DIMELI4AC

Background

Digital advances have brought new challenges for Europe’s pupils, students and teachers. Algorithms used by social media sites and news portals can be powerful amplifiers of bias or fake news, while data privacy has become a key concern in the digital society. EU citizens, but above all young students are vulnerable to cyber bullying and harassment, predatory behaviour or disturbing online content.

What does the European Commission urge Member States for?

The 2016 Council Conclusions urged MS to promote Media Literacy, Critical Thinking and Digital Competences, including safety, security and privacy, as skills which are preconditions for active participation in democratic life and for enhancing employability and, as such, should be acquired by learners of all ages. In support to the above, the 2018 Digital Education Action Plan puts great emphasis on effectively tackling the challenges digital transformation creates for on-line safety and cyber hygiene.

Aims

The project pioneers to develop pilot-test and evaluate a tool kit which will support schools to establish their own DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY ACTION PLAN in order:

  • To empower young students to become responsible, critical, global citizens for the digitalised and connected world we live in, while creating blended learning opportunities to acquire digital and media literacy skills to safeguard democracy and common values.
  • To utilise the non-working time of schools in order to set up ON-LINE AND IN-HOUSE DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY LABS and OBSERVATORIES based on SYNERGIES to be created among teachers, parents, schools, organisations, stakeholders which will endorse the CAMPAIGN and sign the MEMORANDUM OF DIMELI4AC COMMITMENT.
  • To introduce the idea of an interactive ASSESSMENT TOOL in the form of a GAME based on an AVATAR (DC-MELI) where students follow various challenges in order to be AWARDED the BADGE showing a respectful, responsible and safe use of the technology based on the digital citizenship and democratic values and critical thinking.
  • To strengthen the profiles of teachers and in doing so to upgrade the quality of teaching/ earning services provided in formal schooling.
  • To promote whole school approaches towards dealing with cross-sectoral issues.