by Sofia Tsironi
The first Learning, Teaching and Training Activity for the Erasmus + project Media: To Understand and to Create (The Implementation of the Media Education in Schools) was completed successfully in Vilnius Lithuania. From Monday the 5th of November to Friday the 9th of November 2018, twenty one teachers and lecturers from three schools, two universities and a Lifelong Learning Centre, from three European countries, Lithuania, Greece and Croatia, gathered to take part in a five-day training programme.
In the course of five busy days fifteen teachers from the 4th Lyceum of Katerini, Vilnius Salomeja Neris gymnasium, Elektrotehnicka Iprometna skola of Osijec, two instructors from the life-long learning centre KEPA Pierias, in Greece and two lecturers from the Art and Culture Academy of Osijek attended seminars by the lecturers of the Vilniaus Gedimino Technikos Universitas (VGTU) of Vilnius.
The five teachers from the 4th General Lyceum of Katerini, Papafotiou Georgios, Pipinas Georgios, Tsironi Sofia, Ioannidis Vasilios and Lagothanasi Georgia were greeted warmly at the Vilnius airport by Lina Stasiunaite, Oksana Jankuviene and Donanata Kriukas, key members of the Lithuanian Erasmus+ project work group. All the teachers were provided with accommodation at the Panorama hotel of Vilnius.
On the premises of Vilniaus Gedimino Technikos Universitetas (VGTU), the first day of the meeting commenced with speeches from the Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Dr Zivile Sedereviciute Paciauskiene and the principal of Vilnius Salomeja Neris gymnasium, Jolita Marcinkevicieni. This was followed by a three-hour seminar entitled: Media and society. Evolution of new media. The visual turn presented by Kristina Stankeviciute. Then, after a short coffee break, all participants attended a seminar by Kristina Stankeviciute entitled: Development of mass media. The concept of simulation. The end of the second seminar was followed by lunch at the student restaurant on campus and a discussion among the participants regarding their expectations from the project. The first day of work ended with a dinner that took place at a traditional Lithuanian art workshop, where all members had the opportunity to sample foods characteristic of the cuisines of the three participating countries.
The activities of the second day took place at the Linkmenys factory, part of the facilities belonging to VGTU, which includes a large number of laboratories and workshops, which can be utilized not only by the students of VGTU but also by school students. The Lithuanian education system places great emphasis on developing creativity, initiative and innovation. After a short tour around Linkmenys factory, the participants attended the first part of a four-hour lecture entitled: Use of videotools in lessons, where Arturas Kavaliauskas presented them with the basics of film-making. A short coffee break was followed by the second part of the lecture. After the lecture, a representative of NGO Meno Avilys (experts in the creation of media curricula), who are involved in this project as external evaluators, presented and assigned to all the teachers a task which involved the creation of an original, five-minute film in the form of a travelogue. After the lunch break all participants visited the historical village of Trakai, situated next to a lake with a fascinating island castle. Here, they used their smartphones to shoot characteristic scenes.
On the third day of the LTT, the participants visited the Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania where they attended a lecture by Kristina Stankeviciute entitled: The media and ideology/propaganda/publicity. Then, after a short coffee break, they visited the Parliament, where two members of parliament, one belonging to the government and the other to the opposition, presented specific examples of propaganda related to the safety of their country. After lunch, everyone attended a lecture by the First Secretary of the Croatian Embassy, Berislav Živkovič, entitled: Discerning fake news and propaganda in the media. Theory and practice, followed by discussion. The activities of the third day ended with the shooting of scenes in the historic centre of Vilnius.
The activities of the fourth day took place in the centre of Vilnius, in the film editing laboratory of the Creative Industries Faculty, of VGTU. After a two-hour lecture by Arturas Kavaliauskas, during which participants were presented and became familiar with the features of the film editing software, they tried to utilize the software to edit the scenes they had shot and create a film. Their effort was successful since even the most inexperienced managed to create a short film. Finally, after lunch, in the same laboratory, a representative of NGO Meno Avilys joined the group initiating a critical discussion of the films made.
The activities of the final day took place again in the centre of Vilnius, in the library of the Creative Industries Faculty, of VGTU, where Kristina Stankeviciute lectured them on the subject of: Media and social responsibility. Ethical questions. Here, after lunch the first LTT was completed with the signing and presentation to all participants of the certificates of attendance and Europasses.
All in all, this five-day training on media and digital literacy proved fascinating. It was the first step in our effort to gain the necessary means that will help us create the “Media and Society” curriculum and methodological material for its implementation in class, which is the main goal of our joint effort. The organising of the LTT by Vilnius Salomeja Neris gymnasium and VGTU were of an exceptionally high standard. All members of the Lithuanian team welcomed us cordially and generously offered their time and effort to host this event.
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