Due to the fast development of technology, every learner must study, browse various information, shares learning resources and establish contact with others at least once or more every day through their personal learning networks (PLNs). Trilling and Fadel (2009) argued that students in the 21st century should master the skills of accessing, evaluating, utilizing, managing, and increasing information and media wealth correctly and creatively.

What is media literacy? Media literacy is defined as the ability to critically analyze mass media reports and determine their accuracy or reliability. Media literacy is an extended concept of literacy, including the ability to obtain and analyze media information, and the ability to create, reflect and act by using the power of information and communication (“Media literacy”, 2023). According to the Media Literacy Center, media literacy skills provide “a framework for accessing, analyzing, evaluating and creating various forms of information, establishing an understanding of the role of media in society, and developing basic skills of asking questions and self-expression (Trilling and Fadel, 2009). Why media literacy is important? Due to the huge wealth of available information and media and various digital tools, the students of the Internet generation must be able to unprecedented power to improve their thinking, learning, communication, cooperation, and creativity. Accompanying these abilities comes the need to learn the appropriate skills to deal with a large amount of information, media, and technology (Trilling and Fadel, 2009).

Open dialogues about media literacy and factual information can create conflict, why does this happen?

Conflicts will occur when there is an open dialogue about media literacy and factual information. There are many reasons for these conflicts, including social, political and economic factors, as well as people’s own values, etc. Social media provides a platform for different social groups to express their opinions and organize their actions. People with different political views, economic interests and social status can strengthen their organization and interaction through social media, thus forming a situation of mutual confrontation. When people have opposing emotions, there will also be conflicts. When people tend to stick to their own positions and have a dialogue with people with different opinions, conflicts will arise, especially on social media, which is easy to expand and intensify external contradictions.

What is the benefit of having a PLN that values media literacy?

For online learners, it is very important to identify reliable and valuable learning resources from the vast amount of learning information, which can help them to choose helpful information more quickly and effectively and is conducive to the establishment of their personal learning networks. Media literacy learners can analyze the media. Firstly, learners with media literacy can understand how and why media information is constructed and its aims. Secondly, they can study how individuals interpret information in different ways, how values and opinions are included or excluded, and how the media affects individuals’ behaviors and beliefs. In addition, individuals with media literacy can have a basic understanding of moral and legal issues of media access and use (Trilling and Fadel, 2009). In a word, learners with media literacy have stronger insight and critical thinking and can better understand and establish the role of the media in society through their PLNs. They promote insight and critical thinking in the process of studying how individuals interpret media information in different ways, instead of simply checking and using media information.

Online learners with media literacy are better at creating media products. First, they can understand and use the most suitable media creation tools, features and practices. Secondly, learners with media literacy could understand and use the most appropriate expressions and explanations in a diversified and multicultural environment effectively (Trilling and Fadel, 2009). To sum up, learners with media literacy have more innovative ability. By analyzing the media, they understand how the media influences personal values and behaviors and use the analyzed media information to create media products. Learners with media literacy are better at putting theory into practice.

In conclusion, the skills of accessing, evaluating, utilizing, managing, and increasing information and media wealth correctly and creatively are important skills for building and expanding individualsā€™ PLNs. A person with a PLN values media literacy has more abilities of insight and critical thinking, skills of analyzing and creating media products. Therefore, online learners with media literacy are better at accessing, evaluating, utilizing, managing, and increasing information and media wealth correctly and creatively in their PLNs.

Reference

Media literacy. (2023, July 14). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_literacy

[Miller]. (2021, June 6). MEDIA LITERACY with JULIE SMITH [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57r3-aEnci0&t=1s

Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2009). 21st century skills: learning for life in our times (1st ed.). Jossey-Bass.