Towards a Conceptual Model of Media Education: A Finnish Perspective

Abstract

<p>Over the past couple of decades, media education has evolved from a relatively novel area of study to become an established and thriving field which has captured the attention of scholars, educators, stakeholders, and policy makers worldwide. Media education elements such as media literacy, digital literacy, and digital citizenship have become somewhat familiar terms and have grown into burgeoning fields of study in their own right. Over the years, there has been a wealth of literature and theories centred around media education, fuelled by the exponential growth of online and digital media, constantly advancing digital technology, and an ever-evolving media landscape. Despite this, there seems to be a void in the literature when it comes to the conceptualization of media education and its many elements in a way which encapsulates and unifies the various theories and schools of thought. This paper is an attempt to fill that gap and provide an illustrative, concise, and cohesive conceptual model of media education based on media education theories in the Nordic tradition, as viewed from a Finnish perspective. It aims to contribute towards the theoretical understanding of media education as a concept, as well as provide a comprehensive description of media education from a Finnish perspective for students, educators, and policy makers.</p>