Critical digital and media literacy
EBSN CBS
Editor
Digital skills and competences are today increasingly seen as a significant part of basic skills. There are a number of initiatives that aim at conceptualising and defining digital skills and competences. In many cases, however, and especially at policy level, critical thinking and reflection on digital content do not receive the attention that would be necessary to safely guide European citizens through current challenges.
In 2017 the UNESCO Broadband Commission published a report entitled Digital Skills for Life and Work. The report puts forward a set of interconnected skills that make up digital competence, a continuum from basic functional skills to specialist know-how, including critical information literacy, a concept that entails the ability to critically assess information, its purposes and the methods by which it is organised and spread.
In the forthcoming discussion we invite our participants to share their experiences and good practices answering the following questions:
- To what extent is the use of critical information and media literacy present in the current provision of digital skills in your country?
- To what extent are policy makers and other basic skills stakeholders aware of the need to develop critical media literacy among adults with low levels of qualifications?
- What do you think the most important challenges when teaching critical information and media literacy?
- How would you describe the most important factots that constitute a functional level of media literacy?
- Can you describe any initiatives in your professional network that address critical information or media literacy in the realm of digital skills and competence development?
The discussion will be moderated by Graciela Sbertoli, Secretary General of the EBSN and will start 28 August (Wednesday) 12:00 CET and will be concluded 29 August (Thursday) 17:00 CET.
The Capacity Building Series of EBSN provides free open educational resources (OERs) and massive online courses (MOOCs) through EPALE, to help the implementation of the European Commission recommendations on Upskilling pathways in EU Member States. EPALE is funded by the Erasmus+ programme, as part the European Commission’s ongoing commitment to improving the quality of adult learning provision in Europe. The project is implemented with the support of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
Komentar
Thank you for your biligual contribution, Anita!
That was a great idea, using both your own language and English. Yes, I agree that we are discussing a relatively new field. That is why it is so important that we put all our resources together. Language diversity is indeed a challenge for this type of European cooperation, but we can make it if we put together both our technical and our human resources!
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digital skills and media literacy for adults and seniors
Hi to everyone,
i will like to comment on a point mentioned by Martina. I totally agree that it is important for the youngsters but it is even more important for the seniors and adults. There are seniors and adults that have key positions in the education section in policy making and practicing. Those stakeholders are important in decision making in regards to education and the specifically the future of education and its modernization in a way to support the needs and demands of the society. Given the aforementioned is extremely important and valuable for these stakeholders to develop by themselves digital skills and media literacy. Developing these knowledge and skills will better help them realize the importance of taking the appropriate decisions.
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So true!
Thanks for that comment, Nikleia! I so agree... That is why I have insisted in questioning whether our policy makers and other important stakeholders are really aware of the issues at stake. Our social media, for instance, are developing in a way that is both a great possibility and a great danger to democracy and social inclusion.
Important theme, everybody: do our authorities in key positions understand the challenges posed by low levels of critical digital competence in the population at large? If the answer is no (and I think it is): what should we as adult educators do?
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do our authorities in key
do our authorities in key positions understand the challenges posed by low levels of critical digital competence in the population at large?what should we as adult educators do? I do not know. Real. We can try using the game methodology, may be.
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The game methodology?
Can you explain a bit more about this, Ilze?
And by the way: applause to you for coming back again and again and commenting and answering questions. That is exactly what we need to be able to have a dynamic discussion! Thanks!
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Hi Graciela, i am glad to
Hi Graciela,
i am glad to participate in this conversation. I indeed agree that the answer to your question is No...Unfortunately.
What should we do? Start educating them ... maybe... provide professional development trainings and hands on experiences for them as well (not only information days and information seminars)...We are arguing about the importance of life long learning...we need to implement it as well... I strongly believe that the policymakers need to have connection to practice and experiences with practice in order to be able to take the appropriate decisions.
It does not mean that if someone holds a high level position, it understands the importance and value of new developments (not only in technology and digital literacy).
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Capacity Building
That is exactly what we at the EBSN think, Nikleia, and that is why we have started the Capacity Building Series. We believe that policy makers also need Lifelong Learning - but we also understand the pressures of time and stress they are under, and want to work towards maximizing the userfriendliness and flexibility of our Open Educational resources so that they are useful for them. It would be interesting to explore possibilities of cooperating with you and your very interesting place of work (I have checked your profile :-) ) with a view to jointly creating this kind of lifelong learning opportunities!
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Cinema for developing the media literacy
Hello, I am librarian and EPALE ambassador from Lithuania. I want to share the example how cinema is used for media literacy development in Lithuanian libraries.
To become media literate is not to memorize facts or statistics about the media, but rather to learn to raise the right questions about what you are watching, reading or listening to. Cinema, especially documentary, can satisfy the sense of curiosity and the need for knowledge in adults’ education. It also teaches to think and evaluate facts, events, and opinions critically. In this way, competences of cultural and social understanding are developed – people of all backgrounds are involved in a common fellowship, tolerance and acceptance of various cultures, views and opinions are nourished.
Utena A. ir M. Miskiniai public library (www.uvb.lt) in Lithuania recognizes the impact cinema can have for developing the media literacy. Cinema has been utilized in the library as a part of activities towards reaching this goal and a continuous project “Meet Lithuanian cinema at the library” is already counting its 6th year. During the project a great deal of educational cinema evenings, movie viewings, meetings and discussions with film directors have been held. Movie presentations, retrospectives and lectures became a unique library service playing an important role for socially disadvantaged groups of the society. Due to this reason, an educational project also turned to have a strong social aspect.
The library signed a collaboration agreement with the Association of Cinematographs of Lithuania, successfully works together with the Alliance of Cinema Auteurs, organizes meetings with famous movie producers, directors and actors. Library visitors are encouraged to watch Lithuanian documentary movies and to analyse them. This helps to develop creativity and to build an intellectual and critical audience of cinema enthusiasts.
The community also often gets involved into creative activities and hands-on experience. A cinematographic workshop “Movie creator’s ABC” was held during which short video clips were produced and edited with an assistance of professionals. The participants experienced many positive emotions, gained mental satisfaction and strengthened their digital skills at the same time.
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How very interesting, Laima! Welcome!
Presenting cinema at the library in the way you explain must be a very motivating factor for learners who need to enhance their media literacy. This seems a very good idea, indeed.
Do libraries in your country combine these sessions with digital learning provision?
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Yes, they
Yes, they do. They usually combine lectures and meetings with movie creation workshops. People can come to the libraries and learn to create movies using different programs. Through this work, they develop digital skills: text and picture editing, use of digital cameras, uploading/downloading, internet search, etc.). It is quite attractive form to improve digital skills.
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a very interesting experience
a very interesting experience - watching movies in the library and dixusions
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Dear Laima
For several years now, the Valmiera Library has been showing the latest Latvian famous documentaries in the winter time and organizing meetings with the film's creative teams. It is always a very interesting discussion on various social and philosophical issues that arise after watching a movie.
Library visitors are interested to watch Latvian documentary movies and are ready to analyze them. And I agreed with you, Laima, that "this helps to develop creativity and to build an intellectual and critical audience of cinema enthusiasts."
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Irish Organisations in critical digital literacy
I'm Laura from Ireland.
To answer Graciela's question "What are the first thoughts that come to your mind when you read 'critical digital literacy'?", I think about the growing need to analyse information from digital platforms.
Organisations such as National Adult Learning Agency (NALA) have been leading a move within Ireland to improve critical digital literacy, with campaigns such as the tv show Making Ireland Click. Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has established 'Media Literacy Ireland', an 'enabler for media literacy stakeholders in Ireland by facilitating the exchange of ideas and resources and encouraging collaboration between stakeholders in the development of sustainable media literacy projects'.
Another Irish Organisation, Be Media Smart, have put together a useful list of resources (from Ireland and abroad) to aid in developing digital media skills including critical digital literacy.
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Thanks a lot, Laura!
You've given us many interesting links here. And TED videos, too! We'll make sure we dive into all this information. That resource page is really useful.
I love the way NALA manages to cooperate with national TV for their campaigns. Such a good idea!
Does your country have a framework of competence goals for digital literacy? Does it identify clearly what we mean by critical digital literacy?
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to know more about media
to know more about media structures and the media system is a crucial question. Sometimes peaople dont even know the difference between public service media, commercial media and non-commercial community media in print and broadcasting - when it coems to convergent platforms it becomes more complicated. If one knows more about the economic background and ownership its easier to reflect critically on the content and why which content can be found where and under which (working) conditions it was created whith what intend.
So in our age of large commercial online-plattforms people have to know how this media create their profit and how their algorithms are working to maximise their profit.
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EPALE 20.09.2018.
EPALE 20.09.2018. organizētajā vebinārā par medijpratību "Satura lamatas medijos, un kā no tām izvairīties?" starptautiski atzītas mediju ekspertes Rita Ruduša un Solvita Denisa-Liepniece aplūko medijpratības aktualitāti mūsdienu sabiedrībā, viltus ziņu izplatību un to izplatības nolūkus, komunikācijas veidus un dažādas manipulatīvās tehnikas, iespējamo rīcību viltus ziņu atpazīšanas gadījumā un citus svarīgus medijpratības jautājumus. Ekspertes norāda arī uz dažādiem uzticamiem resursiem savas medijpratības tālākai izkopšanai.
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transversal nature of critical digital literacy
Good afternoon,
I am Tamás Harangozó from Hungary. Previously I have been involved in projects related to the development of digital competence frameworks in Hungary.
I am Tamás Harangozó from Hungary. Previously I have been involved in projects related to the development of digital competence frameworks in Hungary.
Generally, I had the impression that in many cases critical digital literacy is something that is (if at all) present in competence frameworks in a transversal manner. It is very often related to information and data literacy and/or ICT security and thus is not always explicitly indicated as a discrete element. Needless to say, the diverse nature of the field's terminology is not always an advantage in conceptualising digital literacy (skills, competences, literacy).
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How true...
Welcome, Tamás! Yes, I agree that it makes sense to treat the critical part of digital literacy as a transversal competence. The trouble is, as you mention, that this issue is often not identified in frameworks. It should definitely be mentioned as a focus that needs to be present in the teaching...
Regarding the multiple definitions - I confess I am on the brink on giving up on them :-) . But it is of course necessary to make sure we are talkin about the same thing...
How would you define "critical digital and media literacy"?
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reflecting on critical media literacy
Hello, I´m Helmut Peissl from COMMIT in Austria and I´m one of the authors of the dossier on critical media literacy and community media. I would support the observation of Lucia Paar that in Austria there is a lack of activities on media literacy in the field of adult education.
We are actually partner in the Erasmus project EMAC on media litereacy https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/blog/emac-ethical-media-active-citizenship and we try to bring MIL to basic aducation.
I think we can learn a lot when discussing approaches in different countries and actors.
Talking on practise in Germany and Austria there are quite a lot of ressources developed by the Bundeszentrlae für politische Bildung and collegues from community media are quite active. So when I use the term critical this means mainly the aspect of political or civic education in media literacy. Our reference in Austria and Germany are often still the concept of Dieter Baake which has to be a bit updated. And from UK David Buckinghams concept is still very valid (even if targetting mainly on school education) and I´m gratefull for his recent publication: The Media Education Manifest
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Thanks a lot for your contribution, Helmut, and welcome to the d
You seem to be an expert in these matters, and we're delighted that you have joined us. Yes, we should focus here on the aspects of critical digital/media literacy that are relevant to civic education. I confess I am not familiar with the work of Dieter Baake nor David Buckingham. Any chance you can give us links to relevant documentation?
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here you find the blob and
here you find the blob and all publications of David Buckingham https://davidbuckingham.net/
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Council of Europe Report
Council of Europe Report "Information Disorder. Toward an
interdisciplinary framework for research and policymaking" By Claire
Wardle, PhD and Hossein Derakhshan
This is another helpfull ressource in English (partly available in
German) when it come to reflect or teach on "fake news"
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Digital competence
Digital competence is one of the 8 key competences, but we have much people, who do not use the Internet. The Daugavpils City Education Board (one of the functions of adult education), in cooperation with business and libraries, organizes courses in digital skills.Latvia actively participates in the events of the European Digital Week.
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Thank you for this, Ilze, and welcome to the discussion!
What you explain is very interesting. Is there a common framework in Latvia, identifying the competence goals that learners need to achieve after such training? To what extent do you think that the "critical" part of digital literacy is present in the trainings? In other words: do learners learn to use the Internet as a tool, or are they also taught how to analyze what they read, how to make sure they take care of their individual safety, how to know what they can say in different fora, etc.? We would be very thankful if you could give us examples of what is taught!
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Sorry I didn't answer
Sorry I didn't answer yesterday! :)
There is not a common framework in Latvia, identifying the competence goals that learners need to achieve after such training.
These are mostly computer courses for people of the age 50+, who need the basic skills to send an e-mail, pay a bill, etc. They are afraid of new technologies in general because they are so called "digital immigrants".
The development of key competences is also taking place during the Digital Skills Week organized by the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association (LIKTA) in spring in Latvia together with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM).
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Improving media literacy in Jelgava, Latvia
In Zemgale Region Human Resource and Competences Development Centre, in Jelgava, Latvia we have hosted and helped organize 2 educational activities on media literacy for school teachers in the last year. Both activities were organized in cooperation with University of Latvia, Faculty of Social Sciences.
First one took place on December 3rd 2018. It was a seminar with an aim to further teachers and librarians understanding of the basics of media literacy, to understand the place media literacy holds in the process of educating the society, to help them realize their role in media education. (About the event in Latvian).
Second one was a workshop titled "Five cornerstones of media literacy" on March 11th 2019. It happened within a digital skills event for teachers. It had a similar aim as the first one did, but had more practical tasks. (About the event in Latvian)
Other media literacy improving activities were also organized for teachers and general public alike.
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That's interesting! In
That's interesting! In Austria we have also activities for improving media literacy of adults. On https://erwachsenenbildung.at/digiprof/mediathek/ for example you will find resources for adult educators about digitization, including critical media literacy in German.
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Those links are so useful...
But it would be even better if some of it was accessible in English. Any chance that the Austrian EPALE NSS can translate some of this documentation?
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Of course, this would be
Of course, this would be great! I was thinking about, if I know any other ressources in English. The "Magazin erwachsenenbildung.at" with the issue "How digital technologies change adult education. Between challenges and realization" has at least abstracts in English: https://erwachsenenbildung.at/magazin/ausgabe-30/
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This is so interesting, Zintis! Thanks!
We would love to be able to read details about the event you mention. Unfortunately, the link doesn't seem to work. Can you check, please?
And would it be possible for you to give us an idea in English about the contents of the course?
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I tried fixing the links. I
I tried fixing the links. I hope they work now, but anyhow - they are only really useful for Latvian speakers.
In the December event the lecturers spoke about media literacy in the context of 21st century skills. Three main competences of media literacy: ability to access information, to evaluate it and to create information yourself, were described. Social media literacy was also touched upon - stating that it is at a low level for Latvian children. Specially when it comes to security and the awareness of the consequences of your actions online.
Participants were introduced to the large amount of advertiser sponsored articles in media today, and the need to be able to separate them from editorial media content.
In the March event the practical tasks were mostly focused on improving the skill to separate these two kinds of articles.
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The three main competences
Thanks a lot for this, Zintis! I particularly like that list of three main competences (ability to access information, to evaluate it and to create information yourself). I think the problem so far is that we have concentrated mainly on the first and the third competence... The ability to critically evaluate information is where we need to work much more!
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My fist thoughts
Hello, I am Lucia Paar and I work as editor at erwachsenenbildung.at. This is an online-platform, which informs about basic topics and the latest news in adult education in Austria. My first thoughts, that come to my mind when I read "critical digital literacy": That's a very important, but also big and dynamic field for adult education.
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Pirmsskolas skolotāju digitālās prasmes
Manuprāt, medijpratības tematika ir plaši iekļauta jaunajā kompetenču pieejā balstītajā mācību saturā skola 2030, tāpēc skolotāju digitālās prasmes atpoguļojas pēc tam bērna zinātkārē mācīties un veidojot radošu pieeju un izpratni lietpratīgam mācīšanās procesam.
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Welcome, CONEDU colleague! -
(I understand you are using your team's profile, but would you mind telling us what your name is? :-) )
Indeed, this is a very big field, and one that keeps changing continually! I confess the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of critical digital/media literacy is "fake news". How can we train our learners to consider the sources of what they read, check the quality of the page, consider the possibility that what they read is simply not true?
I know that this is just a small part of what needs to be taught/learnt, but it seems to me that it is becoming increasingly important that we focus on this issue. \
Any experiences out there about how to include this in the Adult Learning curricula?
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The ÖGPB takes up the topic
The ÖGPB takes up the topic sometimes and plans events for adult educators. And erwachsenenbildung.at has its own thematic dossier on the subject of critical media literacy and community media, including the subject Fake News: https://erwachsenenbildung.at/themen/kritische-medienkompetenz/
Last year there was also a discussion with media people and adult educatos in Austria about how to teach critical thinking: https://erwachsenenbildung.at/aktuell/nachrichten/12738-tagungs-beitrae…
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Thank you for the links!
I will start reading immediately. My German is elementary, but I guess Google translator can help. :-)
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Skolotāju digitālās prasmes
Skolotāju digitālās prasmes
ietekmē skolēnu zinātkāri
mācīties, veidojot radošu pieeju un izpratni lietpratīgam mācīšanās procesam.
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Weldome to a dynamic discussion on an urgent issue!
Welcome to a discussion we have great expectations for! We hope we will all learn from each other and get many interesting pointers to documentation for further study.
Since the time slot for the discussion is relatively short, it is important that we keep the discussion quick and dynamic. We do want to get answers to all the questions in the introductory text, but just to get us going I suggest you first answer this: what are the first thoughts that come to your mind when you read "critical digital literacy"?
I would also like to ask you to make sure that you repeatedly come back to this discussion and check if there are comments or questions to your initial contribution. There will be no real discussion if you just write something and then disappear... :-)
Hoping for a very lively exchange!
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media literacy