Friday, 29 July 2016

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY: THE FOUNDATION OF ANYTIME, ANYWHERE LEARNING

I.     INTRODUCTION
       In the world of today, media has become as necessary as food and clothing. It has played significant role in strengthening the society. Media is considered as "mirror" of the modern society, infect,it is the media which shapes our lives.The purpose of the media is to inform people about current, new affairs and to tell about the latest gossip and fashion. It tells about the people who are geographically divided. The role of media has become one way of trading and marketing of products and prejudices. The media claimed to be governed by righteousness and equity, but greed and self-aggrandizement has poisoned its virtues.
     Media is in charge of:
     1. Information
     2. Education
     3. Entertainment
     4. Advertising
              Society is influenced by media in so many ways. It is the media for the masses that helps them to get information about a lot of things and also to form opinions and make judgments regarding various issues. It is the media which keeps the people updated and informed about what is happening around them and the world. Everyone can draw something from it.
No doubt, media has played significant role in making world a global village and to reduce the communication gaps amongst the people living in the far areas. Media identifies its responsibility and work sincerely and honestly, then it can serve as a great force in building the nation.

II. BEING MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERATE
        Media is a communication channel through which news, entertainment, education, data, or promotional messages are disseminated. Media includes every broadcasting and narrow casting medium such as newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, billboards, direct mail, telephone, fax, and internet. Media is the plural of medium and can take a plural or singular verb, depending on the sense intended. What does it do with media literacy? Media Literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and create media in a variety of forms. Media Literacy is a 21st century approach to education. It provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms — from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy. 
              On the other hand, information literacy is defines as the ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand. Although other educational goals, including traditional literacy, computer literacy, library skills, and critical thinking skills, are related to information literacy and important foundations for its development, information literacy itself is emerging as a distinct skill set and a necessary key to one's social and economic well-being in an increasingly complex information society. According to McTavish (2009), in order to increase and maximize people's contributions to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society and maintain a prosperous and sustainable economy, governments and industries around the world are challenging education systems to focus people's attention on literacy.Today’s educational and professional paths requires using technology to communicate, problem-solve or complete research. Students who attain technology literacy have an easier time achieving education goals and entering into their career of choice. But what is technology literacy?
           Technology literacy is the ability to appropriately select and responsibly use technology. Students who have attained technological literacy are able to solve problems, communicate, locate, use and synthesize information found using technology and develop skills necessary to function in the 21st century. Achieving technology literacy helps students function in the world they live in. Not only is technology necessary in education and work arenas, it also helps students learn to become better decision-makers. Learning how to use technology enables students to access reliable and pertinent information regarding their health, safety and attainment of life goals. Students must understand not only how and where to look for information, but also how to discern whether sources are reliable or exhibit bias.

 III.     WHY MEDIA IS IMPORTANT?

 WHY MEDIA IS IMPORTANT?
             Media is important because it influences society in many different ways. But could we say it changes the way we behave or our attitudes towards things we perceive in the world we live in?
Media is all around us, society is constantly interacting with social mediums for their own gratification, gratification could be keeping in contact with friends and family or it could be sharing your experiences with the world through pictures and videos. Another gratification could be finding information easily and quickly using things such as the internet.

BUT WHY DOES THIS MAKE MEDIA SO IMPORTANT?
            Media is important because it gives us some sense of being. We have a sense of being part of something greater then ourselves and that is why things like twitter and facebook are so popular because they make you feel that you are part of a wider community always interacting with each other. It gives individuals the ability to create their own personal identity, through mediums like facebook people can add details about themselves like what their hobbies are and who they perceive themselves to be.
           Media is important with regards to gathering information. Although we’ve had the internet for a fair amount of time there have been some major changes that have revolutionized the way we use this medium. Things like large data bases full of journals ranging in all areas of information. And the best part of this media is that it is instant and easy to access.

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