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Description
The skill to search and use information is directly connected to the ability of young people for critical thinking and being full and active citizens. Today only 50% of students can judge the authenticity of information. In 2018/2019 school year the school curriculum has provided for the first time for media literacy classes to build digital media competence encompassing 5 key skills: information literacy, communications and cooperation, creation of digital content, safety and problem resolution. However, despite the efforts by the Ministry of Education and Science, students and teachers need adequate resources to prepare and hold these classes. This is particularly true for disadvantaged areas where the environment is in even worse state. This project aims at promoting media literacy and civic education. The goal will be achieved through a series of 7 interconnected activities including carrying out training initiatives regarding civic education and media literacy for teachers and students, organization of a three-day training camp in media literacy for students and setting up local partnerships between civil society organizations and educational institutions/organizations. 3 educational materials and tools will be developed and disseminated: 2 guides (on civic education and media literacy) and an online platform with an education blog/vlog. The project target groups are teachers and pedagogues from disadvantaged areas across the country (14 cities) and the end users are children and adolescents and students from all age groups from the selected cities. The project will help efficiently promote media literacy in the target cities and improve the quality of civic education. In addition, 14 local partnerships will be set up which will provide for an efficient format of a sustainable solution to the identified problems even after the project ends.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to promote media literacy and civic education among students and teachers by implementation of sustainable efforts in introducing the topic in class. The project encompassed 350 teachers and more than 300 students in 14 Bulgarian cities, aiming to improve their knowledge and skills in the field of media literacy and civic education.
The key project activities included the conduct of civic education and media literacy training initiatives for teachers and students, and the formation of local partnerships between civic organisations and educational institutions/organisations. Training materials and innovative tools were developed and subsequently distributed with the support of relevant stakeholders.
The results of the project implementation and their impact contributed to increasing media literacy and the promotion of civic education. The concrete outputs were as follows:
- Development of training materials and tools;
- Regional training initiatives and workshops on civic education for students;
- Regional training initiatives and workshops on media literacy for students;
- Training camp on media literacy and civic education for students;
- Created inter-institutional partnerships between NGOs and educational institutions, local authorities, interested parties.
Sustainability:
The developed manuals and teaching-methodical materials on civic education and media literacy were distributed on hardcopies and online. Students and teachers were encouraged to continue using and disseminating the platform and the results after the completion of the project. The 14 partnerships created at the local level laid the foundation for establishing an effective format within the project topics will continue to be discussed in a more informal way and thus will ensuring their presence on the public agenda, outside the institutional framework.