1. CURRENT MEDIA LITERACY
POLICIES AND RELATED
PRACTICES AT SCHOOL
- CHALLENGES & THE FUTURE
ANNIINA LUNDVALL
COORDINATOR
FINNISH SOCIETY ON MEDIA EDUCATION
Media and Learning // November 14th 2012 in Brussels

2. Political decision making and
developing media literacy
Government Programme (6/2011): The use of ICT in education will be fostered.
The position of art and physical education will be strengthened in the national
core curricula.
Child and Youth Policy Programme
Audiovisual Culture in the Digital Era.
(2012-2015)
Set of Policies (2012)
Responsible ministries: Ministry of
Responsible ministry: Ministry of
Education and Culture, Ministry of
Education and Culture
Transport and Communication and
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
National Knowledge Society Strategy
Education and research 2007-2012.
(2007-2015)
Development Plan.
Responsible actors: Ministry of Education
Responsible ministry: Ministry of
and culture, Finnish National Board of
Education and Culture
Education, Ministry of Justice/democracy
unit, Ministry of Trade and
Industry, Finnish Broadcasting Company

3. Agenda for schools
 Cross cultural theme Media Skills and
Communication at the national core curricula
(2004):
 The goal is to improve skills in expression and
interaction, to advance understanding of the
media’s position and the importance and to
improve skills in using the media. With respect to
communication skills, emphasis is given to
participatory, interactive and communicaty
communication. The pupils are to practise media
skills as both producers and recipients of
messages.
Resource: National Board of Education / National Core Curricula and Qualification Requirements in Basic Education

4. Challenges
 Challenges for promoting and
increasing media literacy and ICT skills “Every child is
at school: guaranteed to gain basic
 Varying and inadequate standard of skills to act in the
technological infrastructure at different information society.” is
schools not yet fulfilled
 Lack of technical and pedagogical
support “Materials and
 Low usage of pedagogical models and operational models to
practices geared towards supporting support media education
learners’ active involvement and and literacy will be
collaborative learning developed for education
 Availability, quality and dissemination of institutions.” was not
materials fulfilled in the best
 Challenges for the school’s operational possible way.
culture (inside the school but also with
youth work, parents, cultural
actors, media…)
 Bringing teacher training up-to-date
Resource: National Plan for Educational Use of Information and Communications Technology 2011

5. Opportunities ahead
 National Board of Education has launched the renewal
process for curriculum criteria of primary education.
 The new distribution of lesson hours gives more time for
media education (arts, crafts, music, history, social
studies)
 New curricula is based on the changes in issues relating
to identity, self-expression, communication and
collaboration skills, knowledge building in networks…
 New curricula promote comprehensive reading and writing
literacy, media literacy and ICT skills as a task cutting
across all areas and promote everyone’s involvement and
participation, giving opportunities to influence and
advance positive critical thinking.

6.  Act on the Finnish Centre for Media Education and Audiovisual
Programmes 2011 -> Finnish Centre for Media Education and
Audiovisual Media (MEKU)
 promote media education, children’s media skills and the
development of safe media environment for children in
cooperation with other authorities and corporations in the sector
 act as an expert in the development of children's media
environment and promote research related to the sector, as well
as monitor international development in the field
 distribute information about children and the media
 take charge of the education and refresher training of audiovisual
programme classifiers

7. More detailed information
POLICY PROGRAMMES
 A renewing, human-centric and competitive Finland. The National Knowledge Society Strategy 2007–2015
 http://www.epractice.eu/files/media/media1936.pdf
 Child and Youth Policy Programme 2012–2015
 http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Julkaisut/2012/Lapsi-
_ja_nuorisopolitiikan_kehittamisohjelma_2012_2015?lang=en
 Audiovisual Culture in the Digital Era. Set of Policies. 2012.
 http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Julkaisut/2012/av_linjaukset.html?lang=en
 Education and research 2007-2012. Development Plan
 http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Julkaisut/2008/Koulutus_ja_tutkimus_2007_2012._Kehittamisuunnitelma?lang=
fi&extra_locale=en
OTHER DOCUMENTS
Finnish Centre for Media Education and Audiovisual Programmes
 www.meku.fi
 Act on the Finnish Centre for Media Education and Audiovisual Programmes:
www.meku.fi/images/meku_laki_711_2011_en.pdf
 National Board of Education
 http://www.oph.fi/english/sources_of_information/core_curricula_and_qualification_requirements/basic_educ
ation
 National Plan for Educational Use of Information and Communications Technology:
http://www.edu.fi/download/135308_TVT_opetuskayton_suunnitelma_Eng.pdf
 Finnish Society on Media Education, material resource and information about Finnish media education
 www.mediaeducation.fi

8. Thank you!
anniina.lundvall@mediakasvatus.fi
Ps. Welcome to the international ”My Media
Playground” early childhood media education
seminar in Finland 14-15 February 2013!! Call for
papers is on!
For more information:
www.mediaeducation.fi