Brainstorming My Media Literacy Autobiography

My earliest memories of different forms of media are from around the time I was three years old. For TV I remember sitting at home and watching Thomas the Tank Engine in our living room. I don’t have a memory of what my first movie was, but for listening to the radio I do remember driving down the road as it was raining, the sun began shinning during the rain, which was the first time I had saw that. During that moment CCR’s song “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” came on. It was a strange moment that I still remember to this day. For advertisements the one that stands out the most in my mind is one from when I was around 10 to 11 years old. I believe it was some kind of gushers commercial that when the people ate the gushers their heads turned into fruit. It was very odd, and I actually never ate gushers because of it. So I guess it had the opposite effect of what was intended.

As for digital media literacy I do consider myself to be digitally literate. Being able to shift through media and recognize that something isn’t what it may seem is something I have always done. I don’t think that there was a specific moment. I’ve always have been very interested in learning. I learned very early on in my life that not everything you read, or that someone says, is true, but I guess it started with reading magazine covers in line at the stores. Their ridiculous headlines gave me that first lesson.

As for the digital media I am consuming in my life now I am obsessed with watching news and informational videos on YouTube. I like political commentaries such as The Young Turks, to channels that make you think about strange and odd things, like Vsause. I also love watching TedTalks videos, as well as channels that explain global issues, such as DNews, and Seeker Daily. All of these videos range from short 2-3 minute videos, to lasting over an hour.

As for teaching and incorporating digital media into the classroom I am more excited now that I have ever been. Now knowing all the resources that are out there and all the things you can do with digital media I am less afraid of going out into the teaching community, and I’m feel much more prepared to go out and teach children music.