Customized Programs
Traditionally, education has focused on subjects or topics — in today's parlance, content. However, the process of learning, of processing information, is what media literacy education is all about.
This process is articulated in the CML MediaLit Kit"!, a framework for media literacy that overviews the core concepts and key questions that underpin the skills of accessing, analyzing, evaluating and creating media. The MediaLit Kit"!, developed in 2002, is now the cornerstone for all CML's work with teacher training.
CML provides the following types of customized programs:
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Licensed Professional Development Services. Some organizations, such as school districts or museums, have a cadre of trainers who provide professional development programs or institutes for teachers. For those who wish to incorporate a media literacy approach using CML's media literacy framework and the resources of the MediaLit Kit"! in conjunction with their own program offerings, CML provides a licensing program. Licensing provides collaborating organizations the assurance of using a proven approach to media literacy and receiving expert assistance in their own staff development and implementation of training programs. CML structures these relationships according to the needs of the training organization.
For more information, contact Tessa Jolls.
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Workshops and Events. CML designs and delivers programs that involve one-time events or workshops to reach teachers. Some examples of customized programs that CML has organized include:
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A 'mini-conference' of 10 integrated workshops held within the annual convention of a major national education organization meeting in the Los Angeles convention arena. Over 1000 teachers from 25 states participated in one or all of the sessions on topics such as: "Media and the Message of Beauty," "Critical Thinking for the 21st Century," and "Media Literacy: Driver's Training for the Information Superhighway."
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A day-long in-service event for 90 middle school health teachers, focusing on core principles of media literacy and their application to health education, particularly smoking cessation, nutrition and body image. A joint effort of a county health office and a county school district in the Midwest, the day was supported with funding from the state's share of the national tobacco settlement. At the end of the day, each teacher was given a budget of $1000 to order both media literacy and health education resources to enable them to put the day's learning into immediate practice.
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Keynote address on the topic of media violence to 1000 persons attending the annual conference of a state association of school boards.
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Full-day staff development for a school district on the complex topic of violence in the media with an overview orientation in the morning followed by afternoon workshops tailored to grade levels: elementary, middle school and high school.
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Participation on a national team of media educators conducting a week-long grant-funded summer institute for school teams of high school language arts and social studies teachers under the theme: "The ReVisioning Project: Teaching Humanities in a Media Age."
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A two-hour session introducing media literacy to teachers from Southern California-based Jewish schools.
Funded Demonstration Projects
CML actively seeks partners with whom to work on grant-funded training programs that involve both teacher training and the development of curriculum resources. Currently, CML has projects funded through federal and state grants that provide for professional development for public school teachers. These projects call for the design, delivery and evaluation of curriculum PLUS consultation and training of teachers for up to three years.
Open Public Events
Topical Seminars and Events
Periodically, and with funding support, CML organizes or collaborates with other organizations to present topical workshops, seminars or other events for classroom teachers as well as religious educators, youth leaders, afterschool coordinators and other community-based educators.
Exploring topics such as "Teaching in a Time of Jerry Springer" or "Race and Representation in Television News" CML's seminars and events help educators tune in to current concerns and pick up helpful tips and tactics. Some events are designed to showcase visiting leaders, authors and scholars in the field or to introduce new resource materials to be distributed through the Center.
Advance notification will be sent by e-mail to those who are current subscribers to the CML C*O*N*N*E*C*T e-letter.
Media Literacy Day/LA
Media Literacy Day/LA is a one-day conference scheduled periodically to showcase new media literacy teaching ideas or resources and to nurture our growing Southern California network of teachers, community and religious leaders, media professionals and all those who support the work of the Center. As part of the day, the Media Literacy 'Visionary' Award is presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to the growth and development of media literacy in Southern California.