee Hobbs, as it offers practical guidance on using this textbook in the classroom. Whether you are an experienced teacher or teaching media literacy for the first time, this guide…
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                            Media Literacy in Action
THE SECOND EDITION HAS ARRIVED!The blurring of entertainment, information, and persuasion is reshaping work, life, and citizenship. As a result, our relationship to media has never been so important nor so complex. By asking critical questions about what they watch, listen to, read, and use, students can be better prepared to be responsible communicators who can use a variety of formats and…
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                            Set Your Motivation
The Digital Learning Horoscope is a 48-item Likert scale instrument that assesses teachers’ perception of the value and relevance of six conceptual themes, namely: attitudes toward technology tools, genres and formats; message content and quality; community connectedness; texts and audiences; media systems; and learner-centered focus. …
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