The Inclusion of Media Literacy in the English Curriculum

Abstract

Today, the digital world is ever changing. Teenagers all over the world are hypnotized by their tech-savvy devices. Their free time is spent on their smartwatches, cell phones, computers, or in front of their televisions and video games. When they arrive at school, they are expected to have the devices stored away and not have contact at all during the time they are at school. These students have lost their desire and passion for learning. The students need to have new and engaging ways to learn in the classroom, especially in English. Students have become disinterested in the teacher’s traditional ways of teaching literature. Educators need to be aware of this and adapt the 21st century skills of Media Literacy into the English curriculum in order to support success in the digital, modern, world. However, educators lack the knowledge about Media Literacy, where it should be implemented in the English curriculum and how to implement it in the classroom.