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Critical Thinking
The Ultimate Media Filter

Rod Gustafson
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Critical Thinking
The Ultimate Media Filter

Today We Will Discuss and Better Understand...

n The definition of Critical Thinking

n What Media Literacy means
n How Critical Thinking and Media Literacy enable children to...
n Make WISE media choices

n THINK about media – not just react

Make INFORMED ACTIONS
n
n Consequences of ANY media use
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Don’t forget YOU are the EXPERT
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Critical Thinking Process
Identify
Assumptions

Evaluate
Check Facts
Outcome

Consider
Take Action Alternative
Perspectives
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Critical Thinking Process
For Teens…
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Media Literacy??

Media
Literacy

Cultural Numerical
Literacy Literacy
Information
Literacy

Traditional Computer
Literacy Literacy
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Why Should I Care About
Media Literacy?
Real Life
Connections

Promotes Develops
Individual Critical
Centered
Learning Thinking
Media
Literacy

Creative Use
of Encourages
Multimedia Citizenship
Tools
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Why Should I Care About
Media Literacy?
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Why We Want Our Children…
To Become Critical Thinking Media Consumers
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Benefits of Teaching Critical Media
Skills to our Children
n Kids will…
n Be more selective. This can be FUN!
Many kids love being a critic.
n Will find their “critical”
voice.
n Seek beyond their usual
tastes – perhaps go outside!

n Parents will…
n Have better tools to help
kids understand concerns.
n Gain cooperation.
n Make better media choices.
J
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The Media Is Biased…
And so are we!

n Audience Bias n Media Bias

n Nationality n Political
n Regional Association nMany US media openly state
nMay be very defined! affiliations.
n Ethnicity n Economic
n Political n CBS President says Trump is
good for business.
n Gender
nHow does Calgary media
n Income
depend on energy industry?
n Religion n Personal – They are like us.
n Body Shape & “Language”
n ß Everything applies…
n Speech
+ n Newspapers are laying off journalists.
n Postmedia lays off 90 journalists.
Investigative n Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and
Ottawa newsrooms combined.
Journalism is Dying
n Company owns many major
newspapers in big and small cities.

n Broadcast TV also reducing newsrooms.

n Large cities still somewhat served by
three stations.
n Mid-size and small cities often have
no local TV news.

n Radio is struggling.
n Never recovered from iPod.
n Streaming, podcasts.
n CBC is only source of investigative
reporting on radio in Canada.
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Learning to think for
ourselves…
… is an essential component of humanism.

n It doesn't contradict the role of

parents.

n It doesn't invalidate "expert"

opinion.

n It doesn't override faith.

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How To Teach Our Children…
To Become Critical Thinking Media Consumers
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Begin with the end in mind…
Promote critical thought when using ALL media.

n Encourage age and comprehension appropriate media.

n Blocking of inappropriate content with technology is increasingly
difficult.
n Sex and violence triggers highly emotional responses from
children and retards their ability to think critically.
n Purely escapist entertainment can still hold great opportunities
for critical examination.
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Practice at home…
… where you can encourage discussion.

n Use the PVR or pre-record TV and

use the Pause button.

n Encourage kids to vocalize during

commercials. (Yes, ads can be
fun!)

n Be encouraging!
n Ask for opinions. Share yours.
Ask what they think.
n Ask how they FEEL (emotional
response).
n Help each other recognize
personal bias.
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Time to practice!

n Young children – pick a favourite movie.

n Why did the bad guy/girl do that?
n Would you make the same decision? Why?
n How did it make you feel?
n What “tricks” did the movie use to make you feel that way?
n How would you change the story?
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Time to practice!
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Time to practice!

n Advertising is a perfect media source

n Most people are fine talking during commercials.
n It’s short.
n It’s meant to manipulate.
n Easy to find examples on YouTube (ideal for teachers).
n Deals with many real world issues:
n Consumerism

n Politics
n Social Issues
n Body Image / Sex Role Portrayals
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Time to practice!
Audi
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Time to practice!
Hyundai
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Time to practice!
Budweiser
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Time to practice!
Fake News

n Many websites exist to sell advertisements surrounding “fake

news” stories. (Example: abcnews.com.co, cbsnews.com.co)
n If news sounds unbelievable, it most often is.
n Check the website URL. Does it match the “real” news source?
n Do the links go to reputable news outlets?
n People are often baited to these sites through social networking.
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Time to practice!
News Story: Home Break In
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Time to practice!
News Story: Clothing Bins
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Self-Regulation
Helping Children Recognize Consequences of
Media Use.
n ALL media use consumes time.
n Screen time has increased dramatically.
n Track your family screen time over a week or month.
(Don’t include work or school screen-time.)
n Ask your children (and yourselves), ”If I had that time back, what
would I choose to do with it?”
n What activities have been displaced by this increase in screen
time?
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Self-Regulation
Helping Children Recognize Consequences of
Media Use.
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Self-Regulation
Helping Children Recognize Consequences of
Media Use.
n Children experience emotional responses from media.
n After using a media device, ask your child how he/she feels.
n (Happy, sad, tired, frustrated, grumpy, angry.)
n Note what types of media improve their mood – and vice-versa.
n Help them become self aware of how different media affects
their emotions.
n Encourage self-regulation of media use dependent on their
experience.
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Critical Thinking
The Ultimate Media Filter
Rod Gustafson
rod@parentpreviews.com