Professional Book Reviews: Critical Media Literacy in the 2.0

The websites and books reviewed in this column offer educators background, ideas, and classroom-based examples relating to critical media literacy and how to incorporate it into teaching practices. The Zinn Education Project website, created by Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change, offer a wealth of ideas, materials, lesson plans, links and other resources for teachers interested in incorporating social justice themes into the curriculum. Media Literacy is Elementary: Teaching Youth to Critically Read and Create Media, a book by Jeff Share, provides background on theory and practice relating to critical media literacy pedagogy in the elementary level. In addition to the book, an accompanying website provides additional resources and examples from classrooms. Captura: Digital Storytelling Toolkit is a website created by the Llano Grande Center. This multimodal text weaves print, video, and still pictures providing step-by-step instructions on how to create digital stories for community change. The detailed discussions on how to create such texts are supported by links to many outstanding examples created by students involved with the Llano Grande Center. Finally, Media Literacy: New Agendas in Communication, edited by Kathleen Tyner offers a diverse array of chapters providing ideas and insights generated from media literacy research in both formal and informal learning environments.