Visualizing the Climate Crisis

A net full of collected marine plastic waste suspended underwater in the sea off the shore of the Yucatan Peninsula, light coming from above.

This learning activity engages students in critically analyzing climate crisis visuals, exploring the power of imagery in environmental communication through interactive tasks based on seven principles of visual climate change communication. The activity aims to enhance students’ analytical and visual storytelling skills while cultivating a sense of agency in addressing climate issues.

Green or Greenwashed? Cultivating Ecomedia Literacy Skills

Green or Greenwashing icon

This lesson introduces students to the concept of greenwashing and develops their ecomedia literacy skills. Students will learn to identify various greenwashing techniques used by companies and critically evaluate environmental claims in marketing and advertising.

Teaching the Ecomedia Mind/footprint

Ecomedia mind/ecological footprint

This workshop introduces students to the concepts of the ecomedia mindprint and footprint, enabling them to critically analyze the environmental impacts of media technologies and explore how media shapes perceptions and actions regarding the environment.

Addressing “Plant Blindness” Through Reflective Reading and Creative Writing

The main focus of the learning activity is to combat “plant blindness,” a cognitive bias where people tend to overlook plants in their environment. By engaging students in reflective reading, creative writing, and hands-on plant care, the activity aims to foster empathy for plants and enhance their appreciation of the natural world.

Themes and Activities for Enhancing Ecomedia Literacy

This article underscores the vital need to integrate ecomedia literacy into media education, addressing the interconnected challenges posed by media and technology on society and the planet. It provides a wealth of practical strategies and examples for educators, offering an invaluable resource to build awareness and empower students to critically engage with ecomedia, environmental issues, and ethical considerations across various media platforms and genres.

Make a One-minute Eco-film

In this activity, students are encouraged to produce a one-minute eco-film using the “remoscope” technique, capturing a static view of something in nature. This creative exercise prompts students to contemplate how the media portrays “nature” while embracing the concept of “slow media,” fostering a deeper connection with their subject.

Corporate Greenwashing? Exxon and Greenpeace

Project Look Sharp logo

This is a media literacy and critical thinking activity in which students decode an ExxonMobil commercial and an environmental advocacy video for conflicting messages about corporate advertising credibility and about human impact on the environment.

Infographics for Environmental Communication

Students utilize online infographic tools to craft a visual means of environmental communication, allowing them to concisely convey and analyze environmental issues. Through the creation of infographics, students articulate claims about environmental problems, employ research-based communication strategies, and enhance their information and visual literacy skills, which are essential for evaluating research credibility and meaningfully connecting imagery with ideas.