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Description
The project is based on the needs of the partner schools, as both of them are engaged in the fields "Media" and "Journalism". Students gain theoretical knowledge during their studies. However, they often lack the practical use of their experience and comparison with other schools. They also lack how the media work and how they can influence society.
Our common goal is to show the students how to create media articles and reports, gain media and digital literacy for understanding and discussion, and a critical approach to information from different sources. Students will learn how the media works and how to control the media. They will gain knowledge of media experts, learn to process reports based on democratic principles, gain insight into different approaches to democracy in the media in Norway and the Czech Republic, confirm or disprove established ideas about life in a partner country.
20 students of Media and Journalism from each country aged 15-18 years will attend the project. They will work together in workshops with a variety of, visit institutions such as a TV or radio broadcaster, prepare presentations, exhibitions, documentary videos, and films. During the project, we will use methods of observation and investigation, research, comparative methods, questionnaire, and evaluation.
As the students will work in mixed teams, they will have to understand, agree and find compromises in cooperation. When communicating information to others, they will be significant support of language skills, sharing of cultural customs and the acquisition of international competencies.
The long-term impact for participants will be the use of experiences at school and future careers. Schools will gain a comparison of teaching and foreign contacts, which they can further develop. The project team will gain new experience in project management throughout the project cycle, which they will apply in their work for the school.
Summary of project results
The Media and Democracy project aimed to improve students'' media and digital literacy, control over media, understanding, and critical access to information from various sources. It was important for the project participants to verify the functioning of different media types, recognize fake news, and create their own using critical thinking. An essential part of the project was getting to know another culture and perceiving the role of the media in this culture.
We had to postpone the planned activities and request an extension of the project due to the ongoing pandemic. We implemented three online student meetings. Students worked in virtual teams, made films on the topic, created posters on these topics, and presented them in their schools. Students also learned online how media works, playing media creation knowledge quizzes. These meetings were important for the students to get to know each other, learn to respect each other in teamwork, and develop their critical thinking and practical media knowledge. Two student mobilities were implemented, in the Czech Republic and in Norway. During both mobilities, students visited media headquarters (television, radio, newspapers, and press offices), discussed with employees about the role and functioning of the media, and tried out the roles of reporters and media creators themselves. Students made videos, wrote articles and Facebook posts, and created presentations and quizzes. While working on these products, they tested their theoretical knowledge about media and presented their own ideas, which they confronted others with. Finally, new contacts and friendships between young people and pedagogues were created, and thus the prerequisites for further cooperation. The results of the project were presented in both countries, and the public is thus introduced not only to the project and its results but also to social, cultural, and political life in the partner country, to the media, and to the democratic principles of society.
The following goals were achieved within the project:
- A look at different approaches to democracy in the media in Norway and the Czech Republic
- Developing critical thinking
- Assessment of media objectivity in both countries Improvement of teamwork, media, and didactic-methodical skills
- Support of language knowledge and multilingualism, international competence
Summary of bilateral results
The cooperation with the donor partner was beneficial, as it was possible to draw a grant from the EEA Funds. This made it possible for students with limited opportunities to travel. As part of the project, we visited each other and got to know our countries and cities, we compared the functioning of schools and media issues. From each meeting, whether online or physical, we have outputs that we share on the Facebook page, the school websites, and the project homepage. At the end of each mobility, we also have evaluation questionnaires and feedback. By participating in the project, students aroused the desire to get to know the partner country, improve their English and learn the basics of the partner country''s language. According to the comparative test, the students improved significantly in English and in their knowledge of the other country. The participants presented the project to other students who are now also interested in working on projects. During the project, the final product was created - an ebook that maps the entire project. Both schools, donor and partner, intend to continue project activities within Erasmus.