Teaching MEDIA LITERACY SKILLS in a Fake News World (Grades K-12) Presented by Kristen Mattson Outstanding School Library Expert and National Presenter

Specifically Designed for School Librarians/Media Specialists, Social Studies Teachers, English/Language Arts Teachers and Library Aides Serving Grades K-12

• Practical strategies to help students effectively navigate diverse media resources for accurate, up-to-date, factual information
• Proven methods for teaching essential media literacy skills while avoiding heated or uncomfortable discussions
• Innovative approaches for relevant and timely learning that builds media literacy skills that can be utilized across the curriculum
• Receive an extensive digital resource handbook with practical strategies and resources

Practical Ideas and Strategies

We all know the role misleading claims, fake news, and false statements play in our society, so how do we incorporate learning about them in our classrooms without chaos, outbursts, or angry parent phone calls? How do we understand the art and science behind what our media organizations do to increase likes and clicks? How can we teach about bias without our own bias seeping through? In this timely seminar, award-winning school librarian Kristen Mattson will help you better understand how and why media plays such a critical role in all of our lives. You'll learn proven ways to more effectively teach critical media literacy skills in your classrooms and libraries, so you are better equipped to lead your students through savvy dissections and informed discussions.

You'll leave this seminar with an abundance of timely, proven ways to help your students assess diverse media sources enabling them to make decisions and formulate opinions based on factual, accurate and up to date information.

Ten Key Benefits of Attending

1. Unpack the Term Fake News
   Help students recognize that misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation exist on a continuum and that we cannot simply categorize information as 'fake' or 'real'
2. Make the Connection Between Social and Emotional Learning and Media Literacy
   Help students understand the role their feelings, experiences, and biases play in the media landscape … Learn how audiences are part of the information equation and how to better navigate media
3. Better Understand How the Internet Impacts Media Consumption
   Discover how the dynamic process of reading is impacted by "likes", comments, shares, app design and algorithms … Learn how all play an important role in our digital diets
4. Incorporate Media Literacy Lessons Into Any Content Area
   It doesn't need to be "one more thing" added to your plate … Learn strategies for helping students critically question the materials that are already part of your curriculum
5. Ditch Outdated Methods of Fact Checking
   Learn best practices for verifying the information we see online … Find out which of our traditional methods have failed miserably and what to do instead
6. Best Curricular Resources to Bring More Media Literacy to Your Classroom
   You do not need to reinvent the wheel … Amazing, ready to use resources that exist to support teachers in all grade levels
7. Understand Key Concepts and Questions
   More easily incorporate media literacy in your classroom … Better understand the concepts and questions needed to be more successful
8. Utilize Questioning to Increase Critical Thinking
   Learn classroom-proven methods for questioning that position students in the center of their learning and encourage deep discovery and reflection
9. Navigate Difficult Conversations
   Learn strategies for leading media discussions that are more productive, civil, safe, and factual
10. Receive an Extensive Digital Resource Handbook
    Each participant will receive an extensive digital resource handbook with detailed descriptions of the practical applications and helpful resources presented during the seminar

Outstanding Strategies You Can Use Immediately

Here's what you'll learn:

• Various types of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation so you are better prepared to spot them and help your students do the same
• Techniques and digital tools to aid in fact checking
• How to recognize your own biases in news consumption, lesson design, and classroom conversations around media
• Key concepts and vocabulary around media and media literacy 
• Motivations behind misinformation and key tools and tactics used to help it spread
• How information triggers emotion and emotion triggers action
• Key factors that impact critical thinking when accessing information on a mobile device
• How to "hack" your learning targets, questions, teaching materials, and assessments to ensure media literacy is integrated into your content area meaningfully
• Strategies for reading and researching horizontally and vertically to assess the accuracy of media information
• Proven ways to talk about critical issues around media both safely and responsibly
• The best professional development resources to help you continue your learning after the seminar

A Message From Your Seminar Leader

Dear Colleague:

I became an educator 21 years ago because I believed in the voice of our students. But in recent years, it has become alarmingly common for my students to use their voices armed with inaccurate information. While research and media literacy have always played an important role in my classroom and library, it has become increasingly important that our practices must evolve with the media which has become partisan, click baiting, and often driven by social media.

It's been my experience that many teachers and librarians feel unprepared to explore these topics because of the potential conflict that could arise, but I have found that with the right approaches, we can have productive, analytical, respectful conversations about what is in the news, how it is written, and why.

My goal in this seminar is to show you the "how and why" media is created and help you feel confident with implementing meaningful and impactful media literacy strategies. Our students expect that if something is important, we will address it in our classrooms and libraries. They trust us. After attending this seminar, I hope that you will have greater trust in yourself in providing excellent resources and using these strategies with your students.

I look forward to meeting you at the seminar.

Sincerely,
Kristen Mattson

P.S. Teaching research and media literacy is an act of citizenship and I am grateful to share proven ways to help you and your students on this journey!

Who Should Attend

School Librarians/Media Specialists, English/Language Arts Teachers, Social Studies Teachers, and Library Aides Serving Grades K-12

About BER Live Online Events

With the current health challenges, all BER in-person PD events are currently being presented in a Live Online format:

• Outstanding Instructors
  All programs are led by outstanding BER national trainers
• Extensive Resource Handbooks
  You'll have access to an extensive digital Resource Handbook before, during and after your seminar
• Highly Interactive
  You'll be able to ask questions in real time and interact with the instructor and other participants
• Program Guarantee
  As we have for 48 years, we guarantee the high quality of our programs. If you are not satisfied, we'll give you a 100% refund.

Special Benefits of Attending

Extensive Digital Resource Handbook
Each participant will receive an extensive digital resource handbook giving you access to countless strategies. The handbook includes:

• Lesson plans and ideas to immediately implement in your classroom and library
• Examples of misleading and accurate information side by side
• Lists of digital resources for you to access after the seminar

For in-person seminars, registrants will also receive a printed copy of the resource handbook as long as their registration is received in the BER office at least 15 calendar days before the event.

Share Ideas
This seminar provides a wonderful opportunity for participants to meet and share ideas with other educators interested in strengthening their media literacy program.

Consultation Available
Kristen Mattson will be available for consultation regarding your questions and the unique needs of your own program.

Semester Credit Option
Up to four graduate level professional development credits are available with an additional fee and completion of follow-up practicum activities. Details for direct enrollment with University of Massachusetts Global, a nonprofit affiliate, will be available at this program.

Meet Inservice Requirements
Participants of both the Live Online Seminar and those completing the Recorded Version online can receive a certificate of participation that may be used to verify five continuing education hours. State CEUs are available for both versions of the course. For specific details, visit www.ber.org/ceus.

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