The purpose of KAVI is to generally promote media education and to coordinate the implementation of the Media Education Policy. We offer support to the media education field and advise on questions relating to media literacy.
Information
You can contact KAVI with questions about media literacy and media education. We have created a model for creating your own media education plans, and we can also help you with this.
Networking
The annual Media Education Forum and campaigns allow you to network and to collaborate with others to improve media education. You can find more information about media education networks on the page Promoting media literacy.
Material and education
We produce information and publish free media education material. We also share information about material produced by others. These publications can be found on KAVI’s website and in Media Literacy School (in Finnish and Swedish). We organise media education training for professionals in different fields, particularly for the regional and municipal sector.
Opportunities for collaboration
We are always happy to receive suggestions for improvements and collaboration relating to the promotion of media literacy and media education. Get in touch with KAVI’s experts in media education!
Terminology
Media literacy
In media literacy, the ability to read and write is extended from traditional texts to different kinds of media texts. In addition to traditional written text, media texts and content can also consist of images, videos, sound, or a combination of these. As media devices have improved and the number of different methods of publishing have increased, the boundary between media user and media producer has started to disappear. This is why media literacy also includes production skills and competence.
Media literacy can also be seen to include skills relating to media use, information retrieval, critical reading, communication and interaction, inclusion, influencing and life management. As well as media skills, media literacy also includes knowledge of different kinds of media phenomena. Both perspectives complement and support each other. Media literacy also has a strong cultural dimension.
Media education
Media education is goal-oriented interaction which aims to promote the educated person’s media literacy. Media education means educating, teaching, leading, guiding, sharing information, discussing and doing things together, and all this takes place within media culture and in relation to media. Media literacy allows teachers to aim for more extensive teaching goals. Through media education, teachers can empower individuals and groups to become active parties in their own societies, culture and communities. Media education has no age restrictions, so it can be carried out with people of all ages.
There is no right answer to the question “what should we do in media education?”. In media education, like in all education, a good result can be achieved in many different ways. The work should always be based on goal setting: what kind of media literacy do you want to promote, and which methods will support you in achieving the goals?