Diane E. Levin, Ph.D. | Media Literacy | Children and War

AWARDS

Recipient of 2010 Edward H. Ladd Award for Academic Excellence and Service. From Wheelock College.

Recipient of “2009 Family Advocate of the Year” Award. From the Boston Parents Paper in celebration of its 25th Anniversary.

Selected for inclusion in: Quotable Women: The First 5,000 Years (6th Edition) by Elaine Paltrow (pub. date-2010).

Recipient of the Gordon Marshall Research Award [Wheelock College]. 2006-2007. To support the research and writing of book, So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids. [Co-Author Jean Kilbourne]

Recipient of the Abigail Eliot Award. 2003. Boston Association for the Education of Young Children. For contributions to the early childhood community.

TEACHING

Summer 2009 & 2010

PDI 523—Media Madness: The Impact of Sex, Violence and Commercial Culture on Children and Society

Examines nature of media-its violence, sexism, racism and commercialism; why it is this way; how it shapes children's development, attitudes and behavior, families, and society; how to develop broad-based media literacy which incorporates conflict resolution, anti-racism, anti-sexism efforts into professional settings and everyday life; policy and advocacy issues.

Fall 2009

HDP 362—The Meaning and Development of Play—Undergraduate
HDF 526—The Meaning and Development of Play—Graduate

Explores the meaning and development of play from infancy through adulthood through theories, research, and application. Examines value of play in therapeutic, educational and medical settings; how the environment (including toys and media) influences play; how to support play, integrate it into professional work, and advocate for play.

Spring 2010

RES 651—Action Research (to enhance professional practice)—Graduate

Introduces use of scientific inquiry and research methodology to study questions arising from practice and/or policies. Students design and carry out a research project. Research and professional writing skills are developed.

EDU 260/850—How Early Childhood Programs Can Help Children Affected by War & Conflict Heal: Lessons From Northern Ireland—Undergraduate & Graduate

Accompanies Northern Ireland Service Learning Program. Pre-trip sessions provide foundation for trip—history of “The Troubles”, how children are affected, and efforts to promote healing with children and adults, broader implications for all children. In Belfast sessions, expert practitioners connect theory to student experiences. Post-trip sessions explore implications for students’ professional work.

More information available at: www.wheelock.edu

CONSULTING

Queens University, Center for Effective Education, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Visiting Scholar.

February 2009. Designing a research project on how conflict resolution training and media literacy can contribute to the reconciliation process being carried out in nursery and primary schools.

PBS Parents Expert Blog. Guest Expert Blogger on the sexualization of young girls to accompany for Website, “PBS Parents Guide to Understanding and Raising Girls." January 2009.

PBS Parents Website on Making Sense of Cents: “Talking to Your Kids about the Economy” Interviewed and quoted.

Prevention Institute (Oakland, CA) Expert Meeting and Consultation on Transforming Communities to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation funded by MS Foundation for Women. Winter 2009.

“Big and Small” Children’s Television Program, Kindle Entertainment, London, England. Consultant on potential educational benefits of the program. Fall, 2008.

Senior Advisor or Advisor for PBS Parents Websites:

The PBS Parents Guide to Raising and Understanding Girls 2007-08

“Talking to Kids about the News” 2006

“The PBS Parents Guide to Going to School” 2005

“How to Raise a Kid Who Cares” 2005 (Linked to the New American Heroes Series Website)

“The PBS Parents Guide to Talking to Kids about War and Violence” HYPERLINK " 2002; revised 2005

Developer and Leader of Annual Wheelock College Student and Alumni Service Learning Program in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “How Early Childhood Programs in a Community Affected by Conflict Can Help Children Heal.” from March 2007.

Created booklet for SOFAR [Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists] Project for families and schools on helping children whose Reservist and National Guard parents have been called up for active duty in a war zone. [with Carol Daynard] 2005, revised 2007.

Expert Panelist for CUNY Early Education and Training Program
New York statewide teleconference training: Contributor to development of program script and participated in program broadcast. Albany, New York.

“How Media Affects Gender and Sexual Development.” October 2007

“Too Sexy, Too Soon: The Sexualization of Childhood.” June 2006

“Violence Prevention: Creating a Safe Haven for Children in Your Program.” November 2003

Developed Peaceable Classroom Training for the State of Maine Department of Human Services, Office of Child Care and Head Start, Fall, 2003.

BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC). 2000-present
Co-founder. Steering Committee Member.

Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment (TRUCE). 1995-present. Co-founder. Steering Committee Member.

Senior Advisory Board Member For PBS Families Magazine 1997-2005
Massachusetts Citizens for Children. 2002-present. Board of Directors Member. Non-profit working to protect Massachusettes children from abuse and neglect.

PEEP Discovers the World. 2000-present. Advisory Board Member. WGBH produced early childhood science TV program.

PBS Families Magazine. PBS. 1997-2005. Advisory Board Member. “Ready To Learn” publication for parents & providers.

Concerned Educators Allied for a Safe Environment (CEASE). 1990-present.

Child Care Information Exchange. 2000-presentAdvisor. Journal for Child Care Directors and Providers.

Massachusetts Violence Prevention Task Force 1995-2001
Member. Department of Public Health.

EXPERT TESTIMONY

Massachusetts House of Representatives Public Policy Committee. May 2007. Testified supporting a bill banning marketing in schools.

US Senate Commerce Comm. Hearing on Marketing Violence to Children. Spring 1999. Testified about how marketing violence through the media harms young children.




		AWARDS Recipient of 2010 Edward H. Ladd Award for Academic Excellence and Service. From Wheelock College. Recipient of “2009 Family Advocate of the Year” Award. From the Boston Parents Paper in celebration of its 25th Anniversary. Selected for inclusion in: Quotable Women: The First 5,000 Years (6th Edition) by Elaine Paltrow (pub. date-2010). Recipient of the Gordon Marshall Research Award [Wheelock College]. 2006-2007. To support the research and writing of book, So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids. [Co-Author Jean Kilbourne] Recipient of the Abigail Eliot Award. 2003. Boston Association for the Education of Young Children. For contributions to the early childhood community. TEACHING Summer 2009 & 2010 PDI 523—Media Madness: The Impact of Sex, Violence and Commercial Culture on Children and Society Examines nature of media-its violence, sexism, racism and commercialism; why it is this way; how it shapes children's development, attitudes and behavior, families, and society; how to develop broad-based media literacy which incorporates conflict resolution, anti-racism, anti-sexism efforts into professional settings and everyday life; policy and advocacy issues. Fall 2009 HDP 362—The Meaning and Development of Play—Undergraduate HDF 526—The Meaning and Development of Play—Graduate Explores the meaning and development of play from infancy through adulthood through theories, research, and application. Examines value of play in therapeutic, educational and medical settings; how the environment (including toys and media) influences play; how to support play, integrate it into professional work, and advocate for play. Spring 2010 RES 651—Action Research (to enhance professional practice)—Graduate Introduces use of scientific inquiry and research methodology to study questions arising from practice and/or policies. Students design and carry out a research project. Research and professional writing skills are developed. EDU 260/850—How Early Childhood Programs Can Help Children Affected by War & Conflict Heal: Lessons From Northern Ireland—Undergraduate & Graduate Accompanies Northern Ireland Service Learning Program. Pre-trip sessions provide foundation for trip—history of “The Troubles”, how children are affected, and efforts to promote healing with children and adults, broader implications for all children. In Belfast sessions, expert practitioners connect theory to student experiences. Post-trip sessions explore implications for students’ professional work. More information available at: www.wheelock.edu CONSULTING Queens University, Center for Effective Education, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Visiting Scholar. February 2009. Designing a research project on how conflict resolution training and media literacy can contribute to the reconciliation process being carried out in nursery and primary schools. PBS Parents Expert Blog. Guest Expert Blogger on the sexualization of young girls to accompany for Website, “PBS Parents Guide to Understanding and Raising Girls." January 2009. PBS Parents Website on Making Sense of Cents: “Talking to Your Kids about the Economy” Interviewed and quoted. Prevention Institute (Oakland, CA) Expert Meeting and Consultation on Transforming Communities to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation funded by MS Foundation for Women. Winter 2009. “Big and Small” Children’s Television Program, Kindle Entertainment, London, England. Consultant on potential educational benefits of the program. Fall, 2008. Senior Advisor or Advisor for PBS Parents Websites: The PBS Parents Guide to Raising and Understanding Girls 2007-08 “Talking to Kids about the News” 2006 “The PBS Parents Guide to Going to School” 2005 “How to Raise a Kid Who Cares” 2005 (Linked to the New American Heroes Series Website) “The PBS Parents Guide to Talking to Kids about War and Violence” HYPERLINK " 2002; revised 2005 Developer and Leader of Annual Wheelock College Student and Alumni Service Learning Program in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “How Early Childhood Programs in a Community Affected by Conflict Can Help Children Heal.” from March 2007. Created booklet for SOFAR [Strategic Outreach to Families of All Reservists] Project for families and schools on helping children whose Reservist and National Guard parents have been called up for active duty in a war zone. [with Carol Daynard] 2005, revised 2007. Expert Panelist for CUNY Early Education and Training Program New York statewide teleconference training: Contributor to development of program script and participated in program broadcast. Albany, New York. “How Media Affects Gender and Sexual Development.” October 2007 “Too Sexy, Too Soon: The Sexualization of Childhood.” June 2006 “Violence Prevention: Creating a Safe Haven for Children in Your Program.” November 2003 Developed Peaceable Classroom Training for the State of Maine Department of Human Services, Office of Child Care and Head Start, Fall, 2003. BOARD MEMBERSHIPS Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC). 2000-present Co-founder. Steering Committee Member. Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment (TRUCE). 1995-present. Co-founder. Steering Committee Member. Senior Advisory Board Member For PBS Families Magazine 1997-2005 Massachusetts Citizens for Children. 2002-present. Board of Directors Member. Non-profit working to protect Massachusettes children from abuse and neglect. PEEP Discovers the World. 2000-present. Advisory Board Member. WGBH produced early childhood science TV program. PBS Families Magazine. PBS. 1997-2005. Advisory Board Member. “Ready To Learn” publication for parents & providers. Concerned Educators Allied for a Safe Environment (CEASE). 1990-present. Child Care Information Exchange. 2000-presentAdvisor. Journal for Child Care Directors and Providers. Massachusetts Violence Prevention Task Force 1995-2001 Member. Department of Public Health. EXPERT TESTIMONY Massachusetts House of Representatives Public Policy Committee. May 2007. Testified supporting a bill banning marketing in schools. US Senate Commerce Comm. Hearing on Marketing Violence to Children. Spring 1999. Testified about how marketing violence through the media harms young children.