Integrating Media Literacy Into Mathematics

Abstract

A disconnect between the content taught in mathematics classroom and the skills young adults need for future success has created need for more diverse pedagogy. Media literacy and mathematics communities agree on similar goals for students to access media, evaluate it, and produce their own. Through the use of progressive instructional techniques, specifically involving media literacy, educators can simultaneously address overlooked equity concerns in mathematics. Research has found that these techniques can help students by holding them to high standards, support math thinking and language development, draw on students' prior knowledge, value their communities, and solve real-world problems that they will be facing in the future. Practical suggestions and expert advice for implementing more progressive pedagogy are included. Issues and solutions to infuse new methods into the classroom are outlined along with future research suggestions.