On 22 June 2010, ICA will host a preconference session on media literacy education in Asia at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, a school in Singapore which trains more than 900 students in School of Film & Media Studies, offering diplomas in mass communication, film, sound and video, advertising, and other programs.
Sponsored by the ICA Children, Adolescents and Media Interest Group, the preconference brings together a diverse assembly of media literacy experts and practitioners from South Korea, China, Taiwan and the United States.
Growing up with digital media, television, videogames, popular music and cell phones, children and young people across Asia (and their parents and teachers) face new opportunities and new challenges. Questions to be explored in the preconference include:
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What are the different needs of children, young people, educators and parents when it comes to media literacy education? How do their perspectives align with the motives of government policymakers and media industry leaders?
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How is increasing pressure for integrating technology in education affecting demand for media literacy education? In what ways does access (or lack of access) to technology shape instructional practices?
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How does media literacy education connect to the culture's traditional goals of formal education, particularly literacy learning and social studies education? How do the aims of media literacy education intersect with college and university media programs training students for professional careers?
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How do concerns about celebrity culture, materialism, violence, stereotyping and media addiction shape the practice of media literacy education? How is the concept of empowerment understood?
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What is the role of youth media production in media literacy education in Asia? What special considerations are needed to implement youth media production programs in culturally appropriate ways?
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How is the concept of critical media literacy education conceptualized in Asian countries? What approaches are used to explore the political and economic contexts of media messages and institutions? What is the appropriate role for civic advocacy and engagement?
All across Asia, media literacy education is deeply rooted in to practices of civic engagement. Media literacy education has also been spurred by educational reform efforts that have begun to value humanistic liberal studies, educational technology integration, and interest in innovative student-centered teaching and learning pedagogies.
Asian media literacy educators have long conceptualized their work as deeply tied to moral education and to the development of personal discernment and judgment. Both in and out of school, educators use popular television programs, music, ads, online social networks and videogames to explore how values are presented in media texts, using dialogue about media, technology and digital citizenship to deepen students' self-reflexivity and critical autonomy.
The preconference program will explore some of the progress now occurring as media literacy education programs begin to develop in both school and non-school programs, sponsored by federal governments, educational and cultural organizations, religious and advocacy groups, and media industries.
Participants include Professor Brian Lee, SIM University in Singapore, Professor C.K. Cheung of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Jung-Ihm Ahn of Seoul Women's University, Professor Tzu-Bin Lin of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Wen Xu of the Univeristy of Hong Kong Faculty of Education, Jiwon Yoon of Temple University's Mass Media and Communication Program, Anna Phang of Singapore Polytechnic, and David Schaefer, a professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
The program will be moderated by Professor Renee Hobbs of Temple University School of Communications and Theater.
PRECONFERENCE #8
Sponsored by the ICA Children, Adolescents, & Media Interest Group
Title: Media Literacy Education in Asia: New Developments
Time: Tuesday, 22 June, 9:00 - 17:00
Location: Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Cost: $100.00 USD (Includes refreshments and lunch)
Special Fee: $80.00 USD for students (includes refreshments and lunch)
