IJC Training in Balti: 15 Gymnasium Teachers from the Northern Districts of the Republic of Moldova Have Been Instructed to Teach Media Education
The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) developed the media skills of 15 gymnasium teachers working at Russian-language educational institutions in the northern districts of the Republic of Moldova. The program was conducted in Russian in Balti Town on September 6-8, 2024.
The training was based on the curriculum for Media Education, a subject taught at the gymnasium level, and an updated version of the Media Education manual published in 2024. The content also included current information such as new examples of news items, tools, and techniques for innovative work, new terms such as digital fingerprint, disinformation, three-dimensional (3D) film, generic, megaphone, propaganda, war propaganda, augmented reality, and vidding. All the modifications to the manual will help pupils better understand what media education is, develop their critical thinking skills, and consume information responsibly.
The course trainers were Loretta Handrabura and Natalia Griu, the authors of the Media Education curriculum and the manual for the 7th/8th grades.
Mariana Tabuncic, IJC Program Manager, reviewed the essential achievements of the organization in the sphere of media education since 2017, when Media Education was introduced at school as an optional subject with the agreement of the Ministry of Education and Research. “During these years, the IJC has held over 40 training programs for over 780 teachers. The 2024-2025 academic year is the eighth year that the course has been taught at school, thanks to the teachers who realize how important it is to be literate in the sphere of the media, to be able to think critically, and to be protected from online threats. This year, we have managed to update the manual for the gymnasium level and to publish it, including in Russian, to make it available to pupils from schools where they are taught in this language,” Mariana Tabuncic mentions.
Loretta Handrabura emphasizes the important role of the correct consumption of information to avoid spreading disinformation. “Often, we only read the headlines without even trying to comprehend the topic; after that, we share this information, and it often turns out to be false. In this way, we spread disinformation without realizing it. By teaching Media Education, we encourage you to keep track of the changes you can notice in your pupils’ behavior. You will certainly see some behavioral and attitudinal changes in the way they perceive information, the sources and the processes of obtaining information, and the way they protect their online identity. They are likely to become more aware of certain processes around them,” the expert says.
Natalia Griu emphasizes the fact that media education is one of the most important skills today, as it is connected to many subjects. “The 21st-century person is the one who can work with information. We are surrounded not only by buildings and trees. We also have lots of information around us; therefore, it is essential to understand how we can deal with it. A teacher has to live up to the pupils’ expectations, and media education can help you a lot in this regard,” Natalia Griu affirms.
For three days, the teachers developed their Media Education teaching skills at the gymnasium level. To start with, they learned the terms used in this sphere, discussed the news and how it could manipulate or mislead people, and learned to create news items that complied with deontological requirements and avoided sensationalism. They also analyzed various types of advertisements and became convinced of the extent to which advertising influences our perceptions of things. They discussed the educational role of movies, deepfake, photographic art, and the role of images in conveying the message. In addition, the discussions focused on forms of online aggression and safety in the virtual space. The session included interactive working methods the teachers will be able to apply in the classroom.
The training session participants say the session opened new horizons of knowledge, helped them improve their knowledge in this sphere and developed a more critical attitude towards the information they consume.
Anastasia Miron, teacher, Aleksandr Puskin Theoretical Lyceum, Balti Town
The knowledge gained can be used for any lesson, not just for Media Education. I have learned many interesting and useful techniques that can also be applied to informing the parents. This session has helped me realize the importance of the media in our lives, and I am sure I will be able to use the knowledge gained in the teaching process.”
Ana Babiuc, teacher, Egorovca Gymnasium, Falesti District
It was a very intense and productive training session during which interesting methods and techniques for working with students and parents were presented. This session helped me realize how important media literacy is. Currently, a series of processes closely related to the press are taking place around us, and I did not pay much attention to them until the moment when I attended this session, where I learned that I had to doubt everything and to think critically.”
Tatiana Filipova, teacher, Aleksandr Puskin Theoretical Lyceum, Falesti Town
Nowadays, the relevance of the Media Education as a subject for bringing up digitally responsible citizens cannot be underestimated. The knowledge gained and the interactive techniques studied can be used for working with parents, pupils, and fellow teachers. I will have an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained while teaching Media Education this year.”
Ana Turtureanu, teacher, Nicolae Casso Theoretical Lyceum, Chiscareni Village, Singerei District
I am pleasantly surprised by the materials taught, the format of the session, and the relaxing and productive atmosphere. The training session was well-planned, it included many new elements and practical and innovative tasks which helped us learn to think critically and to consume information responsibly.”
Svetlana Dreglea, teacher, Nikolai Gogol Theoretical Lyceum, Balti Municipality
The training session is of great current interest. I will certainly apply the knowledge gained, as well as the techniques and skills developed to other subjects. I believe that pupils should leave school as citizens who have a certain level of media literacy, and such sessions help teachers prepare their pupils for this task.”
Until recently, the IJC has trained 253 primary school teachers, 231 gymnasium teachers, and 298 lyceum teachers. The Media Education optional course has been taught in schools in the Republic of Moldova since 2017, and is included in the Framework Program of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova for all the three levels of education, i.e. primary school, gymnasium, and lyceum. The IJC developed the Media Education curriculum and textbooks which are issued to teachers and pupils free of charge.
The training program is part of the “Responding, Expanding and Acting on Disinformation” (READ) project jointly implemented by International Media Support (IMS) from Denmark and the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), with the financial support of the European Union.
