Redefining Literacy

I have been utilizing the Internet as the vast source of information and research that it is for over a decade now, and it is true that this data smog can easily become overwhelming get in the way of what you're trying to accomplish. There is so much out there that it's hard to sift through everything to get to what you really need and want; oftentimes out of frustration you end up going with the first few things you find (which may not always be what it is you're looking for!) We must take media literacy into account and actually teach it, as an extension of literacy itself, allowing time for students to learn how to evaluate the information they find for its accuracy, relevancy and authority. I loved the DISCOVER acronym: Define, Inquire, Search, Collect, Organize, Verify, Express, and Reflect!