Media education is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to the study of media. Media education deals with key media concepts, and focuses on broad issues such as the history and role of media in different societies, and the social, political, economic, and cultural issues related to the media. Instead of addressing the concepts in depth, as one would in media studies, media education deals with most of the central media concepts as they relate to a variety of subjects. Popular music, television, film, radio, magazines, computer games, information services, media, and media messages are pervasive in the lives of students today. Media education develops students' ability to think critically and independently about issues that affect them.
Media education encourages students to identify and examine the values contained in media messages.
It also cultivates the understanding that these messages are produced by others to inform, persuade, and entertain for a variety of purposes. Media education helps students understand the distortions that may result from the use of particular media practices and techniques. There are learning opportunities for media education in all curriculum areas. Media education is not taught as a separate curriculum. Copyright 1996 All Rights Reserved.