At the heart of the Common Core standards is a focus on mastering complex texts, analyzing their structure, determining an author's purpose or point of view and presenting ideas, information and evidence using an appropriate media format. When done well, this work is messy -- because asking children and teens to share ideas through discussion, compare and contrast a variety of sources, and develop media messages to represent their learning creates high levels of engagement. Authentic critical thinking is inherently unpredictable. In this talk, Renee Hobbs explores the concept of messy engagement as a dimension of digital and media literacy and identifies the host of interdisciplinary competencies that enable teacher-librarians to create robust learning environments that motivate learners, support critical thinking, and inspire the kind of intellectual curiosity that lasts a lifetime.
Renee Hobbs, Professor & Founding Director, Harrington School of Communication & Media, University of Rhode Island
