Chapter 3.2
Public Education for Digital Media Literacy
Digital technology and the Internet can be harnessed in a positive, constructive and safe way. For the year in review, MDA reached out to key stakeholders – educators, parents, youths and the general public – to educate them on digital and media literacy.
Educators
As part of MDA’s on-going efforts to educate young users on the safe use of digital technology, MDA participated in the Early Childhood Conference and Carnival 2015 held from 25 to 26 September 2015. About 5,000 early childhood educators, parents and children attended the event and picked up useful media literacy tips at MDA’s booth.
MDA also supported the revamp of the “I am a Young IT Whiz” card, rolled out by the Media Literacy Council (MLC) and Science Centre Singapore. The card is given to primary school pupils who complete a number of IT-related tasks to earn a badge. Launched in April 2015, the refreshed card includes new topics on digital and media literacy such as taking responsibility for one’s online interactions and how to critically evaluate information online.
On 23 April 2015, MDA conducted a learning journey for 36 educators across 10 schools. The participants learned about MDA’s role in promoting media literacy and attended a classification workshop to find out more about the considerations behind classification decisions for films.
Parents
Helping parents protect their children is a key MDA initiative. On 14 July 2015, MDA finalised its proposals towards raising public awareness of Internet parental control services. By end-2016, Internet Access Service Providers (IASPs) will be required to offer network-based Internet parental controls and obtain new and re-contracting subscribers’ decision on whether they wish to subscribe to these services. IASPs will also need to offer up to six months’ free trial of such services to new subscribers. Learn more here.
To equip parents with knowledge on being good online role models, MDA organised a networking session for parent influencers on 15 January 2016 at Google Asia-Pacific’s regional office. Up to 50 parent influencers shared their ideas and personal experiences on how to impart positive online values to children.
“A parent influencer is able to not only guide his/her children to connect with the Internet for a positive experience, but also share this knowledge with other parents to make the online world a better place.”
Cheryl Ng
Family Life Educator and Current Films Consultative Panel Vice-Chairperson
Youths
MDA hosted 50 youths at Facebook’s Singapore office on 11 March 2016 as part of the SGFuture Engagement series. Attendees penned their thoughts on how they can create a better and happier Internet. Find out what some students have to say about the engagement session in the video below.
MDA and MOE also jointly organised the Cyber Wellness Student Ambassador Programme (CWSAP) and Conference where trained student ambassadors led discussions for their peers at various school levels. Held on 3 June 2015, the Conference for tertiary students included students from the polytechnics and ITEs for the first time. Student leaders from the School of Science and Technology also facilitated discussions on promoting cyber wellness in schools at the CWSAP Primary Conference on 23 March 2016.
General Public
The annual Safer Internet Day campaign was launched on 9 February 2016 with the tagline, “A better Internet makes a happier Internet”. The campaign was executed on multiple media platforms and on-ground engagements.
A key highlight of the campaign was “The Emoji Face Challenge”, in which participants mimicked emojis that represent media literacy values and submitted their selfies or videos online. Photo booths were set up in several high-traffic venues, including the Singapore Airshow, to encourage the public to take part in the challenge. The MLC also invited 98.7FM deejays to nine secondary schools and tertiary institutions to deliver Safer Internet Day messages in a fun and light-hearted way. In addition, some secondary schools were treated to an interactive skit on the theme of media literacy and cyber wellness.
“To me, Safer Internet Day means that the online world is a friendlier place for all where my kids are able to interact with one another in a cordial manner.”
Kelvin Ang
Cheekie Monkies - Singapore Parenting and Lifestyle Blogger