Media Literacy and Information Literacy: A Need for Collaboration and Communication

Abstract

Both media literacy and information literacy struggle for legitimacy in school curricula, and seek to be recognized as relevant to student learning initiatives. While each has a distinct historical context, a dedicated group of followers, and base of research and intervention, neither has alone achieved the scale needed to make systemic change in public education in the United States. The author proposes recognition of the strengths of each, a combined effort of supporters, and a dedication to the new approaches and initiatives working to make changes in education that could have a lasting effect on the ways students use, learn, and understand media in their educational and personal lives.