Evaluation of a Workshop-Type Activity to Develop Media Literacy in Elementary School Students : Reflection of Students, Homeroom Teachers and Classroom Aides

Abstract

Today more teachers are beginning to recognize that development of media literacy is indispensable in education, even for children at elementary school children. In the present workshop-type activity, our college lab, collaborating with a nearby elementary school, conducted a program called "You can make a kid abroadcaster!" to develop media literacy of students. The program was evaluated by adapting the method of triangulation of evaluators (students, homeroom teachers and college students as school aides). The results of a questionnaire and group interviews indicated: 1) Elementary school students learned how media is constructed through the process of editing a video clip; 2) Homeroom teachers recognized that videoproduction is effective for linking several concepts across subject areas; and 3) Student aids effectively reflected on how to teach students in collaborative group activities and became aware of how to function as a student teacher. Additionally, homeroom teachers reported they re-vitalized their observation of class activities and teaching per se because they shared class teaching with college students.