With so much media and information coming at us through the television, phones, social media, and more, it's more important than ever for students to understand the basics of media literacy. When learners can identify different types of news and media and the methods and meanings behind them, they're on their way to being critical thinkers and smart consumers.

With so much media and information coming at us through the television, phones, social media, and more, it's more important than ever for students to understand the basics of media literacy. When tweens and teens can identify different types of news and media and the methods and meanings behind them, they're on their way to being critical thinkers and smart consumers.

Our students use the web every day -- shouldn't we expect them to do better at interpreting what they read there? Perhaps … but not necessarily. Often, stereotypes about kids and technology can get in the way of what's at stake in today's complex media landscape. Sure, our students probably joined Snapchat faster than we could say "Face Swap," but that doesn't mean they're any better at interpreting what they see in the news and on the web.