How should media literacy be taught in schools?

In an era of information overload and disinformation, ensuring students’ information security and developing their critical thinking have become key priorities. As social networks and digital platforms become an integral part of daily life, the need to teach media literacy in schools is the subject of growing discussion.

Would it be more appropriate to teach these skills as a separate subject or integrate them into existing subjects, such as computer science and Azerbaijani language? How prepared are Azerbaijan’s education system and teaching staff to raise awareness in this area?

Speaking to “Operative Information Center-OMM”, Emrah Hasanli, chair of the Education Workers’ Solidarity Alliance (TIHA) and an education expert, said media literacy had become not an additional skill but a necessity:

“Students today encounter hundreds of pieces of information every day on social networks and internet platforms. The main issue is not the volume of information, but the ability to determine how accurate and reliable it is. Students must be able to distinguish fact from opinion, verify sources and recognize disinformation.”

The education expert also discussed the most suitable model for teaching media literacy, saying he favored a blended approach:

“As for whether media literacy should be taught as a separate subject or integrated into existing subjects, I favor a blended model. For example, students can analyze texts in Azerbaijani language classes and work on digital safety and assessing the reliability of information in computer science classes. At the same time, a separate subject could give students the opportunity to acquire this knowledge systematically.”

Hasanli also stressed the importance of teacher preparation and strengthening staffing capacity:

“Teacher training is particularly important here. Practical training should be held for teachers, and modern teaching materials should be developed. Teaching media literacy is not simply about explaining how to use the internet; it is also about developing students’ critical thinking.”