Response to questions after watching the homepage video:

The reason I think teaching media literacy is important is because it helps shape our views of the world.  We get caught up in media images (and our perception of those images) and lose sight of more important priorities.  Children and teens are especially vulnerable to believing what is constantly given to them in the media.

What I want to learn about teaching media literacy is how to show children/teens what the goal of the media often is.  That it is not there to teach them what is beautiful, cool or what is moral.  Instead the media outlets are often businesses trying to sell products or improve ratings.  I want them to be able to better judge the source.

Concerns I have about teaching media literacy right now are how to incorporate this information into CSOs for business and marketing education classes but I feel confident it can be done.  I also do not want to sound too negative or jaded by society.  I would like to find a way to put a positive and fun spin on my lessons despite the truth of greed, vanity and stereotypes in media.

Try our video maker at Animoto.

I was born in Arlington, VA due to my family's history in government work in the DC area.  Although, when my grandparents retired to Florida, my parents followed when I was four years old.  I grew in South Daytona, FL until meeting my husband in 2001 when I decided to 'give Elkins, WV a try'.   I now have lived in WV for 12 years!

What do I do?  I strive for a life filled with a variety, achievement and balance... so here's what I do to 'try' to achieve that.

• I am a mother of 3 children (two daughters age 8 & 6 and a 2 year old son).  
• Assist my children in several extra curricular activities and volunteer in some.  
• soccer coach- 5th season
• gymnastics boosters fundraising volunteer 
• PTO Treasurer
• Religious education teacher- 8th & 9th 
• Substitute teacher- Randolph County Schools
• Teaching Certificate in Business Education & Marketing Eduction
• Graduate Student- Masters in Education, Digital Media through Fairmont State University
• Train for marathons
• Read (and visit with my book club)
• Play in two summer softball leagues
• Ski
• Travel
• Etc!!

In this class I hope to learn more about the media and how they chose to write stories.  I hope to incorporate media literacy and digital story telling information that may be eye opening to students in a variety of high school business education and marketing education lessons.  Additionally, just like with most everything I learn, I hope to share information about digital media with my children to help them interpret it.