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media literacy.
The New Media Studio Mind over Media: Critical Thinking through Media Literacy Programs; Introducing the New Media Studio of ACS Athens by John Papadakis, Director of Technology
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hen UNESCO considers literacy a “fundamental human right and the foundation for lifelong learning… essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives” (http://bit.ly/1vfFsEL), education for the 21st century cannot ignore the importance of media literacy in the development of critical thinking to the young people of our world. To that effect, ACS Athens is proud to introduce new initiatives and expand existing ones aiming to spark the interest of students, reinforce their critical thinking process and provide tools to explore and discover new ones that open minds while learning and mastering new skills. ACS Athens is proud to have been at the forefront of academic excellence, for which it was recently recognized as a pioneering K-12 international school by Middle States Association for Colleges and Schools. (http://bit.ly/2k3nfIC). Its commitment to preparing students from diverse national, social and economic backgrounds for an educated and ethical leadership role in today’s society could not be less as it pertains to
In times that are described by many as the “post-truth” era, not due to shortage of information, but due to the lack of critical thinking in finding the truth between the lines, an educational institution has the responsibility and an important role to play in offering opportunities for young people to look further than their raw social media feeds, beyond news sources prescribed by non-reliable algorithms, through anonymous postings of doubtful source and intent, un-researched and irresponsible blogs and mass produced stories. Only then, a young mind can reach meaningful and useful conclusions, form a clear and informed opinion that might lead to responsible action for the real benefit of the local and global communities. According to the Center for Media Literacy, “Media Literacy is a 21st century approach to education. It provides a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms — from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy” (author’s highlight) http://bit.ly/1ks1KOE The last couple of decades of the 20th century were characterized by the leaps and bounds of technological innovation in all fields of human activity and the increasing need of technology in everyday life. That was the preamble for the explosion of the internet in the 21st century so far, which is probably the most important catalyst in human life, socially, financially, scientifically and politically. Information is the predominant asset in human interaction, which is valued by all as the main tool for progress in all fields. Starting this academic year, ACS Athens implements new initiatives on a three-pronged approach. First, by reinforcing the media element of existing courses in the Academy/High School level (Grades 9-12). Humanities and Language courses already embrace media literacy topics and projects, through critical thinking and personal inquiry approaches to learning. Through the media element, students are encouraged to explore alternative media-based outlets to express their subject of inquiry. As of the 2017-18 academic year, new academic courses will be introduced in the Academy curriculum, which will provide the theoretical and technology background and foundation for students to expand dramatically their knowledge and reach into the media environment. A Creative Writing class will provide students with the proper language skills necessary to create media content, while a Media Technology class will offer students the technical skills in order to materialize an idea born out of the Critical Writing class, or assist students from other classes or grades interested in exploring the platform. The BYOD (bring-your-own-device) program - already practiced at our school, will assist students in their effort to explore and learn new tools on video/radio production. Extra-curricular student initiatives already gaining steam include a fact-checking task force that will pro-
ETHOS • SPRING 2017
vide necessary training and support in approaching media reports with a critical mind, researching stories on important and less important issues of interest to the students, to the educational community and to the world in general. This new approach to media literacy would not be possible without the technical facility of our new Media Production Studio, located at the H.J.Sabbagh Library. The new Media Studio has been in the planning stages for the past 2 years and through the generous donation of ACS Athens Chairman of the Board Mr. Suheil H. Sabbagh it is now a reality. State-of-the-art equipment includes professional digital cameras in a green screen studio that offers unprecedented flexibility in video applications. The new Control Room includes some of the latest technology digital video and audio control boards and two digital video/audio editing workstations, a sound booth for audio applications, while it is designed to serve as a media lab for up to 10 students working simultaneously on their individual or group projects. Literacy, as a term of language proficiency is used to describe the ability of an individual to have access to learn and use language effectively, through reading, comprehension and writing. As technology was becoming the preeminent factor of human progress in the late 20th century, computer literacy became almost a synonym to language literacy. Any individual with high enough hopes and aspirations for his/her life and professional career had and still has to have an above standard knowledge of information technology tools and their real life applications and impact. With the advent and explosion of the internet, information overabundance and instant dissemination and worldwide reach has added a new level of literacy that tests the limits of human intelligence, as it pertains to its ability to discern usable, reliable and relevant information. ACS Athens’ role in this is simply to promote research and guided inquiry and offer its students the tools to correct the myopic vision of reality offered irresponsibly by the media cacophony of our era.
Faculty and staff attended two informative sessions on the functionality of the Media Studio
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The team that worked for the implementation of the Media Studio. From left to right: Mary Manos, IT Administrator• Stavros Tzanetakos, Facilities Manager • Jim Koulyras, AV Services • Stefanos Kakaris, Director of Finance • Suheil Sabbagh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and major funder of the project • Dr. Stefanos Gialamas, President • John Papadakis, Director of Technology • Linos Meitains, Theater Manager • Marinos Makris, IT Technician