UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

04/23/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/21/2021 18:11

Media and Information Literate Citizens: Think Critically, Click Wisely!

Summary of the resource Media and Information Literate Citizens: Think critically, Click Wisely (Second Edition of the UNESCO Model Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for Educators and Learners)

Response to the disinfodemic requires a combination of information, media, and digital competencies, i.e. media and information literacy (MIL).

This international event aims to launch a new resource Media and Information Literate Citizens: Think critically, Click Wisely (Second Edition of the UNESCO Model Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for Educators and Learners).

This three-day international event is co-organized by UNESCO and the Republic of Serbia and will take place on 23, 27 and 29 April 2021, including:

  1. two high-level television-style discussions (23 April, 15:00 - 16:15 CEST)
  2. four international webinars presenting various case studies from MIL experts and practitioners as well other experts (27 and 29 April, 15:00 - 17:00 CEST)

The international event will be hosted by the Republic of Serbia, in the presence of high-level officials. Taking a hybrid format, the event will combine remote and physical participation (local representatives in the country) and moderation from a television studio in Belgrade. International participants will connect via a video conferencing tool.

UNESCO and its partners reinforce people's critical engagement in information for public good and to tackling the rising disinfodemic.

REGISTRATION

Please click here to register.

AGENDA

Two high-level television-style discussions
23 April 2021, online and offline

1. Time: 15:00-15:30 CEST

The first will include high-level representatives of the Republic of Serbia, UNESCO, the European Commission, and the World Health Organization. It will take place via remote participation and coordinate from a television studio in Belgrade.

This first session will focus on 1) the importance of MIL to the international development agenda, 2) the need for national policies and international cooperation especially in the context of sustainable ways to tackle disinformation and promote information for public good, and 3) launch of the resources Media and Information Literate Citizens: Think critically, Click Wisely! (Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for Educators and Learners).

Speakers:

2. Time: 15:45-16:15 CEST

The second high-level discussion will consist of representatives of UN Agencies and the Republic of Serbia at the Director level. It will take place via remote participation and coordinate from a television studio in Belgrade.

This second session will focus on 1) role-out and use of the MIL Curriculum in formal, non-formal, and informal learning outside and inside the classroom, and 2) the role of education systems, NGOs, media, libraries, digital communication companies and other information providers. The sessions will benefit from interpretation in English, French, and Serbian.

Speakers:

Four international webinars presenting various case studies from MIL experts and practitioners as well other experts
27 and 29 April 2021, fully online

Time: 15:00 - 17:00 CEST on each day

These 4 webinar will include speakers from countries where the UNESCO Model MIL Curriculum has been adapted to national contexts, MIL experts and practitioners as well as other related competency areas such as global citizenship education, education for sustainable development, cultural literacy and intercultural competencies, science literacy etc. The webinars will highlight various integrated topics covered in this new MIL Curriculum.

Detailed Agenda (PDF)

ABOUT THE MIL CURRICULUM

UNESCO began the process of updating its Model Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Curriculum during the International Consultative Meeting on MIL Curriculum, on 12-13 September 2019, hosted by the Republic of Serbia. The international consultation was followed by a series of regional consultations that spanned over one year. This event aims to launch the second edition of the UNESCO Model MIL Curriculum for Educators and Learners, again in the Republic of Serbia, where the process started.

UNESCO issued its Model Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Curriculum in 2011, the only international curriculum to date that harmonises information, media, and digital competencies under the umbrella term of 'MIL'. The current edition is highly demanded, exists in twelve languages, and has informed the development of further MIL resources by various partners across the world. Notwithstanding, it is necessary to update this flagship resource ten years after its publication. This is increasingly needed in light of new developments in the digital domain including artificial intelligence, the emergence of new concepts such as digital citizenship education, and the exponential rise in disinformation and online hate speech.

The pioneering Second Edition of the UNESCO Model MIL Curriculum for Educators and Learners will be launched during this dedicated event in the Republic of Serbia. This Second Edition followed a series of global consultations on MIL in all regions of the world, which spanned over one year and began in the Republic of Serbia. This launch will kick start a rejuvenation and strengthening of MIL training in formal, informal and non-formal learning online and offline. This event will be held in the presence of high-level officials.

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