Lights, smartphone... ACTION!

The media arts focus on representing the world and telling stories through various modes of communications technologies, such as film, video, television, newspapers, magazines, radio, podcasts, video games, the internet and mobile media (Dinham, 2013, p. 227).

Communication technologies have evolved enormously over the past 90 years, particularly in relation to broadcast media. Wireless to web by the National Film and Sound Archive not only provides a useful overview of this evolution, it also serves as a great media resource for teachers! Throughout this evolution, media education has focussed on ensuring children become intelligent consumers of mass media. However to be successful in contemporary society, it is now recognised that students also need to develop skills as media creators (Dinham, 2013, p. 227 - 228). 

My children on their way to developing their digital literacy!

Observing how children interact with various communications technologies in their everyday lives, it is understandable that some teachers may assume that all students are 'digital natives' (Dezuanni & Raphael, 2012, p. 157). However it is important for teachers to realise that the extent of their students’ digital literacy may vary due to gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status (Dinham, 2013, p. 230).

Understandably, resourcing media arts can be costly. Fortunately there are a number of open software products available. For example:

• Stop Motion Central - Below is an example of it in action:

• iKit Movie 
• Sandbox Game Maker 
• Free film software 
• Story board that 
• Free SFX 

Here are some other great media resources for teachers and students:

• DIY doco 
• Splash ABC 

Finally, a really important aspect of teaching media arts is ensuring internet safety and promoting digital citizenship. This encompasses the concept of students learning about the nature of gathering, interacting and behaving within a networked environment. The netalert teachers guide, whilst published in 2004, still provides relevant guidelines for teachers. For the most up to date information check out Digizen.

References:

Dezuanni, M. & Raphael, J. (2012). Media arts and learning in the digital world. In C. Sinclair, N. Jeannert & J. O'Toole (Eds), Education in the arts. Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.

Dinham, J. (2013). Delivering authentic arts education. South Melbourne, VIC: Cengage Learning.