DIGITAL AND MEDIA LITERACY FOR ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP: A TOOL KIT FOR PROMOTING CRITICAL THINKING AND DEMOCRATIC VALUES Erasmus Project

Project Title

DIGITAL AND MEDIA LITERACY FOR ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP: A TOOL KIT FOR PROMOTING CRITICAL THINKING AND DEMOCRATIC VALUES

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

The 2016 Council Conclusions urged Member States to promote media literacy, critical thinking and digital skills, including security and privacy, as these skills are a prerequisite for active participation in democratic life and enhancing employability and should therefore be acquired by learners of all ages. In support of the above, the Digital Education Action Plan 2018 places great emphasis on effectively addressing the challenges that digital transformation poses to online safety and cyber hygiene.

“We need to strengthen the critical thinking and media literacy skills of children and students so they can assess and manage the pervasive threats of fake news, cyberbullying, radicalization, cybersecurity threats, and fraud.” (COM2018)

Today, most information is delivered through an interwoven system of media technologies. The ability to read many types of media has become an essential skill in the 21st century. It raises students’ awareness of media issues and their media creativity. Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. Media literate citizens are better able to understand the complex messages we receive through television, radio, the Internet, newspapers, magazines, video games, music, and all other forms of media. It empowers citizens with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to critically access information and media, critically analyze information and media content, and engage with media and other information providers for social, civic, and creative purposes.
But what exactly does that mean?

Helping young people navigate a world of social media and digital technologies safely, effectively, critically, and responsibly was a priority of the project. Digital citizenship refers to the ability to engage positively, critically, and competently in the digital environment, drawing on the skills of effective communication and creativity to practice forms of social participation that respect human rights and dignity through the responsible use of technology.

With this in mind, the Dimeli4AC project developed a strategy to promote digital media literacy and democratic citizenship in schools. This stemmed from the consortium’s belief that democratic education in the digital age should go hand in hand with the promotion of technical skills. In addition to the direct support of participating students, the support of teachers and the addressing of parents were identified as essential goals of the project. The design of a holistic teaching-learning strategy on the topic of digital media literacy and democratic citizenship always aimed at a whole-school and cross-curricular approach.

The project’s deliverables include:
– A comparative report outlining national contexts in relation to existing educational strategies in the field.
– Competency frameworks related to the topics of the project (online safety, media industry, information literacy, digital manipulation, online identity and cyberbullying)
– Teaching/learning material on each of these topics
– An interactive online platform to teach the material online, as well as an educational game
– A comprehensive toolkit for implementing the strategies in schools
– An action plan for future use of the strategies, including policy recommendations

Project Website

http://dimeli.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 243695,95 Eur

Project Coordinator

GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAET HANNOVER & Country: DE

Project Partners

• ELLINOGERMANIKI AGOGI SCHOLI PANAGEA SAVVA AE
• LIFELONG LEARNING PLATFORM
• ANTENNA LTD
• CCS DIGITAL EDUCATION LIMITED
• A & A Emphasys Interactive Solutions Ltd