Media Literacy Guide for 8th Grade Waldorf Students

Traditionally, students who attend private Waldorf schools have very little or no exposure to media within the school day.  Most parents who send their children to these schools already know the value of the limited exposure and limit their child’s usage at home as well.   Students who continue through Waldorf High school are equip with the skills, including technology usage, to prepare them for adulthood.  These students have reported relative ease entering college. 

Continuing a Waldorf style education through high school, is not an option for many families because of availability and cost.  Therefore, many of these 8^th graders will be entering high school with students who have had access to electronic devices since elementary school or younger.  Many skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, research, note taking, and general courtesies will already be covered without technology within the curriculum.  Typically, a student who completes elementary and middle school in a Waldorf classroom is competent in traditional literacies, visual literacies, spatial orientation, and mechanical competencies, problem solving, and expresses confidence to learn and try new skills.  

This guide is intended to identify new media literacy competencies that can be explored to familiarize the 8^th grade Waldorf student with the technology demands of a mainstream high school.  It is intentionally general to accommodate for the rapid change of digital media skills.  As students develop critical thinking and safety, they should be encouraged to participate in online and offline discussions with their peers, parents and teachers about information accessed, tips, and programs they discover.

 

Skills:

A.    Typing

Students should continue to type using proper keyboard position and posture.  An average of 30-40 words per minute is ideal.  Students should be comfortable using a touch screen and manipulating a touchpad or mouse.  Students should be familiar with using keyboard shortcuts or know where to access them.

B.     Netiquette

Students should be aware of online courtesies, appropriate use of communication platforms, and accepted language.

C.    Formalities

Students should be aware of the proper use of online communication (composing a formal email, business correspondence, messaging, posting, replying, etc.)

D.    Legalities

Students should understand the ethical issues and proper use and citation of text, images, and resources.

E.     Safety:

Students should be familiar with the use of passwords, information sharing, fraud, scams, and viruses.  Students should have a clear understanding of privacy and the sharing of images.  Students should be familiar with the effects of excessive screen time and be aware of resources for internet addiction and cyber-bullying.

F.     Choosing a medium

Students should be familiar with popular computing programs and accessing tutorials or help sections for usage.  Students should be able to manipulate and transfer data across platforms.  Students should be familiar with saving files and understand storage capabilities.

G.    Search skills

Students should be familiar with search cites for scholarly content, non-scholarly information, and commentary.  Students should be skilled in determining the accuracy, source, and motivation behind information posted. 

 

Reference

Graber, Diana.  2015. A Funny Thing Happens When You Teach Media Literacy: Kids Get Smarter. Media Literacy Now.  Retrieved from: http://medialiteracynow.org/a-funny-thing-happens-when-you-teach-media-literacy-kids-get-smarter/