Encouraging Filipino Students to Be Media and Information Literacy

  

This is the third installment of the four-part series of Media and Information Literacy Education in the Philippine Classrooms. In the Philippines' digital age, Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is key for students. MIL equips them to navigate the online world, critically assess information, and responsibly create media. However, MIL education faces challenges that need addressing.

Unequal Access: A Barrier to MIL

One major hurdle is unequal access to digital resources. Students in urban areas often have better technology and internet than those in rural and poorer regions. This gap stems from infrastructure limitations and socioeconomic factors. This leaves rural and poor students vulnerable to misinformation.

Resolving this issue requires a long-term approach and not just band-aid solutions. The government should ensure that households earn enough income to sustain their families. It is easy to recommend providing families with gadgets and what have you but the reality is that is not sustainable and the solution requires self-sufficiency for these families.

Will children have better equipment for their MIL education if families were to improve their income? It is not guaranteed but the chances this student might have that boost of support is higher.

Curriculum Gaps: Theory vs. Practice

The Philippine curriculum includes MIL, but there's a gap between theory and practice. Students learn the concepts but lack hands-on experience applying them in real situations.

So, what is the solution? To implement more project-based learning is needed to bridge this gap. Examples include writing blogspots, studying media consumption and media biases, and other internationally accepted standards of good quality MIL education.

This is a tough reform to push through because the educational system in the country prefers rote memorization. In this strategy, students are meant to regurgitate information that they absorb in their studies but not enough application to assess if they really learned something or not.

A major reform that the education department could do is train teachers to teach MIL subjects as a hybrid subjective-based type of learning and objective-type of learning. In this method, students can rote memorize the principles but they have to use inferences and draw conclusions from the materials they are about to use.

With this strategy, the gap between theory and practice could be bridged.

Diverse Perspectives: Beyond the Classroom

MIL education isn't just for schools. Parents, communities, government, and media professionals play a role.

Parents can reinforce MIL at home. These could allow children to use gadgets for reading credible news outlets or watching educational videos on YouTube. Basically, children drawn to screen time are frowned upon due to the fact that it may be deemed unproductive. Yet, the key is to ensure that their content is of good quality.

Policymakers and media can advocate for better MIL standards and create content promoting media literacy. In this modern world, government intervention and self-regulation of media companies are necessary to ensure that users become more critical and safe from misinformation that spreads on the platform. In a practical context, it is necessary to ensure that people discern facts from fake news because this shapes the policy options that guide political leaders.

MIL skills develop outside classrooms too. Community organizations and online platforms can host workshops and provide resources. Educational apps and websites offer interactive ways to hone critical media skills.

The Long-Term Impact of MIL

At present, the short-term value of MIL classes is to widen the worldview of students and enhance their critical thinking skills. However, there are more practical benefits in the long term that students could benefit from MIL:

• It shapes informed citizens who actively participate in society. This will prepare students to be better voters and safeguard their politicians. Why? They cannot be easily deceived by propaganda and they are empowered enough due to the knowledge that they have so they can put checks and balances on leaders who intend to abuse their powers.

• It prepares students for careers in a digital world. Technological advancements are already here. So, in order forstudents to exploit those opportunities, they must be proficient in navigating tools and information especially since they are free and accessible nowadays.

• Fosters responsible online behavior for overall well-being. Remember, you could be sued if you defame other people online. This is a sufficient warning to keep digital spaces clean.

Moving Forward with MIL in the Philippines

Progress has been made, but challenges persist. Collaboration between educators, parents, communities, and government is essential to bridge gaps and ensure equal access. By expanding MIL beyond classrooms and recognizing its long-term impact, we empower Filipino students to be critical thinkers and responsible digital citizens.

Helping the Frontliners: FBS, Akbayanihan Foundation help families in Taytay recover after typhoon Carina

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Weeks after the onslaught of Typhoon Carina, a humanitarian mission was conducted in Taytay, Rizal. This time, volunteers and barangay workers who assisted victims during the typhoon receive food packs to help them recover.

FBS, a global licensed broker, partnered with Akbayanihan Foundation to assist families of community volunteers and barangay workers in Brgy San Juan, Taytay, Rizal bounce back from the disaster.

The humanitarian mission gave out family-sized packages consisting of food packs, kilos of rice, and medicine for more than 250 families.

 
“No disaster can break the Taytayeño’s spirit. We are grateful to FBS and Akbayanihan Foundation for supporting families of Taytay, who despite adversity, continue to help each other,” Taytay City Councilor Tobit Cruz said.

“Ngayong araw, tulungan natin ang mga tumulong sa mga kababayan natin (This time, our community volunteers and their families deserve some help too),” Councilor Cruz said. “Our community volunteers and frontliners are key to building strong, resilient communities. Supporting them means supporting those who hold the fort in times of disasters”

“Akbayanihan Foundation aims to not just support affected communities after the storm, we support families and local governments to build back and recover better,” Acting Akbayanihan Foundation Executive Director Julianne Andrada said.

 
Suggested caption: In a humanitarian mission by Akbayanihan Foundation and FBS, frontliners and barangay workers in Brgy San Juan in Taytay receive food packs and other aid weeks after Typhoon Carina to help them with their recovery.

Bridging the Digital Divide Enhancing Media and Information Literacy

  

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

This is the last  installment of the State of the Media and Information Literacy in the Philippines series. This article explains how the digital divide in the Philippines, especially in rural areas, hampers Media and Information Literacy (MIL). It will discuss how unequal internet access and digital literacy disparities exacerbate this issue and the steps needed to bridge the gap.

As stated in the previous article, the income disparities of Filipino households also lead to a stark contrast of digital disparities. This divide does not only limit access to information but also hinders the development of critical MIL skills, essential for the utilization of today's media-rich environment. Below, we explore the factors contributing to this divide and how they impact MIL in the country.

Unequal Internet Access

In the Philippines, the disparity in internet access between urban and rural areas is a significant contributor to the digital divide. Urban centers boast more extensive internet infrastructure and connectivity. For example, Metro Manila enjoys the highest internet access rate at 32.3%. This reflects a concentrated investment in urban areas. In contrast, many rural regions struggle with limited or unreliable internet access which leaves large populations disconnected from the digital world.

Furthermore, income inequality exacerbates the digital divide. More affluent households are more likely to afford high-speed internet and modern digital devices. Meanwhile, poorer households face challenges in accessing even the most basic digital services.

Sadly, access to fixed broadband surged only among the wealthiest 40% of the population, while marginal improvements are seen among the poorest, illustrating the widening gap in digital access.

This stems from the inaccessibility and the expensive infrastructure set up in the Philippines. It is cheaper for internet companies to focus on urban areas rather than rural areas. In this case, the government should invest heavily in infrastructure in far-flung places to improve the said conditions

Negative Impacts on Education

The failure to resolve this digital infrastructure leads to the repercussions of this digital divide. It negatively impacts the educational sector. Students from rural and poor areas face significant barriers in adopting digital learning tools since they either cannot afford digital devices or internet connectivity is also inaccessible. These tools could have improved the ability of students to critically analyze media content and use information effectively. Without reliable internet, these students are often left out of online education opportunities.

A good example of said discrepancies was greatly seen during the COVID–19 pandemic. The more well-off students rely on online classes while the poorer students have to rely on paper modules to get by. The difference? The former gets proper instruction while the latter fends for himself.

Exacerbating MIL Disparities

If this trend continues, the digital divide will significantly restrict access to diverse sources of information. Students from poorer communities have limited access to the internet and they often rely on fewer and sometimes biased sources of information. This situation limits their ability to critically evaluate media content.

On the other hand, the disparities in internet access and digital literacy directly contribute to unequal educational outcomes. Wealthier students, with better access to digital tools and resources, are more likely to develop strong MIL skills. Unlike their economically challenged counterparts, they may fall behind. As a result, a perpetuates a cycle of inequality that affects their ability to engage critically with media and information.

If these groups have different sources of information, they may have polarized views on what is right and what is wrong since they cannot agree on the correctness of the facts they have learned.

Policy and Infrastructure: Bridging the Gap

To address these disparities, it requires a comprehensive approach. It starts with significant investments in digital infrastructure. The Philippine government must prioritize expanding broadband coverage to rural areas so that every Filipino has access to the Internet. Additionally, targeted educational policies that promote digital literacy across all regions are essential. This includes comprehensive teacher training programs that equip educators with the skills necessary to teach MIL effectively. The teachers should also be well compensated and well-subsidized for said digital technologies.

Meanwhile, community-based initiatives are also encouraged to step in to overcome cultural barriers. By engaging local communities and raising awareness about the importance of digital literacy, these programs can foster a more inclusive approach to technology adoption.

Conclusion

The digital divide in the Philippines presents a significant challenge to achieving widespread Media and Information Literacy (MIL), particularly in the rural and poor areas. Unequal access to the internet and varying levels of digital literacy exacerbate these disparities, impacting educational outcomes and limiting opportunities for critical engagement with media and information. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach, including investments in digital infrastructure, targeted educational policies, and community engagement. Bridging this gap can ensure that the Philippines has equitable access to MIL resources, empowering all its citizens to thrive in the digital age.