(Media And Information Literacy Topics) by: JANE PAUL OMBANIA

HOW TO COMBAT DIGITAL DIVIDE?

First let us know what is digital divide,

Digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that don't or have restricted access. This technology can include the telephone, television, personal computers and the Internet. This is according to (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/digital-divide)

We all know that modern information and communication technology devices like computers are expensive to buy and not all of us have an internet connection because some of the people here in the world can't buy packet wifi,/router because they don't have money.Now here's the big question,How to combat this kind of dilemma in our society?For me there are many and simple ways to conquer this, 

• like sharing our Computers
• Sharing wifi password to other people 
• If Government propose a plan to have a FREE WIFI all over the world 
• Lowering the price of Computers and lastly
• If all the people in the world don't use COMPUTERS and INTERNET 

Those are some of my suggestions to combat digital divide.

HOW TO COMBAT ONLINE GAMES ADDICTION?

The Dictionary defines online game addiction as an unusually interest in a physical or mental activity done over the internet.In fact,Teenagers nowadays are more prone to this kind of addiction in our country but some of children nowadays are engaged of online games addiction,one of the most famous online game is DOTA2,what does dota2 makes the human being addict?I interviewed some of my classmates and they answered,dota 2 makes my day complete because it makes me challenge to defeat our enemies by controlling my hero/character so I can feel like I  am the one who plays the game inside,then I answered REALLY?.Now we already know how the Dota2 affects the mental and physical ability of an individual,How to combat this kind of addiction? Many ways to combat online games addiction like,

• Having Parents attention
• Teaching them about how the online games addiction affects to human being
• limit using of computers
• by turning off, the Internet connection 
• and by having self discipline

HOW TO COMBAT CYBERBULLYING?

The Dictionary defines CYBERBULLYING as one habitually cruel to others who are weaker,done over the internet and using social media.According to Analects 15:24 do not do unto others what you do not want to be done unto you.Victims of this kind of bullying have no confidence to work,or he/she is Stress to meet other people,because this kind of bullying bring a negative effects to a mankind,but why do people continue to do this?We are challenged to combat this,But how?
We can overcome this challenge by

• having campaign about how bullying affects to an individual
• parental guidance
• self realization
• strong and brave to confront the one who make cyberbullying
• and by the power of the law we can reduce the case of cyberbullying because people are scared to bully bacause they are afraid to the consequence,
• and just simply doing good and do not judge other people

ETHICAL USE OF MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY

What is Media Literacy?

For centuries, literacy has referred to the ability to read and write. Today, we get most of our information through an interwoven system of media technologies. The ability to read many types of media has become an essential skill in the 21^st Century. Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. Media literate youth and adults are better able to understand the complex messages we receive from television, radio, Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, video games, music, and all other forms of media. Media literacy skills are included in the educational standards of every state—in language arts, social studies, health, science, and other subjects.  Many educators have discovered that media literacy is an effective and engaging way to apply critical thinking skills to a wide range of issues. 

Media Literacy Project’s approach to media literacy education comes from a media justice framework. Media Justice speaks to the need to go beyond creating greater access to the same old media structure. Media Justice takes into account history, culture, privilege, and power. We need new relationships with media and a new vision for its control, access, and structure. Media Justice understands that this will require new policies, new systems that treat our airways and our communities as more than markets.

Media literacy skills can help youth and adults:

- Develop critical thinking skills
- Understand how media messages shape our culture and society
- Identify target marketing strategies
- Recognize what the media maker wants us to believe or do
- Name the techniques of persuasion used
- Recognize bias, spin, misinformation, and lies
- Discover the parts of the story that are not being told
- Evaluate media messages based on our own experiences, skills, beliefs, and values
- Create and distribute our own media messages
- Advocate for media justice

(https://medialiteracyproject.org/learn/media-literacy/)

Information Literacy Defined

Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." ¹ Information literacy also is increasingly important in the contemporary environment of rapid technological change and proliferating information resources. Because of the escalating complexity of this environment, individuals are faced with diverse, abundant information choices--in their academic studies, in the workplace, and in their personal lives. Information is available through libraries, community resources, special interest organizations, media, and the Internet--and increasingly, information comes to individuals in unfiltered formats, raising questions about its authenticity, validity, and reliability. In addition, information is available through multiple media, including graphical, aural, and textual, and these pose new challenges for individuals in evaluating and understanding it. The uncertain quality and expanding quantity of information pose large challenges for society. The sheer abundance of information will not in itself create a more informed citizenry without a complementary cluster of abilities necessary to use information effectively.

Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning. An information literate individual is able to:

• Determine the extent of information needed
• Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
• Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
• Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
• Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally

(http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency)

Why is Information Literacy Important? The definition of an information literate person extends beyond school and application to academic problems--such as writing a research paper--and reaches right into the workplace. Information literacy is also important to effective and enlightened citizenry, and has implications that can impact the lives of many people around the globe. The ability to use information technologies effectively to find and manage information, and the ability to critically evaluate and ethically apply that information to solve a problem are some of the hallmarks of an information literate individual. Other characteristics of an information literate individual include the spirit of inquiry and perseverance to find out what is necessary to get the job done. We live in the Information Age, and "information" is increasing at a rapid pace. We have the Internet, television, radio, and other information resources available to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, just because so much  information is so easily and quickly available does not mean that all of it is worthwhile or even true.  Because of resources like the Internet, finding high-quality information is now harder than ever, not easier!  Finding the good stuff is not always quick!  And the good stuff does not always come cheaply, either! (In short, to make it in today's Information Age, you have to be even smarter--not dumber--than your typewriter-schlepping predecessors!) To make matters worse, just because you know how to use a particular information technology today does not mean that there is not another one right behind it that you will have to learn how to use tomorrow! Once seemingly exotic technologies like "word processing" and "electronic mail" are now commonplace, but at one time, they were amazing and revolutionary. (To some of us, they still are). Today's employers are looking for people who understand and can adapt to the characteristics of the Information Age. If a student has "learned how to learn," upon graduation, they are a much more attractive job candidate. An information literate individual--with their strong analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills--can be expected to be an adaptable, capable and valuable  employee, with much to contribute.  (https://www2.philau.edu/infolit/why_students.htm)

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF 

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY

Media and Information literacy bring many oppurtunities like in our generation,Media Literacy disseminates information,datas and facts that can help to us in order to overcome our different challenges in school and community,While Information Literacy also help to the mankind 

Determine the extent of information needed,access the needed information effectively and efficiently,evaluate information and its sources critically,incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base,use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose,understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally.And Media and information Literacy also bring challenges in our society like cyberbullying,digital addiction,pornography.spamming,trolling and many more.

THANK YOU FOR READING

                                                                                                                                  BY:

JANE PAUL OMBANIA

                                                                                                                         GRADE XI-SOCRATES