Media Literacy Minute

Mental Health Trends to Watch in 2025

K12 Dive identifies three mental health trends that educators should watch, emphasizing the role of media literacy in supporting student well-being by addressing the impact of digital environments on mental health.

• Increased Focus on Digital Well-Being: Schools are recognizing the impact of digital environments on student mental health and integrating digital well-being education into their programs. This includes teaching students how to manage screen time and engage critically with online content.
• Trauma-Informed Practices: Educators are adopting trauma-informed approaches to better support students dealing with stress and anxiety, often exacerbated by digital interactions and social media pressures.
• Collaborative Support Systems: There is a growing emphasis on partnerships between schools, families, and communities to address mental health challenges. These collaborations aim to provide students with more comprehensive and accessible support networks.

These trends underscore the interconnectedness of media literacy and student mental health, emphasizing the need for critical engagement with digital content in educational settings.

National News Literacy Week 2025 Announced

USA Today highlights the upcoming National News Literacy Week 2025, scheduled for February 3-7, 2025. This initiative aims to amplify the importance of news literacy in combating misinformation and fostering informed civic engagement. The week will feature events, toolkits, and resources to help educators, students, and communities critically evaluate news and media.

Video Explores Media Literacy Tools

A YouTube video dives into practical tools for teaching media literacy, focusing on engaging strategies to help students recognize and navigate misinformation. The speakers highlight best practices for teaching media literacy from three continents. These best practices include:

1. Use Local Languages and Relevant Examples

• Tailor content to the local language and cultural context to ensure understanding.
• Use real-world, region-specific examples to make the material more relatable and impactful.

2. Engage Participants Through Interactive Learning:

• Incorporate hands-on activities like fact-checking exercises and group discussions.
• Avoid passive lecture-style teaching; instead, encourage participation and make learning fun through icebreakers and interactive formats.

3. Ensure Inclusivity and Accessibility:

• Make workshops accessible to diverse communities, including hard-of-hearing individuals, by using tools like sign language and translated materials.
• Consider participants' needs and technological access to keep them engaged post-workshop.

The video is a great resource for educators looking to make media literacy lessons dynamic and impactful.