Active learning ideas
The rise of digital and social media has fundamentally changed the media landscape. This topic evaluates how platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter have democratised media production while also creating new challenges like 'fake news', 'echo chambers', and the 'filter bubble'. Students explore how traditional media industries are struggling to adapt to a world where everyone can be a publisher.
Activity 01
In small groups, students choose a recent viral social media post. They must 'reverse-engineer' it to identify why it spread so quickly, looking at factors like 'shareability', 'emotional hook', and the role of the platform's algorithm.
How has social media changed the way we consume news?
Activity 02
A debate on whether 'citizen journalism' (ordinary people filming events on their phones) is a positive development. One side argues for its immediacy and authenticity, while the other argues for the importance of professional ethics and fact-checking.
What is the impact of citizen journalism?
Activity 03
Students work in pairs to search for the same controversial topic on two different devices (or using different search histories). They compare the results to see how 'algorithms' personalise their information and discuss the impact of the 'filter bubble'.
How do algorithms influence our media diets?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Social media is 'free'.
Teach the concept of 'the audience as the product'. Explain that we 'pay' for social media with our data, which is then sold to advertisers. A 'data-tracking' activity where students see what information apps collect can be an eye-opening experience.
Everything on the internet is 'fake news' now.
Move away from the binary of 'real' vs 'fake'. Teach students to look for 'degrees of reliability' and to use 'lateral reading' (checking multiple sources). A 'fact-checking' challenge helps them develop the critical skills needed to navigate the digital world.
Methods used in this brief
Synoptic Review of Set Products
Revisit and compare the exam board's set media products across different forms. Pupils will draw connections between media language, representation, industries, and audiences.
8 methodologies
Exam Technique and Application
Focus on structuring exam responses, managing time, and applying theoretical knowledge to unseen texts. Pupils will complete mock assessments and review mark schemes.
8 methodologies