Although digital literacy will now be recognised as a general capability for Australian students, the need to focus on a broader set of capabilities to critically engage with all forms of media is becoming more urgent than ever.

As the Australian Media Literacy Alliance (AMLA) says "It is a form of lifelong literacy that is essential for full participation in society."

As students increasingly learn about the world online, they can increasingly encounter fake news, misinformation and disinformation, bias and concealed agendas - whether is this in the form of text, video or other media. Knowing how, when and why to trust is becoming a key skill for students. 

We intend to explore the emerging topic of media literacies, helping to enable students to not use use digital technologies effectively, but confidently engage with media, media organisations and manage their personal, social and public relationships using digital media.

We write stories about things that interest us over on Medium, publish audio on Soundcloud and Spotify and video on Vimeo.  

MEDIA LITERACIES / SHORT CUTS

Our new podcast, Media Literacy / Short Cuts, is a series of easily digestible, to the point and practical discussions about media literacies.

DIGITAL MEDIA, MEANING AND TECHNOLOGY

How we give students the knowledge, tools and perspectives they need to not just be safe, but empowered Digital literacy in an age of media manipulation and fake news. Dr Peter Thomas and Lauren Sayer host a podcast season fort HaileyburyX.

CURATED READINGS FOR DIGITAL MEDIA, MEANING AND TECHNOLOGY

Curated readings for techEd: digital media, meaning and technology, S3 E3 of HaileyburyX on Soundcloud.

TIKTOK AND DIGITAL LITERACIES

empowerEd

A Clubhouse event on the challenge of building K12 media literacy. Dr Peter Thomas and ABC Head of Education Annabel Astbury hosted.

Some things we're reading right now about digital literacies. 

AUSTRALIAN MEDIA LITERACY ALLIANCE: AGENDA FOR CHANGE

Whilst the current national curriculum includes capacity for media literacy teaching for all students, research highlights that the quality and delivery is neither consistent nor effective.

WE LIVE IN AN AGE OF ‘FAKE NEWS’. BUT AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN ARE NOT LEARNING ENOUGH ABOUT MEDIA LITERACY

Despite widespread concern about “fake news” and a growing body of evidence about the reach and impact of misinformation, many young people are also not getting formal education about news media at school.

ABC SPOTTING FAKE IMAGES AND VIDEOS

CHECKOLOGY

Checkology’s lessons and other resources show how to identify credible information, seek out reliable sources, and apply critical thinking skills.

We've developing a series of courses that help students, parents and teachers get to grips with new and emerging forms of digital media. 

These 15 courses cover digital technologies like messaging, social media, video platforms and gaming, focusing not just how how to use them - and how to use them safely - but on issues like digital footprints and privacy.

The courses were developed by Dr Peter Thomas working with Haileybury's digital learning leaders Lauren Sayer, Craig Nicholls and Carlie Gannon.

You can take the first of the courses, the Digital Literacy Quiz on the courses homepage.