Developed alongside ‘key media literacy experts’, the authority have said the online resource builds children’s media literacy proficiency across Media Arts, English and Digital Technologies in particular.
The offering follows data released earlier this year that shows just 28 per cent of Year 10 students and 43 per cent of Year 6s are considered proficient in civics.
“[Curriculum connection: Media consumers and creators] highlights the content in the Australian Curriculum where students are supported and expected to learn to be analytical, creative and media literate.
“The Curriculum connection explores how new media, including social media and digital tools, are changing the way young people communicate and are being communicated to, and how this impacts their lives and communities,” ACARA reported.
ACARA CEO Stephen Gniel indicated misleading and false content posed an increasing threat to students
“Whether it’s a news story, a television show, an online video or a social media post, our young people need to learn how to sort fact from fiction and work out whether something is credible or not,” Gniel said.
“We need to ensure students can develop the critical and analytical thinking needed to contend with an ever-evolving digital media landscape.”
Gniel pointed to the recent Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters report into civics education and political participation, which he said warned this was “crucially important if we want our young people to be active and informed citizens”.
Teachers can filter information on core themes from within the Australian Curriculum by year level, learning area, general capability or cross-curriculum priority, as well as develop programs around key issues within the resource, ACARA noted.
Specialists within academia, industry and teaching, including the Australian Media Literacy Alliance (AMLA), ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) and Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM), have collaborated to build the resource.
“It is designed to encourage students to be critical and mindful thinkers when consuming media so they can recognise misinformation and disinformation, but also to be creative and imaginative producers, effective communicators, and informed and responsible consumers and creators of media,” ACARA reported.
Greg Pierce, executive principal at Brisbane State High School, has backed the resource.
“Media education is crucial, because it helps young people critically analyse information, identify biases, and distinguish between reliable and misleading content – which is very important in our current world.
“It fosters digital literacy, enabling responsible media consumption and content creation,” the school leader said.
The principal believes the new offering will become “an essential classroom resource” for teachers.
“Understanding how media is made and influences us supports informed decision-making, protects against misinformation, and encourages active engagement in social, cultural, educational and political discussions … I believe ACARA’s new [resource] will … help students become informed, responsible and imaginative creators and consumers of media,” he added.
The Curriculum connection hones in on four key aspects that ACARA says all students should develop skills in:
- understand and analyse contemporary media;
- create media content;
- communicate and share media content;
- be critical and ethical.
Media literacy expert associate professor Tanya Notley from Western Sydney University was closely involved in the development of the resource.
“We know from our research that most Australian school students need more ongoing media literacy support in school to help them access and create trustworthy media.
“So, I’m thrilled to see this new resource and support from ACARA to help address this…” Notley said.
Media literacy is “essential” for students’ participation in society, she flagged.
“By increasing media literacy, schools can support students to find, verify, analyse, share and create media across their lifetime.
“In addition, media literacy can support students to connect with others, engage with democracy and participate in communities.”
The Curriculum connection: Media consumers and creators is available on the resources section of the Australian Curriculum here.
