The Media Spot
All content on themediaspot.org is created by The Media Spot in collaboration with learning environments such as schools, and the media literacy community at large. We hope to be a part of that community by building on what’s already been done, and in turn offering the content on this web site back to the community for reference and discussion.
Please note that privacy is of paramount importance to TMS. Refer to our privacy policy to read about how we handle participants’ personal information.
A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to leave comments in 5 ways – using voice (with a mic or phone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam). Share a VoiceThread with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too on any […]
The top 10 words in the NAMLE Core Principles of Media Literacy Education on our Media Literacy Page
The TMS resources are here to prov
Produced at PS 124 in 2006
20 Important Reasons to Study the Media Chris Worsnop (1999) A rationale for media literacy, tying study of the media to 20 other subjects of study. Amusing Ourselves To Death Neil Postman, (1989) The book that helped form TMS! Neil Postman wrote about communication and technology for several decades. This book is vintage Postman: a […]
Media Literacy Leaders National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) The National Association for Media Literacy Education is a national membership organization dedicated to advancing the field of media literacy education in the United States. Check out their list of Organizational Members to find other leaders in the field. The Media Spot became a member […]
The goal of working with TMS is primarily to increase media literacy for youth and educators alike. The production projects deal with a range of topics and content, but always support <a href="resources/media_literacy”>the core concepts of media analysis and our <a href="services/objectives”>objectives. Below are some of the benefits of working with us (see also: <a href="resources/learning_standards”>Learning Standards).
Connecting with the world of 21st Century youth
We believe that at whatever age, youth can apply their own experiences to uniquely enrich projects in ways that inherently promote media literacy. The TMS production process is designed to connect students’ comfort, or “ways of knowing”, with new media to existing curricula.
Foundations: <a href="resources/glossary#spiral_curriculum”>Spiral Curriculum, <a href="resources/reading_list#youthmedia”>Goodman, <a href="resources/reading_list#litdigworld”>Tyner, <a href="resources/reading_list#plugindrug”>Winn, <a href="resources/viewing_list#cool”>PBS
Professional producers working with you
TMS media professionals provide the technical expertise to help educators complete projects with confidence while focusing on new and traditional teaching opportunities during the production process. (see also <a href="about/philosophy”>our philosophy‘s section on “collaborative production”)
Foundations: <a href="resources/reading_list#sevendebates”>Hobbs, <a href="resources/reading_list#litdigworld”>Tyner
Curriculum-based content
Our projects start with language-based subject matter drawn from existing curricula. This adds new perspective and learning opportunities to existing teaching strategies.
Foundations: <a href="resources/reading_list#sevendebates”>Hobbs
Technology planning and support
Any computer use in a group setting requires professional technical support and planning. The rush to acquire new media has left many groups with more computers than they can maintain and no realistic plan for using them to increase learning. Collaborative production with TMS can include long-term technology planning and technical support to allow educators to capitalize on potential learning opportunities instead of troubleshooting technical glitches they are not trained to handle.
Foundations: <a href="resources/reading_list#litdigworld”>Tyner, <a href="resources/links#cosn”>COSN
Create new media voices in your community
We believe that if a child knows their work will have a life beyond their immediate surroundings, they will be more invested in the process. Digital audio and video, and the Internet have made it possible for virtually anyone to create a voice in these dominant forms of 21st Century public discourse. Aside from helping youth create these voices, TMS works to distribute and share your group’s work through community screenings and, with your permission, on the Internet.
Foundations: <a href="resources/reading_list#youthmedia”>Goodman
Custom educational resources created by YOU
Material produced through TMS can be distributed within your educational community as teaching material with cross-curricular value. With your permission, your projects can become part of The Media Spot’s <a href="productions”>production archive for others to use in their pursuit of media literacy.
Our approach to modern curriculum design The following recommendations are an attempt at simplifying school innovation (and promoting educator sanity) in the coming years: Identify your school’s “pedagogical bias” — your philosophical approach to curriculum development and instructional practice. Identify and internalize within your school culture broadly applicable digital skills and “media literacy” concepts […]
A Couple of Minutes, from our productions
The Media Spot