Media and Information Literacy: A Practical Guidebook for Trainers

"Both Deutsche Welle and DW Akademie promote freedom of expression and access to information. Our fundamental belief is that this right can only be realized when all people are able to freely, independently, and confidently communicate online, and not just offline. - Ute Schaeffer, Head of Media Development, DW Akademie

From DW Akademie, this guidebook contains guidelines introducing trainees to essential media and information literacy (MIL) concepts, while accompanying worksheets are designed to empower trainees to successfully execute the exercises presented in the book. DW Akademie has combined essential knowledge about MIL while integrating practical training tools such as exercises, energizers, and teaching aids. It is designed especially for educators planning to teach MIL, offering them basic knowledge about media and a variety of training ideas.

One objective of MIL is creating greater access to media and increasing participation in media creation. According to DW Akademie, this can give rise to new visions for media access, structure, and control, and develop societies where people are valued as citizens and not treated as subjects. Thanks to new media technologies, people can now analyse and create texts and messages in a wide variety of established and new media. But the skills needed to create and analyse media have to be learned and continuously updated. As a result, MIL also means lifelong learning. DW Akademie suggests that young people, in particular, need opportunities to engage with educators in making sense of their variety of experiences with mass media, interpersonal media, and media technologies.

The materials are primarily directed at trainers who work with youth. Educators may follow the suggested teaching plans or select and adapt individual elements they consider suitable for their students. There are lessons on how traditional media work (newspapers, radio, and television), how information becomes news, and how to tell if information in the media is biased or balanced and trustworthy. Other chapters give practical tips on how people can tell their own stories through social media such as Facebook, as well as on "the power of pictures", photojournalism, and the use of video and vlogging. This content is designed to enable participants to make their voices heard and raise awareness for issues that are relevant to them.

Every topic is broken down into easy-to-follow lessons that have a participatory approach to teaching. The lessons are designed to give students a chance to learn about media through practical exercises, discussions, and games rather than through lectures. "Educators will see that much of the learning takes place in a fun and playful way. Learning should be enjoyable, otherwise trainees will not be motivated. We hope that those teaching media and information literacy will empower their trainees to be curious and ask questions. Tapping into the trainees' prior knowledge and creativity will increase their motivation to learn more and raise their self-esteem."

The guidebook's core was written as an accompaniment to DW Akademie MIL project in Cambodia and intended for trainers in Asia. The idea behind that project was to teach a group of young Cambodian trainers the basics of MIL and help them develop their training skills. They would then, in turn, pass their newly gained media knowledge and skills on to youth in their rural home provinces. However, the book's scope has expanded since its initial conception. DW Akademie continues to lead MIL projects in many parts of the world in addition to southeast Asia, including Burundi, Moldova, Namibia, Ruanda, Tunisia, Uganda, and the Palestinian Territories. In all of these countries and regions, the aim is to help people exercise their right to freedom of expression and their right to access information freely. In addition, the MIL projects are designed to increase awareness for how media work and how individuals can make their voices heard in public discussion and forums. To reach these goals, DW Akademie works with youth and adults, teaching professionals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government ministries. The experience and knowledge gained in these projects all over the world have shaped and enriched this collection of materials.