Promoting media literacy education in China: a case study of a primary school

Abstract

With the changing media environment, media literacy education begins to be an emerging field in China. There are many studies showing the significance of media literacy education; however, few studies on school practices are presented. The existing studies are mostly based on the context of western discourse. Even the curriculum framework in this case is influenced by western scholars. There have been a few studies investigating media literacy education in the Asian context. It is still struggling for the foothold in schools in China compared with countries where it has been practiced for a long time. Based on this understanding, this study is to explore the entry and approaches of media literacy education in a Chinese primary school. It aims to shift media literacy education from an international context to its local setting, and offers a point of reference to enrich the theory and practice in the process of localization. The research questions are concentrated on how media literacy education was initiated in the context of the national curriculum reform, and two ways in which it implemented in the HZMHT primary school. It is a qualitative case study, using observation, interviews, focus groups, group meetings and document analysis as the main methods of collecting data in the field. The introduction of media literacy education in the HZMHT primary school is consistent with the national curriculum reform, which provides an opportunity for the development of media literacy education. Through the changes in management structure and curriculum standards, the HZMHT primary school gets officially support to promote its curriculum innovation through media literacy education. The school practice becomes a response to curriculum reform in return. In this study, the curriculum practice is a result of a collaborative effort between a university and a primary school. With the endeavor of teachers in the HZMHT primary school and the team members from BBU, media literacy education was exercised both as a school-based curriculum and as an integrated component of multiple subjects. In the curriculum practice of media literacy education, students’ media culture is brought into the classroom and they are encouraged to interact with a digital society from the perspective of constructivism and critical pedagogy. Students construct new knowledge and fulfill personal growth by interacting with teachers and peers in a student-centered dialogue. In addition, they become aware of media environment and their roles in a world with dominant media. Five conceptual understandings of media literacy education are practised in the school-based curriculum, while priority was given to achieving the objectives of the original subjects in the integrated curriculum, where media literacy education is integrated with moral education, math education, information technology and integrated practical activities in a constructivist approach. Students’ engagement and interactive activities indicate the effectiveness in the curriculum practice. The research gaps on the process of contextual adaption and pedagogical exploration for media literacy education are filled through this school initiative in this case study. First, the changing paradigm of school practice and moral cultivation of the curriculum in China enrich the theory of localization for media literacy education. Second, the school initiative of a curriculum innovation fulfills the pedagogical exploration for the promotion of media literacy education and its legitimacy in Chinese context.