True/False, Ragtag Cinema, and Columbia Public Schools are teaming up again for year two of our Media Literacy Initiative, a program that supports teachers in incorporating more film and multimedia into their classrooms. The goal is to enhance the work of teachers by providing them with the support and resources they need to incorporate more media and media literacy skill development into their classrooms. It is supported generously by the Columbia Public Schools Foundation.

We’re seeking teachers eager to incorporate more film / media literacy into their classrooms and who are able to commit to the meeting and training schedule with minimal absences. View the schedule and more details about the program here. 12-16 CPS high school teachers will be selected; all subjects areas are welcome to apply!

The Media Literacy Program will offer:
a) graduate-credit-eligible training in media literacy and Personal Development hours through CPS
b) innovative film pairing suggestions for teachers’ existing curriculum (including film screening rights)
c) field trips to Ragtag Cinema and True/False Film Fest.

Throughout the 2017-2018 school year, a group of 24-30 teachers will embark on the RFS Media Literacy program. During the fall semester, participating CPS teachers will meet monthly to generate ways to strategically incorporate more multimedia into their classrooms (programmers at Ragtag and True/False will provide film suggestions based on each teacher’s coursework and curriculum). As True/False nears, teachers will have an insider’s look at the Fest’s education programs and will strengthen the programs with their experience and expertise. Participating teachers and students will be involved with DIY Day, student workshops, and other events. Finally, in summer of 2018, the group will participate in the annual Media Literacy Institute, a two-week workshop, offered in partnership with the Missouri Writing Project at the University of Missouri. The Institute will combine hands-on learning with theory and practice. It also offers teachers the opportunity to reflect on their previous year and plan for upcoming years with curation support and/or filmmaking opportunities.

Interested? Apply here!
Application Deadline: August 31, 2017

Please contact Allison Coffelt (allison @ truefalse.org) or Nick Kremer (nkremer @ cpsk12.org) with questions.