Reimagining Media Literacy Through Neurodivergent Cognitive Pathways

Media literacy instruction often assumes common pathways to accessing information, analyzing messages, evaluating credibility, creating content, and taking informed action. Yet each of these practices carries a hidden cognitive load and executive function demands. What if instruction acknowledged that learners bring diverse ways of processing information, navigating ambiguity, organizing ideas, recognizing patterns, interpreting social cues, and constructing meaning? What if we intentionally designed media literacy moves with neurodivergent cognition in mind? By honoring cognitive diversity, we can design inclusive pathways, making media literacy practices more accessible, sustainable, and transferable beyond the classroom.
 

DATE: Tuesday, July 14, 2026

TIME: 9 AM PST/ 12 PM EST / 6 PM CET

Katie McNamara serves as a teacher librarian at a public high school in California and is the director of the Teacher Librarian Program at Fresno Pacific University. She is a Google Certified Innovator, an ISTE Community Leader, AASL Tech Troubadour, past president of California School Library Association (2020-2021), and National Board Certified Teacher. Katie has authored contributing chapters and published many journal articles. She has won numerous awards for being innovative and sharing content. She enjoys learning, empowering teachers to inspire student learning, and frequently sharing her expertise as a national and global presenter. She is also a proud boymom. She believes learning is loud, should be fun, and must make an impact for social good. Inspire.Create.Empower.Repeat.