Brussels (BE), September 2012 - The Media & Learning Conference, taking place in Brussels 14-15 November 2012, is aimed at everyone who wants to find new and effective ways to use media to enhance the learning process. It has three main themes: "mapping future trends and developments" in media-enhanced learning in all sectors; "boosting skills and competences" in media-production use and reuse of media-enhanced content; and "tracking the importance of media literacy and wisdom" as fundamental building blocks in the creation of innovative, inclusive, and future-proof education and training.
Keynote speakers include Xavier Prats Monné, Deputy Director-General for Education at the European Commission and Guus Wijngaards, who will present his take on the educational- media trends of the future based on the recent highly rated NMC Horizon Report. Andrew Keen, author of "Digital Vertigo: How Today's Online Social Revolution Is Dividing, Diminishing, and Disorienting Us", will put forward his controversial ideas about social media and will also join fellow speaker Pedro De Bruyckere, author and educational scientist, in a discussion with the audience into the myths that surround the value and impact of video and social media and the expectations of GenY.
Developmental psychologist Edith K. Ackermann will describe the new media ecology and new genres of engagement, while Marci Powell from Polycom will talk about global trends in media-enhanced learning. Brian O'Neill from Dublin Institute of Technology and EU Kids Online will put forward his ideas on how education fares in today's media and communications environment.
The programme features an in-depth look into media literacy schemes and policies, with reports on what is happening at a national level given by Anniina Lundvall from the Finnish Society on Media Education and Alberto Parola from the Italian Association of Media Education.
Cross-border reviews of media literacy and education schemes will be presented from the EMEDUS study and the MEDEAnet investigation into seven European countries. Face-to-face discussions on the current status of media literacy in Europe will be backed up with online debate and knowledge sharing.
A special feature of this year's conference is the launch of the new MEDEA/Media & Learning Association, which will have its inaugural meeting during the event.
The MEDEA Awards Ceremony takes place alongside the Conference on 14 November, and participants are welcome to join this session, during which the overall winners of this year's competition will be announced.
