Getting Started
Computer, Tablet, Smartphone. Photo pixbay via pexels, CC0 Licence.
In the first module of this basic course, we already looked at how media educational parents' evenings can promote the development of media literacy in parents and children and how parent evenings can support parents and institutions in media education. Let us now delve a little deeper into the topic and take a closer look at the terms.
What is media pedagogy?
Media pedagogy is a sub-discipline of educational science. It analyses which functions and tasks media assume in our society and examines how we deal with media. The primary goal of media pedagogy work is the teaching or development of media literacy.
What is media literacy?
Roughly speaking, we understand this to mean the competent use of communication media. The pedagogue Dieter Baacke divided the concept into four categories:
- media criticism - evaluation of media and media content
- media knowledge- knowledge about media and media systems
- media action - using the media actively, responsibly and productively
- media design - media as a tool for the realisation of own ideas
According to Baacke, a media-competent person does not simply absorb media content without contradiction, but constantly questions it critically and checks it with regard to social, moral and ethical aspects.
This form of critical questioning is also the basis of the English-language definition of the Aspen Media Literacy Leadership Institute from 1992: "Media literacy is the ability to access, analyse, evaluate and shape media in various forms". The video MediaSkills shows the steps that can be taken to deal with content in a media-competent and critical way. Central questions are formulated in the poster 5 Key Questions of Media Literacy.
What is media education?
We speak of media education when the didactic offers and pedagogical efforts are aimed at promoting media literacy. Media education is therefore the active implementation to promote media literacy, both in the family and in educational institutions
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A large part of media use by children and young people takes place in the private sphere. The focus of media education therefore lies with the parents. They are not always aware of this task or feel capable of it. Help them find their role and feel more confident.
Media are part of children's everyday life
All over the world, children and young people use media with enthusiasm. Take a look at the data on media use by children and young people in various countries: International Data on Youth and Media. TV, smartphone and laptop are part of the basic equipment and are of course already used by the youngest. Accompanying this use and training in dealing with the content are among the core tasks of parental media education.
Smartphone and internet as teenagers' companions
The smartphone is the most important medium for many young people. Across Europe, more than 80% of young people use mobile devices to access content online. With few exceptions, more than 80% of young people over 16 are active on social networks in almost all European countries. Take a detailed look at the digital usage habits of young Europeans: Being young in Europe today - digital world.
Recognise opportunities and risks of media use
The studies listed have shown that it is not a question of whether children and young people use media, but how they use them. Media can be excellent tools for creativity (examples of this can be found in our module Gaming and Creative Media Work) - as one of many tools. Pay attention to the right balance in everyday life, as in the video, Balance is important, not only for children and young people!
Media use is not without risk. The websites Safewise and nidirect have explained some of the latest dangers such as cyberbullying or content inappropriate for children and have compiled tips for parents.
Exercise
Explain in your own words the difference between media pedagogy, media literacy and media education.
Create an overview of the opportunities and risks of media use by children. Think of the balance, show parents that media can also positively influence children in their development. Find as many opportunities as you name risks of media use. You can also use this overview well in your parents' evening.
In addition, use the resources from klicksafe to show parents solution and action strategies for the dangerous aspects of media use. How can parents become active to minimise risks, how can they react if their child is confronted with dangers?
What you learn in this course
- You'll be able to explain and differentiate between the terms media pedagogy, media literacy and media education.
- You'll be able to reproduce the media competence model according to Baacke.
- You'll be able to describe and classify the tasks of media education.
- You'll be able to interpret studies on media use in the family and derive results from them.
- You'll be able to reproduce basic information from studies on smartphone and internet use and classify the results in relation to general media use.
- You'll be able to explain methods to assess opportunities and dangers of media.
- You'll be able to explain the terms e.g. cyberbullying, cybergrooming, fake news, hate speech and sexting.
Get ready: Tips for MediaParent consultants
In order to be able to organise parents' evenings on the topic of media literacy with confidence and argumentation, it is important that you know the basics and can confidently formulate for yourself why media literacy is beneficial for child development. Use this module to become aware of your own attitude towards the topic.
Why is the topic close to your heart? Why are you committed to organising parents' evenings and increasing parents' knowledge? What do you want to achieve? If you are aware of the importance of your work and radiate this, you can communicate it more convincingly.
Resources
Links
Five Key Questions of Media Literacy
https://www.medialit.org/sites/default/files/14B_CCKQPoster+5essays.pdf
International Data on Youth and Media
https://www.br-online.de/jugend/izi/english/International%20Data%20on%20Youth%20and%20Media.pdf