What can be part of a media literacy policy?

1. Quality Framework

Every good policy has a solid foundation to get the key aspects clear within the school community. This can consist of:

An agreement: Develop a comprehensive quality framework outlining the objectives, scope, and standards for media literacy education, ensuring alignment with educational goals and values.

Rules: Implement clear guidelines and rules regarding media literacy topics within the school community.

Point of Contact: Designate a dedicated staff member or team as the primary point of contact for media literacy-related questions or when something happens.

Working Group: Form a multidisciplinary working group comprising educators, administrators, students, and parents to oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of the media literacy policy.

School Surveys: Conduct regular surveys to assess the effectiveness of media literacy initiatives, gather feedback from stakeholders, and identify areas for improvement.

2. Prevention

To minimise the risks, your school can focus on preventive measur to proactively educate and empower students, staff, and parents regarding media literacy topics. This can consist of:

Learning Opportunities: Integrate media literacy education into the curriculum across various subjects and grade levels, providing students and staff with the knowledge and skills to critically analyze and create media content.

Integration of media literacy in school activities: Embed media literacy principles into various school activities and classes, fostering a culture of media literacy and digital citizenship.

Detection Guidelines: Establish clear guidelines for identifying problems with students or staff, for example issues regarding cyberbullying, disinformation. Make sure that the school team knows what's happening with the students.

Parental Involvement: Engage parents through workshops, parental evenings, and tips to support media literacy at home.

Peer Support: Foster peer-to-peer learning and support networks where students can collaborate, discuss, and share strategies for responsible media usage. This can happen through peer-to-peer initiatives, trustee students...

3. Curative Aspect

Sometimes, things go wrong and there might be an incident regarding media literacy topics, for example a sexting gone wrong, a cyberbullying case, a data leak... This happens and it's good to have a policy with a protocol when things go wrong. This can consist of:

Recovery-Focused Work: Prioritize the well-being and recovery of individuals impacted by media-related incidents, providing them with access to counseling and support.

Communication Protocol: Establish clear communication guidelines to different stakeholders when something goes wrong. How do you communicate an incident to students, parents, staff and the community, while ensuring transparency and confidentiality?

Evaluation: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the curative process, including response protocols, support services, and communication strategies, to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary adjustments.

Aftercare: Provide ongoing support and follow-up services to individuals affected by media-related incidents, ensuring their continued well-being and reintegration into the school community.