MediaEd Dialogues:
A Forum for Dialogue and Discussion

In these two sessions, the floor is open and everyone learns from everyone! This convening uses a "question generation" protocol to discover what people in the session want to talk about. We first establish some ground rules to ensure that our discussion is authentic and useful to all participants. 

After creating a list of questions, people choose which topics they wish to discuss and we break into small groups for dialogue and discussion. In the synthesis component of the session, we reflect on insights gained, generate new questions for future consideration, and thank the people who shared their perspectives as members of our online learning community. 


View a detailed conference schedule

Overcoming Media Trauma through Media Literacy in Ukraine 

Friday, January 10, 3pm EST | 8pm GMT


During the session, experts of the IREX in Ukraine project "Learn to Discern in Education" (L2D-Ed) will share their experience of combining psycho-emotional health practices with media literacy. In the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, coping with anxiety and fear are among the top needs for Ukrainians. L2D-Ed supports teachers in addressing healthy media consumption in wartime and mitigating media trauma, both for themselves and students.  Project interventions such as Teacher’s Guide, webinars and training modules are based on unique qualitative and quantitative research among teachers and students conducted by L2D-Ed during 2023-2024. 

The activities and products that will be presented are a key part of helping educators and their students stay resilient against negative media effects during wartime and use media as a resource for managing their own emotional well-being. 

Strand Facilitator: Maryna Dorosh, Olena Taranenko & Daiana Iskander

Maryna Dorosh is a Senior Technical Advisor of the Learn to Discern project. Maryna leads the implementation of a media literacy program that has to date, reached more than 2,000 schools. Maryna has 11 years of experience in content development and project management; key areas of expertise include strategic communications; countering propaganda, disinformation and hate speech. 

 

Olena Taranenko as a Capacity Building manager of L2D Ukraine, is responsible for the development and adaptation of MIL curricula and training materials for educators and the general public. Olena is a Ph.D. in Philology, an associate professor in journalism, media expert, and trainer on media literacy and interactive teaching methodology.  


Daiana Iskander has nine years of MEL experience with local and international organizations, including IREX, Chemonics, and UNHCR. Her expertise spans media literacy, governance, and humanitarian response. At L2D Ukraine, she manages MEL systems, leads evaluation strategies, and analyzes the impact of teacher training on students' skills. 

Courageous Dialogues

Saturday, January 11, 8am PST | 11am EST | 4pm GMT | IST​​​​​​​ 9:30pm with Pam Steager

Saturday, January 11, 12pm PST | 3pm EST | 8pm GMT |(on January 12)  IST​​​​​​​ 1:30am with Renee Hobbs​​​


Community conversations to counter disinformation, enhance civic participation, and improve media literacy 

Find Common Ground: Courageous RI, with support from the Department of Homeland Security, works to prevent rising violence and extremism with authentic and respectful conversation. 

Build Media Literacy Skills for a Lifetime: By engaging with Courageous RI Journey, you will access practical tools and support that increase tolerance, problem solving, and appreciation of other points of view. We help people to ask the right questions and empower them to be more informed.

Stay Curious, Not Furious: Thinking critically about what we hear, read, and see is important for people of every background, across the political spectrum. It is an ongoing process of listening, learning, and reflecting that has the power to stop hate in our communities.

Strand Facilitator: Renee Hobbs  & Pamela Steager

As a trailblazing educator, author, and media literacy advocate, Renee Hobbs has dedicated her life to empowering individuals of all ages to navigate the complex landscape of information, entertainment, and persuasion. With a career spanning decades, Renee has been a leading voice in the field of media literacy, tirelessly promoting critical thinking, digital citizenship, and media creation skills. Her passion is infectious, and her expertise unparalleled. Renee Hobbs offers insights that unlock the power of media literacy for all. Discover how to decode propaganda, use the power of fair use for digital learning, and cultivate a discerning mind as you create media to deepen learning. 



Pam Steager is the Director of Community Engagement for COURAGEOUS RI, a Media Education Lab initiative that brings people together for interactive information and conversation to counter disinformation, enhance civic participation, and improve media literacy for students, educators, and the general public. Pam’s forty-year career in the prevention, education, and human service fields included directing substance abuse and violence prevention programs in school systems, communities, and prisons, which led to her interest in media literacy. With co-authors Renee Hobbs and Liz Deslauriers, she wrote The Library Screen Scene, a book on film and media programs in school and public libraries, published by Oxford University Press in 2019.