Media Fluency (EDUC 639)

​Media fluency, also known as media literacy, is one of the 21st-century skills for learners today. Digital media is a vital part of our everyday lives, and it is the gatekeeper to the amount of information we intake, whether good or bad. Therefore, consumers of the information need to understand how to evaluate the overwhelming amount of information and the importance of how it is processed (Bulger & Davison, 2018).

According to Valtonen et al. (2019), media literacy is necessary for students to understand and flourish. Our daily lives revolve around the use of digital tools, and the more students are equipped, the better they will be in navigating digital media in their daily lives. Additionally, as students move to different educational levels or into the workforce, they will meet expectations that they understand how to use digital media and use it to enhance their lives, which is profitable for their employers.

There are three main issues surrounding media literacy. The first is media literacy should encompass all forms of media, the second is that media literacy should be considered a skill and knowledge. Finally, when used appropriately, media literacy should improve users' lives by extending more control over how media influences them (Valtonen et al.,2019). Understanding that media literacy includes all forms of media is vital for educators to articulate to the learner. Helping learners process and think about the angle that the information is being presented is one way to help learners critically think about how the content.  Valtonen et al. (2019) indicate that critical thinking is an essential component in evaluating media and should be exercised each time one views or uses media.
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Resources available to help educators fully comprehend the nuances around media literacy are available at:

• Center for Media Literacy www.medialit.org
• International Federation of Library Associations: https://www.ifla.org/
• National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE):  www.NAMLE.net (Valtonen et al.,2019)

Each organization provides information and standards that educators can use to help students understand the intricacies and help create curricula around reflective and critical thinking opportunities.  Exposing students to the pros and cons of media literacy is no longer an option for creating learners who are prepared to work, live, and thrive in the 21st century.
 
 
 
References
Valtonen, T., Tedre, M., Mäkitalo, K., & Vartiainen, H. (2019). Media literacy education in the age of machine learning. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 11(2), 20-36.
Bulger, M., & Davison, P. (2018). The promises, challenges, and futures of media literacy. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 10(1), 1-21.