Advancing children’s media literacy: A framework for training future educators

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46502/issn.1856-7576/2025.19.04.4

Keywords:

media literacy, teacher education, media pedagogy, digital competence, experimental design, higher education

Abstract

This study analyzes the training of future educators for the development of media literacy in children, recognizing this competence as a key factor in creativity, critical thinking, and social participation in the digital era. A mixed experimental design was implemented with 78 pre-service teachers divided into an experimental group (n=40) and a control group (n=38). The research combined theoretical methods (analysis, synthesis, and systematization), empirical techniques (questionnaires, observation, and case studies), and statistical validation using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov λ-criterion. The pedagogical model developed integrates external training elements and internal motivational, cognitive, and practical factors that strengthen teachers’ readiness to guide media education in early schooling. Results revealed significant improvements in the experimental group’s levels of readiness—especially in motivation, conceptual understanding, and practical application of media literacy strategies—confirming the effectiveness of the proposed system. The study concludes that media literacy training should be a central component of teacher education programs to prepare educators capable of fostering critical, informed, and responsible media engagement among children.

Author Biographies

Liudmyla Biriuk, Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University, Ukraine.

Doctor of Pedagogical Science, Professor, Primary Education Pedagogy and Psychology Department, Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University, Ukraine.

Nataliia Osmuk, Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko, Ukraine.

Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Pedagogy Department, Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko, Ukraine.

Mykola Fedorets, State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky”, Ukraine.

Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Senior Lecturer, Department of Musical Art and Choreography, Educational and Scientific Institute of Musical and Performing Arts and Socio-Cultural Practices, State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky”, Ukraine.

Oksana Shkvyr, Khmelnytskyi Humanitarian-Pedagogical Academy, Ukraine.

Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Khmelnytskyi Humanitarian-Pedagogical Academy, Ukraine.

Oksana Fentsyk, Mukachevo State University, Ukraine.

Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department for Preschool, Primary Education and Educational Management, Mukachevo State University, Ukraine.

References

Bowker, J. (1991). Secondary media education: A curriculum statement. British Film Institute. https://acortar.link/BbBtW1

Caro, P. (2018). Educational inequalities of territorial origin in metropolitan and overseas France. National Council for the Evaluation of the School System (CNESCO). https://acortar.link/KDpFrV

Day, R. (1999). Remediation: Understanding new media [Book review]. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 50(8), 730–732. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(1999)50:8%3C730::AID-ASI14%3E3.0.CO;2-D

European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2018). Directive (EU) 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending Directive 2010/13/EU on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) in view of changing market realities. Official Journal of the European Union, L 303, 69–92. https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/aa25676b-a98c-4f30-b813-698fa076d035/language-en

European Parliament. (2008). Media literacy in a digital world: European Parliament resolution of 16 December 2008 (2008/2129(INI)). https://acortar.link/oO91Mt

Feijoo, B., Bugueño, S., Sádaba, C., & García-González, A. (2021). La percepción de padres e hijos sobre la publicidad en redes sociales. Comunicar, 67, 99–109. https://doi.org/10.3916/C67-2021-08

Flandoli, A. M. B., & Eguiguren, J. M. S. (2021). Media and digital literacy: From particularities to encounters and possibilities. In A. Rocha, R. Gonçalves, F. G. Penalvo, & J. Martins (Eds.), Proceedings of the 16th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI 2021) (pp. 2069–2074). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.23919/CISTI52073.2021.9476428

Friesem, Y., Quaglia Beltran, D., & Crane, E. (2014). Media Now: A Historical Review of a Media Literacy Curriculum. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.23860/jmle-6-2-4

Knysh, I., Drobin, A., Filimonova, T., Koycheva, T., Kushnir, A., & Kuchai, O. (2024). The use of information technologies in the educational space of Ukraine (on the example of STEAM technologies). Revista Conrado, 20(100), 437–448. https://conrado.ucf.edu.cu/index.php/conrado/article/view/3979

Leaning, M. (2017). A history of media education and literacy. In M. Leaning (Ed.), Media and information literacy (pp. 15–32). Chandos Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100170-7.00002-0

Martins, C., & Finger, C. (2024). A aplicação da literacia midiática em produções infantis: Análise da série StoryBots: Answer Time. Revista Mediação, 26(36), 122–132. https://revista.fumec.br/index.php/mediacao/article/view/10072

Masterman, L. (1989). Media awareness education: Eighteen basic principles. Center for Media Literacy. https://ahealthyiowa.org/18-principles-of-media-education/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Mateus, J.-C. (2021). Media literacy for children: Empowering citizens for a mediatized world. Global Studies of Childhood, 11(4), 373–378. https://doi.org/10.1177/20436106211014903

McDougall, J., Zezulkova, M., van Driel, B., & Sternadel, D. (2018). Teaching media literacy in Europe: Evidence of effective school practices in primary and secondary education (NESET II report). Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2766/613204

Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. (2004). Paris Agenda: 12 recommendations for media education. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Parisagendafin_en.pdf

Mistry, M. (2020). Review of the early educational leader’s guide: Program leadership and professional learning for the 21st century. Education 3–13, 49(2), 256–257. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2020.1845764

Neira, A., Fuentes-Riffo, K., Vine, A., García, F., & Naranjo, G. (2024). Development and validation of a self-perception instrument for critical media literacy in Chilean pre-service teachers. Frontiers in Education, 9, 1476500. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1476500

Polanco-Levicán, K., & Salvo-Garrido, S. (2022). Understanding social media literacy: A systematic review of the concept and its competences. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8807. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148807

Rivera-Rogel, D., Beltrán-Flandoli, A. M., Andrade-Vargas, L., Iriarte-Solano, M., & Velásquez-Benavides, A. (2025). Alfabetización mediática e informacional como política pública en Ecuador. Comunicación y Sociedad, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.32870/cys.v2025.8906

Thoman, E., & Jolls, T. (2004). Media literacy – A national priority for a changing world. American Behavioral Scientist, 48(1), 12–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764203261752

Vinney, C. (2024). What is media literacy in the modern age? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-media-literacy-5214468

Wilson, C., Grizzle, A., Tuazon, R., Akyempong, K., & Cheung, C. K. (2011). Media and information literacy curriculum for teachers. Paris: UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000192971

Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

Biriuk, L., Osmuk, N., Fedorets, M., Shkvyr, O., & Fentsyk, O. (2025). Advancing children’s media literacy: A framework for training future educators. Eduweb, 19(4), 50–64. https://doi.org/10.46502/issn.1856-7576/2025.19.04.4

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

1 2 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)