Introduction to Digital Ubuntu/Empathy
In the first webinar, co-hosts Aurra Kawanzaruwa and Yonty Friesem will share their personal journey to explore empathy/Ubunto as they work in the area of media education and digital citizenship across the globe. Additionally, they will set up the stage to discuss the connection between the scholarship and practice of media education with the concepts of Ubuntu/Empathy. As we get more and more…
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Teaching the Conspiracies
A 2-Week Deep Dive Micro-Credential Course for Emerging and Established LeadersBuilding upon the success of the first micro-credential course "Teaching the Conspiracies" in February's MediaEd Institute, we are thrilled to offer a new follow up with four new modules of online professional learning experience…
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Perception, Fear, and Media: Roots of Polarization
Perception, Fear, and Media: Roots of PolarizationA 2-Week Deep Dive Micro-Credential Course for Emerging and Established LeadersBuilding upon the success of the February's MediaEd Institute, we are thrilled to offer a new online professional learning experience for educators who want to advance their…
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Teaching Media Literacy: What Works
Teaching Media Literacy: What WorksTuesday, June 4, 2024 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm Sponsored by the Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles…
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Confronting Propaganda
Join the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights, and Genocide Education (Chhange) for our 42nd Annual Colloquium featuring plenary speakers Renee Hobbs and Consolee Nishimwe. DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 2024TIME: 9:15 am - 12:30 pmLOCATION: Brookdale Community College, Collins ArenaRegistration fee: $10 per personEach year, the Colloquium, Chhange’s signature program, attracts up to 2,500 middle school…
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What Conspiracy? Media Education in/and the Mirror World
Read here about our full webinar series on Inequalities and Media Education. One of the most striking outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the spirited and public opposition to vaccinations and vaccine mandates. The gradually fraying line between virtual and offline “real” worlds increasingly…
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MediaEd Forum
Join us for the 17th MediaEd Forum!We've changed the name of the Northeast Media Literacy Conference (now in its 17th year) to reflect the growing global diversity of our online knowledge community!Conference Theme: Confronting the ChallengesFriday & Saturday, January 12-13, 2024 ONLINE VIA ZOOM…
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Media Literacy Matters
Renee Hobbs is thrilled to be a featured presenter at the European Digital and Media Literacy Conference in Brussels, which puts the many faces of digital and media literacy in the European spotlight during the Belgian EU presidency. February 27 - March 1, 2024Brussels, BelgiumThe conference is focused on showcasing and exchanging initiatives, tools, projects and practices that can be integrated…
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BabeČ™-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
International Conference In celebration of Media Literacy Week, our co-directors Renee Hobbs and Yonty Friesem will participate as keynote speakers at the International Conference and Training on Digital and Media Education.. From, Oct. 26 to Oct. 27, national and international scholars, school educators, journalists, media professionals, NGOs and stakeholders will gather at Babeș-Bolyai…
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The Gaza-Israel War in the Media
While we might not be able to solve the violent conflict in the Middle East, we as media educators need to share our practice and be there for our learners. By connecting with our community of learners, asking critical questions, sharing needs and emotions as a group, challenging media representations, and fighting the spread of biases and prejudices, we can better understand, reflect, and…
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Media Club: Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Now.
In the December meeting of the Media Club, Renee Hobbs will model a lesson from the New York Times Learning Network in a viewing and discussion of "Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Now,"  a four-minute Opinion video that explores the role of social media in the current…
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Connectivity & Digital Disruption: The Digital Divide
Read here about our full webinar series on Inequalities and Media EducationIn this fourth webinar, we will explore the concepts of digital divides from both U.S. domestic and global digital divides. Susan Wiesinger and Ralph Beliveau discuss their new book, Digital Literacy: A Primer on Media, Identity,…
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Remembering the Legacy of Violent Extremism
The stories we tell about violent extremism shape our understanding of the past, present, and future. In this session, we use dialogue and discussion to reflect on the legacy of September 11, 2001 and the role of violent extremism in the 21st century. Come to listen with appreciation to the stories of others and share your thoughts and feelings on this day of remembrance. This event is open to…
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Introducing the Media Dictionary
Media Dictionary is an audiovisual, multilingual, and digital community media initiative that was initiated in 2021 with the primary objective of engaging with diverse communities across India on issues related to media literacy in local languages and dialects. More than 50 volunteers have posted more than 1,000 videos in 35 languages and…
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Courageous RI Professional Development Program
Under the auspices of the Courageous Rhode Island program, the Media Education Lab offers a fully-online professional development program for middle school, high school, and college educators from any field or discipline. This program is led by Renee Hobbs (University of Rhode Island) and colleagues. Be part of a supportive online professional learning…
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Media Club - Ecomedia Literacy: Ecojustice and media education in a post-pandemic world
Join hosts Dr. Antonio López as he guides participants in an exploration of ecomedia literacy as a framework for the post-pandemic world, along with introducing some practical applications for how media educators can incorporate ecojustice through ecomedia literacy into their curriculum. The media for discussion is the presenters' essay that explores the theoretical understandings and practical…
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High Conflict
In this session, we identify the way that conflict is rooted in blame and shame strategies. We examine the power of particular listening strategies like “looping for understanding” as a means of dialing down the conflicts that we encounter in media, the workplace, family and community. What is high conflict and what forces perpetuate it? How does it damage individuals and communities? What can…
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Stay Curious, Not Furious
On February 28, the Media Education Lab at the University of Rhode Island will launch an exciting new media literacy initiative, Courageous RI. Funded by a $700,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security, the effort includes three distinct phases that will foster community conversation, provide training and education, and engage youth, helping…
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Media Literacy for Mid-Career Folks
7. MEDIA LITERACY FOR MID-CAREER FOLKS Featured Speaker: Renee Hobbs It's been claimed that older adults were responsible for a significant share of the so-called "fake news" crisis. How might digital skills and knowledge intersect with media literacy competencies for adults as they navigate a rapidly-changing media environment? Learn how mid-career folks manage the more-or-less…
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Across the Generations 4
4. MEDIA LITERACY IN HIGH SCHOOL: FOCUS ON CIVIC EDUCATION In high school, students learn to deconstruct media messages and benefit from access to scaffolding and frameworks to build their critical thinking skills. Students also are discovering their creative capacities as media makers and gain confidence in self-expression when they have authentic audiences who encounter their…
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16th Northeast Media Literacy Conference
On January 13 - 14, 2023, the media literacy community will gather for NMLC23, the 16th Annual Northeast Media Literacy Conference! This online conference is organized around the theme of RESISTING THE FRAME. DATE: January 13 - 14, 2023 TIME: LOCATION:…
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Previewing the 16th Northeast Media Literacy Conference
We're celebrating Media Literacy Week PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS! On January 13 - 14, 2023, the media literacy community will gather for NMLC23, the 16th Annual Northeast Media Literacy Conference! This online conference is organized around the theme of RESISTING THE FRAME. Join us for a webinar where we share our planning…
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Post-Pandemic Futures for Media Education
Our team from the Media Education Lab is proud to announce the publication of The Routledge Handbook of Media Education Futures Post-Pandemic. Join us for an hour long webinar on the intercultural application of the human framework for the…
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Microaggressions in the Classroom
DATE: Monday, August 29, 2022 TIME: 12 - 1 PM EST LOCATION. Online. Click here to register.  Presenter: Zan Walker-Goncalves Writing Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, New Hampshire  In this session we will Identify the impact of…
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Back to School with Digital Media Literacy
Many friends of the Media Education Lab took time for learning this summer to imagine and plan possibilities for the year ahead. Join us to share your ideas and plans for the fall semester with the Media Education Lab community. This webinar is an informal discussion group where we talk about our hopes, fears, and dreams for the coming semester. There will be time for large and small-group…
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The Power of Propaganda
Renee Hobbs is pleased to serve as Lead Scholar for The Power of Propaganda, a program at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. The program is designed help educators develop a deeper understanding of how to teach students to critically analyze different forms of propaganda. The seminar explores how to teach about propaganda through an interdisciplinary lens and how to cultivate…
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Medialogues Showcase: What We Learned Together
Medialogues on Propaganda is an online Professional Learning Community designed to advance the quality of media literacy education by developing the knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills of German, American and global teachers and teacher educators.​ DATE: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 TIME: 18:00 PM CET / 12:00 PM EST LOCATION. …
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Systemizing Digital Citizenship Education
Systematizing Digital Citizenship Standards  DATE: Thursday, April 7, 2022 TIME: 7 PM EST / 4 PM PST LOCATION: Online. Click here to register. FEATURED PRESENTERS: Kristen Mattson & LeeAnn Lindsey Digital citizenship includes the myriad of skills people need for full, civic…
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Exploring Controversial Issues in the Classroom
Exploring Controversial Issues in the Classroom Social justice media and technology in teacher education ATEE Spring Conference 2020/2021, Florence, ITALY, October 28 2021 Keynote Address By Renee Hobbs Educators are themselves citizens who express and share political views as part of their personal identity.…
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Analyzing the Visuals of 9/11 Anniversary
We honor the 20th anniversary of September 11th Analyzing the Visuals of 9/11 Anniversary Frank Baker and Renee Hobbs explore the visual representation of the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001 to demonstrate how media literacy competencies can be seamlessly woven into the elementary, middle-school and high school classroom. Kara Clayton shares the …
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The Routledge Handbook of Media Education Futures Post-Pandemic.
Our team from the Media Education Lab is proud to announce the publication of The Routledge Handbook of Media Education Futures Post-Pandemic. This handbook showcases how educators and practitioners around the world adapted their routine media…
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Media Literacy in Action
The blurring of entertainment, information, and persuasion is reshaping work, life, and citizenship. As a result, our relationship to media has never been so important nor so complex. By asking critical questions about what they watch, listen to, read, and use, students can be better prepared to be responsible communicators who can use a variety of formats and genres for self-expression and…
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Mind Over Media: Propaganda Education for a Digital Age
Winner of the American Association of Publishers 2021 PROSE Award for Excellence in Social Sciences Media literacy educators have always…
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The International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy
The definitive international reference on a topic of major and enduring importance Dynamic, multidisciplinary, and global in scope, media literacy is one of today’s fastest growing fields of applied communications. Media literacy encompasses a truly vast range of issues, including participatory culture, digital learning, civic engagement, the impact of media on children, the…
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Create to Learn
Create to Learn helps learners create multimedia texts as they develop both critical thinking and communication skills. Written by Renee Hobbs, one of the foremost experts in media literacy, this book introduces a wide range of conceptual principles at the heart of multimedia composition and digital pedagogy. Its approach is useful for anyone who sees the profound educational value of creating…
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Copyright Clarity: How Fair Use Supports Digital Learning
Today, it's more important than ever before to understand the scope of your rights and responsibilities as a digital author. That's why Renee Hobbs wrote the book, Copyright Clarity: How Fair Use Supports Digital Learning.…
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The Library Screen Scene
PUBLISHED JULY 15 from Oxford University Press order your copy now!In the past two decades, several U.S. states have explored ways to mainstream media literacy in school…
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Teaching Truth, Lies, and Accuracy in the Digital Age
This pedagogy article describes a semester-long undergraduate course designed to deconstruct information disorder in the post-truth era by looking at economics, ideology, and power relations. Applying a project-based learning model allowed students to enhance their digital and media literacy skills by inquiring about the accuracy of a variety of sources centered on a single story, '…
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Resistance and Learning in Media & Gender Literacy Classes
Resistance is a known component of social justice classes, and it is often seen as impeding learning. The current case study explored possible scenarios of resistance in classrooms where media representations of gender are discussed, and teachers’ reactions to such resistance. Methods used for collecting data included observations in U.S. high school classes as well as interviews with teachers…
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Civic media as a cultural dialogue: Arab and Jewish teachers & documentary filmmaking in Israel
Eighteen Arab and Jewish teachers of civic education and communication studies took part in a national professional development for peace education at the Israeli Center for Educational Technology from 2016 to 2018. They created documentaries as a way to have a cultural dialogue. While learning to produce a documentary as a form of reflection, the participants deepened their dialogues and…
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Digital Authorship: Issues and Implications for Educators
In this essay, the term digital authorship in examined in relation to literacy learning. We reflect on two critical issues that are sometimes overlooked features of digital literacy in relation to the pedagogical practices of digital authorship. Teachers who are advancing literacy in the context of digital authorship are attentive to the different stages of the creative process and have a solid…
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The Routledge Companion to Media Education, Copyright and Fair Use
The Routledge Companion to Media Education, Copyright and Fair Use Edited By Renee Hobbs Media educators rely on the ability to make use of copyrighted materials from mass media, digital media and popular cultlure for analysis and production activities. With chapters written by leading scholars and practitioners from the fields of media studies, education, writing and rhetoric, law and…
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Teaching and Learning in a Post-Truth World
It's time for schools to upgrade and reinvest in media literacy lessons. Renee Hobbs, director of the Media Education Lab at the Harrington School of Communication and Media at the University of Rhode Island, cautions us to stop using the term "fake news" with students and be more precise about the types of disinformation prevalent in content today, from hoaxes and satire to clickbait. In this…
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Digital and Media Literacy: Connecting Classroom and Culture
A Review by John Robinson ORDER THE BOOK NOW How can teachers use digital and media to support academic achievement in all subjects and content areas? The answer to that question is essentially what Renee Hobbs tackles in her book Digital and Media Literacy: Connecting Culture and Classroom.…
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Set Your Motivation
The Digital Learning Horoscope is a 48-item Likert scale instrument that assesses teachers’ perception of the value and relevance of six conceptual themes, namely: attitudes toward technology tools, genres and formats; message content and quality; community connectedness; texts and audiences; media systems; and learner-centered focus. …
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Courageous Conversations
Bring media literacy and active listening to middle school, high school, college and adult learnersWith support from talented educators and experts who participated in the program, we’re proud to bring you the Courageous Conversations Curriculum. This book contains a collection of materials to help you bring media literacy and active listening into your middle school, high school or college…
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Homegrown Study Guide
There’s never been a more important time to read and discuss Homegrown by Jeffrey Toobin. Violence and threats of violence have become commonplace in American public life. Targeted violence and anti-government activism are on the rise, and a growing number of citizens across America now believe violence is needed to address the grievances that are polarizing society.…
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Copyright
It's more important than ever before to understand the scope of your rights and responsibilities as a digital author. That's why Renee Hobbs wrote 2 books about copyright! Copyright Clarity: How Fair Use Supports Digital…
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Media Literacy in Action
The blurring of entertainment, information, and persuasion is reshaping work, life, and citizenship. As a result, our relationship to media has never been so important nor so complex. By asking critical questions about what they watch, listen to, read, and use, students can be better prepared to be responsible communicators who can use a variety of formats and genres for self-expression and…
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Mind Over Media: Analyzing Contemporary Propaganda
  www.mindovermedia.us Mind Over Media is the winner of the 2021 PROSE Awards for Social Sciences by the American Association of Publishers, the membership organization of the scholarly and academic press. ORDER THE BOOK!…
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Assignment: Media Literacy
After 25 years, it's still the most popular resource from the Media Education Lab!This is the 18-unit curriculum created by Renee Hobbs and colleagues in 1998!  You will be pleased to see how timeless and relevant these lessons continue to be!You can download the PDF files with lesson plans and reproducibles for each unit and use the videos to teach media literacy in conjunction with social…
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Digital Learning Anytime and Real Time
Since the start of the pandemic, educators all over the world have been learning on the fly how to use the power of digital texts, tools, and technologies for “remote emergency instruction.” As teachers quickly discovered, conducting nearly nonstop Zoom meetings, in an effort to replicate in-classroom learning in an online environment, is both ineffective and exhausting. In this series of…
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The Media Straight Up! Media Literacy Guide for Middle School
THE MEDIA LITERACY GUIDECreated by Renee Hobbs and the Media Education Lab and co-sponsored by Drug Free Pennsylvania. Access the PDF from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug Prevention Programs. Renee Hobbs and a team of Pennsylvania educators developed The Media Straight Up to…
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Nonviolent Communication for Talking about Coronavirus
NEW FROM THE MEDIA EDUCATION LAB! This helpful guide, created by Elizaveta Friesem, helps learners to practice talking about their feelings and needs in ways that promote compassion, empathy and genuine understanding. The work builds upon the work of Marshall Rosenberg's 2005 book, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life.…
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Internet: Indispensable or Evil?
OverviewIn these four lessons, students use the episode Adam Ruins the Internet (Season 2, Episode 12) as a starting point to discuss the role of the Internet in modern culture and learn about media policies that shape people’s online…
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Digital and Media Literacy: A Process of Learning
Digital and Media Literacy: A Learning Process …
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All About Media
It's never too early to be smart about media!Give emerging readers the tools to learn about media, evaluate it, and understand it. Readers will learn essential critical thinking concepts along with important topics such as understanding how to find sources and how to properly source, privacy and Internet safety, evaluating ads and news reports, and determining the differences between facts,…
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