Term
Fall 2025
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Jennifer Carlson
Content Expert
Rebecca Zuehlke
Abstract
This capstone project examines how to effectively teach media literacy in a middle school environment. Grounded in both research and personal teaching experience, it responds to the growing need for earlier, more intentional instruction as students develop digital habits long before high school. The project proposes a seven-week Media Literacy course that integrates critical evaluation, ethical participation, and media creation within an inclusive, developmentally responsive framework. Through designing this course, I discovered that media literacy is not only about verifying information but about helping students understand their roles and responsibilities within digital culture. Implementing this instruction early can strengthen critical thinking, empathy, and civic awareness, preparing students to navigate the online world with confidence and purpose. Ultimately, the project argues that teaching students how to think online matters as much as teaching them how to be online.
Project Type
Course Framework with Proposal
Keywords
Curriculum, Literacy, Technology
Recommended Citation
Schwichtenberg, Cameron, "Media Literacy: Course Content Framework and District Proposal" (2025). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1149.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1149
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects