Throughout this blog, I have strived to explore the effective use of media in class. I have sought to define what media is, to weigh the pros and cons of the use of media in the classroom, as well as sharing some ideas of how to put media into context. In my exploration, I have come across creative and innovative ideas of how media can help in that classroom. As well as having inspired me to try some new ideas in my own classroom. However, the question remains, can media be effectively used in a classroom? In my opinion yes.

The 21^st Century classroom is a digital one, and it’s moving progressively more online as technology improves, and pedagogy innovates. It is ridiculous to think that media had no place in the classroom. Media permeates every aspect of life, we see younger, and younger children owning phones, going online, constantly sharing on social media. Not addressing media use in the classroom could be considered irresponsible.

In a recent episode of the educational podcast 10 Minute Teacher, Vicki Davis speaks to her guest Ann Oro about developing a digital citizenship curriculum. She explains that this is a relatively new curriculum, targeting each grade, and looking at what it means to be a good digital citizen (Davis, 2018). There is a recognition that this is needed in today’s digital society, students need to realize that the internet, and by extension media, has closed that information gap. Anyone, can find anything, at any time.

Media use is a hot topic in classrooms, easily supported by the plethora of resources on the use of, recommendations, even lessons that revolve around the idea of media use. Yet so many teachers hesitate and even balk at the idea of using media in their classroom. Understandable to some degree, there seems to a bit of a holdover from our own classroom experience. Before the internet was widespread, and computers where still big monsters that took forever to boot up. When class work was from the textbook, and media was a giant TV that rolled in to play a VHS. The world is so much different now, and sometimes change can be scary.

Media however, is here to stay. Social media is unstoppable, YouTube is replacing traditional TV, and films are being produced at an astonishing rate. There is no end to media, and as the saying goes if you can’t beat them join them. Make media work for you. Will it be perfect? Never. There are always students who get distracted online, or who will not engage with your chosen movie or clip, but that doesn’t justify stopping what you’re doing. Much like any other activity or lesson, media is a tool, and one that should be part of a teacher’s tool kit.

No matter how you look at it media, in all its various platforms, is here to stay. I believe that teachers who choose to ignore it, are going to have trouble going forward. Media is the classroom reality and if anything, the classroom is only going to move more into the digital world. Understanding and using media as effectively as possible, can only improve the classroom.

Sources

Davis. V (Producer). (2018, May 17) 10 Minute Teacher. [Audio Podcast] Retrieved from http://www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast/