Relationship between media literacy skills & traditional literacy skills...

     When first thinking of relating these two, I see them as almost exactly the same. A piece of literature online is just like reading a printed book that hasn't been printed yet. When looking for the date of publication, author, or title you may have to search a little harder instead of just looking in the first couple of pages. When I first thought about it, the skills were all in all the same. After I read more of "Teaching Media Literacy" by Jane David and heard others' ideas it had me thinking harder about the topic and considering other opinions. The biggest difference between the two is that students have to examine online information more carefully to see if it valid since anybody can post information online, but there are skills that can be taught and learned that deal with easily determining validity. If a student went to a library they could assume that all the information was correct, but they would never know what was valid online unless they had the skills necessary to determine this. Information is easier to find online rather than going through page after page in a book. Learning, for most students, is more interesting and keeps their attention if online. The downfall may be that all students do not have internet access outside of school to work on homework. Also, students may have internet access at home but their parents may have no skills whatsoever, so if the student needs help with an assignment their parents couldn't help. Parents almost always can assist with book work if willing. I strongly feel media literacy skills will get students much further in the future compared to traditional. As I always say, my opinion may change or stay the same after I have had experience in teaching both media literacy skills and traditional literacy skills.