When you’re watching TV, playing a game, or browsing the internet, it’s important to think about what you’re seeing and hearing. Here are five questions that can help you understand media better:
Every piece of media, like a movie or a website, is made by someone. It’s important to know who made it because they might have certain ideas or goals they want to share with you. This helps you understand why the message was created in the first place.
Think about the reason behind the message. Was it made to give you information, to entertain you, or to convince you to do something? Also, consider who the message is meant for. Is it for kids, adults, or everyone?
Money often plays a big role in media. Ask yourself who is funding the message. Knowing this can help you understand what they might want you to think or do. You can even look up more about the people or companies behind it to see what else they do.
Media uses different tricks to grab your attention. It could be bright colors, catchy music, or exciting stories. Learn to spot these techniques so you can see how they are trying to engage you.
Look at who is shown in the media and who isn’t. This can tell you a lot about the perspectives and values being shared. Think about whose voices are heard and whose are left out.
To really understand media, try making your own! Use these questions to think about your work and see what messages you’re sharing.
Thanks for learning with us! The more questions you ask about media, the smarter you’ll be about understanding it. These five questions are just the start. For more information, click the link, and if you want more videos on learning strategies, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Imagine you are a media creator. Design a simple poster or a short video with a message you want to share. Think about who your audience is and what you want them to understand. Share your creation with the class and explain your choices.
Pick a favorite TV show or online video and investigate who created it. Research the creators or the company behind it. Present your findings to the class and discuss why knowing the creator is important.
Find an advertisement online or in a magazine. Analyze it by asking, “Who’s paying for it?” and “Why was it made?” Share your thoughts with a partner and discuss what the ad wants you to think or do.
Watch a short video clip and identify the techniques used to grab your attention, such as music, colors, or storytelling. Write down your observations and discuss with the class how these techniques affect your perception of the message.
Look at a piece of media and note who is represented and who is missing. Write a short reflection on how this representation affects the message and what perspectives might be missing. Share your thoughts in a group discussion.
Here are five questions to encourage kids to ask while viewing media:
1. **Who created the message?** This helps kids understand that all media has an author and an agenda.
2. **Why was the message made?** Was it to inform, entertain, or persuade? Encourage kids to consider the intended audience as well.
3. **Who’s paying for it?** Help them follow the money and think about the motives behind the message. What else does the funder do? Show kids how to find this information.
4. **How is the message trying to get my attention?** Teach kids how various types of media, from videos to apps, use different techniques to engage us.
5. **Who’s represented in the message and who is missing?** Discuss whose points of view and values are included and what this reveals about the media.
To truly empower your kids, have them create their own media and reflect on their work using these same questions.
Thank you for watching! The more questions students ask about new media, the better. These five questions are just the beginning. For more information on this topic, click the link, and if you want more videos on teaching strategies, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Media – Ways of communicating information to people, such as newspapers, television, and the internet. – The media often shares important news about events happening around the world.
Message – The main idea or information that someone wants to communicate. – The message of the story was to always be kind to others.
Attention – Focusing your mind on something specific. – The teacher asked the students to pay attention to the instructions for the project.
Created – Made or brought something into existence. – The students created a poster to explain their science project.
Reason – A cause or explanation for something that happens or is done. – The reason she gave for being late was that her bus was delayed.
Funding – Money provided for a specific purpose, like a project or event. – The school received funding to build a new library for the students.
Techniques – Methods or ways of doing something skillfully. – The artist used different techniques to make the painting look realistic.
Perspectives – Different ways of looking at or thinking about something. – Listening to different perspectives can help us understand a problem better.
Voices – Opinions or points of view expressed by people. – The teacher encouraged all students to share their voices during the class discussion.
Questions – Sentences or phrases used to find out information. – The curious student asked many questions about how the solar system works.
