4.+Lesson+on+Behavior+and+Expectations


 * 4. Lesson on Behavior and Expectations in Television and other forms of Media**


 * Lesson Topic:** Behavior and Expectations in Television and other forms of Media


 * Lesson Purpose:**

To provide students with the opportunity to increase their awareness and critical thinking/analytical skills of media representations and influences with specific attention to behavior and expectations.


 * Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to…**

-Identify how television and the media presents behaviors and relationships and draw conclusions about how those behaviors and relationships outside the media may be affected by may

-Identify how television and the media create and influence expectations.

-Analyze the techniques that television and the media may use to influence behavior and expectations.


 * Lesson Part 1: Overt Instruction**

This lesson should begin with overt instruction as a way to acclimate students to the world of media and how media might create and influence behavior and expectations outside the media. In this way the concept of behavior will be addressed first. Several concepts of behavior including, modeling, imitation, product placement and health messages, will be analyzed through the use of video clips, still photos and student run discussion. This will provide students with both an understanding of what comprises the various models for behavior that the media presents, as well as providing them with a foundation for analysis and critical thinking.

The same type of instruction will occur with regards to the concept of expectations and the media, specifically focusing on the ideas of the creation of associations and expectations in general, whether they be expectations regarding gender roles, criminals or relationships.

It is important that these concepts be introduced first through overt instruction and seen through various examples before students begin their own analysis. There are several media literacy sites listed on the resource page that are useful teaching tools. With specific regards to this lesson, the website, http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/ is a great resource that contains both examples of media literacy topics as well as activities to accompany them.


 * Lesson Part 2: Situated Practice**

Once students have been introduced to the concepts of behavior and expectations as presented by the media, we will narrow their focus and look at television, more specifically the show //Modern Family//, and examine the ways that behavior and expectations may influence our ideas about family. Using the episode, Airport 2010 as a base for analysis, students will either watch the episode in full, or draw on their notes from the previous lesson that also makes use of this episode as a way to examine narrative structure. In either case, still screen shots will be referenced throughout the lesson to help guide students in their analysis.

As students watch the episode, or reflect upon it, they will individually brainstorm a list of key behaviors that were presented during Airport 2010. The following questions will be used as a guide for their brainstorming:

-What character relationships were presented in the episode?

-What conflicts occurred in each of these relationships?

-How were these conflicts resolved?

In groups, students will share their brainstorms and collaborate to identify the ways that these behaviors were presented regarding media techniques. The following questions will be posed to help guide students group work.

-What can we learn about the characters from their relationships?

-What can we learn about behavior from the characters and the way they handled the conflicts that arose in this episode?

Still in groups, students will then reflect upon their findings and list the types of expectations that are created and supported during this episode. The following questions will be used to guide students’ work.

-Looking at individual characters and their relationships and conflicts, what can we expect from them? -What types of stereotypes might these expectations challenge, or support?


 * Lesson Part 3: Critical Framing**

Students will then draw conclusions from their findings and present them in a written paper, analyzing the effects of media on behavior and expectations as seen in Airport 2010 of //Modern Family//. The following are guiding questions for students to reflect on.

-Taking what you have found that episode Airport 2010 has presented through its characters and their actions regarding behavior and expectations, what conclusions can you draw?

-Do these behaviors and expectations challenge or support traditional views? Or how do they compare to your personal thoughts and experiences?

-Thinking about behavior and expectations, how might this show influence its viewers?


 * Assessment:**

Students will be assessed base on their individual work in their initial brainstorming activity as well as their contributions to their group’s discussion. This is also a great place for the teacher to circulate and address any issues or concerns as students explore the realm of behavior and expectations as presented in the media. Students will also be assessed on the basis of their written paper, as they draw conclusions about media influence.


 * Sunshine State Standards:**

LA.910.6.2.1: The student will select a topic and develop a comprehensive flexible search plan, and analyze and apply evaluative criteria (e.g., objectivity, freedom from bias, topic format) to assess appropriateness of resources;

LA.910.6.2.3: The student will write an informational report that integrates information and makes distinctions between the relative value and significance of specific data, facts, and ideas; LA.910.2.1.4: The student will identify and analyze universal themes and symbols across genres and historical periods, and explain their significance;

LA.910.2.1.8: The student will explain how ideas, values, and themes of a literary work often reflect the historical period in which it was written;