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MEDIA LITERACY Mass Media

Overview These learning activities are based on mass media (for example television, newspapers or magazines, which reach large audiences).

Learners watch and discuss clips from popular soap operas such as EastEnders, Coronation Street and . They research popular shows online, discuss preferences, explore topical issues in soaps and create their own stories using video clip ‘story starters’. They also learn how to create their own newspaper, investigate popular news and media websites and use magazines as a literacy resource.

Please review all apps and media content in advance to make sure they are suitable for your learners before presenting them to the class.

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How do you use television as a literacy resource?

Possible Learning, Teaching Learning Intentions and Assessment Activities Learners will have opportunities to: • discuss the ways they have found Television is a medium that can energise and engage learners information; and who struggle with traditional printed materials, offering them • find and select information from a greater interest and enjoyment. Turn on captions or subtitles range of sources. when watching visual media with your learners to boost their literacy skills. It will help expose them to the written word and give them additional reading practice. Skills and Capabilities Managing Information Introduce the topic of soaps and together discuss your learners’ Locate information using different preferences. Ask them, for example: methods • What is your favourite or least favourite soap? • Which characters do you like the most or the least? You will need: • What is happening in your favourite soap just now? • Pictures of soap operas (online or in print) Display pictures of four common and popular soaps on the • Printed labels of the learners’ whiteboard, or show the learners printed pictures from magazines. names Make printed labels of your learners’ names. Support them to • Soap opera programme websites find their own name label and place it beside the soap opera they like the most. Useful links Encourage the learners to explore facts about soap operas on www..co.uk/programmes/ the internet. Use the rich variety of resources from soap opera b006m86d programme websites to investigate: www.itv.com/coronationstreet • pictures and names of characters (which can be used as www.itv.com/emmerdale topics for discussion); www.channel5.com/show/home- • quizzes and games; and-away • catch-up and backstage videos (for discussion); or www.channel5.com/show/ neighbours • topical issues covered on your chosen show (for discussion). 58 ML

How do you use the internet for a literacy lesson?

Possible Learning, Teaching Learning Intention and Assessment Activities Learners will have opportunities to: • discuss, compare and evaluate Show your learners the literacy story start video clips on the their ideas. interactive whiteboard or projector screen. These story starts are designed to inspire the learners’ imaginations. Themes include Skills and Capabilities a fascinating jewellery shop, a haunted graveyard and a mysterious tunnel. Being Creative Experiment with different ideas Show each short clip to the learners and then discuss together the visuals, atmosphere, sounds and events in the video. You may have to show them the clip several times so that they gain You will need: full comprehension. Encourage the learners to make suggestions • Interactive whiteboard or as a group for story continuations or endings. Type and print out projector finished class stories and display them in the classroom. • TES Resources ‘story starts’ (see link below)

Useful links www.tes.com (click on ‘Resources’ and search for ‘whiteboard literacy story starts’)

59 Literacy for Key Stage 3 Learners with Cognitive Difficulties

What media can you use to enhance learning?

Possible Learning, Teaching Learning Intention and Assessment Activities Learners will have opportunities to: • research and manage Our Life Times information effectively. Our Life Times is a thematic unit for Key Stage 3 learners with cognitive difficulties. It consists of paper-based resources, Skills and Capabilities PowerPoints, web links and extension suggestions. Visit www.ccea.org.uk, on Curriculum/SEN & Inclusion, select Working with Others Learning for Life and Work and search for ‘Our Life Times’. Use Take on roles as part of a class the learning, teaching and assessment activities in this unit with Communicate in an appropriate your learners. It will allow them to investigate and understand the way with peers purpose of a newspaper.

C2k Newsdesk You will need: Use this resource with your learners as a comprehensive • Interactive whiteboard or source for: projector • local news, world news, topical subjects and themes; • Educational news websites • pictures and stories for discussion; • suitable subjects for the learners to express opinions, make Useful links short comments and vote on issues; and Our Life Times thematic unit • topic fact files. (available at www.ccea.org.uk) C2k Newsdesk (available at CBBC www.c2kschools.net) Use the sections on this website as exciting and meaningful topics for discussion, reading and writing activities. Choose from www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc the following content available on the website: www.bbc.co.uk/ • games; • videos; • quizzes; • music; 60 ML

• BBC shows; • topical subjects; • chat and comment areas; • content offering opportunities for discussion or questions; and • guides.

Newsround Newsround is a BBC children’s news programme which produces daily news bulletins. Visit www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc and click on the ‘Newsround’ link at the top of the web page.

Use this website as a rich source for both past and present news stories covering world current affairs, entertainment, animals and sport. However, as with any topical news website, the content will change regularly.

Use the news stories with your learners in class as reading activities, either as full texts or as edited versions featuring only the main headlines. Many of the stories are produced in video form, which offers additional interest and motivation for the learners. 61 Literacy for Key Stage 3 Learners with Cognitive Difficulties

Can you use magazines as a literacy resource?

Possible Learning, Teaching Learning Intention and Assessment Activities Learners will have opportunities to: • select appropriate, relevant Depending on your learners’ age, interests, developmental material. stage and gender, teenage magazines can provide a rich, valuable and important source of reading entertainment for Skills and Capabilities post-primary learners with cognitive difficulties. Magazines are colourful, topical, adventurous and fun. They catch and then hold Working with Others a reader’s attention, sparking imagination, encouraging more Take part in class discussions reading and inspiring a positive on reading skills. Use them with your learners to address topics aimed at their interests, introducing them to articles and pictures on subjects such as You will need: celebrities, movies, sport, fashion and cars. • Magazines appropriate for your learners (print and online) You can find these magazines in most newsagents or supermarkets. Alternatively, explore online magazines with your learners on the interactive board. However, if magazines Useful links are being used as a teaching and learning resource, you need to ensure that the content is appropriate. In some cases, the www.thisisliteracy.ca magazine content may be appropriate but the advertising in the (search for ‘magazines for teens’) magazine may not.

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