Media driver's license at the Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium: Student Fit for the network!

Media driver's license at the Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium: Student Fit for the network!

At the Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium in Nossen, media literacy is very important: All students of the 5th and 6th grades acquire the media license here, an integral part of the school prevention concept since the 2019/20 school year. This initiative aims to prepare students not only on exams, but also for real life. Dr. Bert Xylander, headmaster of the high school, emphasizes that the school has a good hand to support the children in their development and to equip them for the challenges of the digital world, because after all, trust between students and teachers is very popular in this regard. In this context, children have started to address problems independently and to reflect on their media use.

The media driver's license includes a comprehensive workshop that goes over two years. Topics such as data protection, fake news, social media, artificial intelligence, cyber grooming and cyberbullying are treated here. Once a week, the classes come together for an approximately eight -week rhythm to work together in teams on interesting projects and carry out facts. At the end of the 6th grade, the students have to take an exam in order to receive the coveted certificate. This enables you to use the smartphone from the 7th grade in certain areas - but only after class!

cell phone rights and responsibility

The school rules for cell phone use were recently adjusted. While students of the 5th and 6th grades are not allowed to use their devices during school, the older classes have a little more freedom from the 10th and are allowed to use their cell phones during breaks. In the case of parents' evenings, great emphasis is placed on informing the parents about the media use of their children. More and more parents feel overwhelmed and are starting to actively monitor their children's screen times. School social worker Susann Horn reports that this exchange makes enormous progress to strengthen media literacy and that parents are an important pillar in school education.

A comparable initiative is the Bavarian media license, which provides teachers free of charge for strengthening media literacy. These entertaining and varied teaching materials include topics such as copyright, social media and digital play. Here a gradual competence formation is offered on an online learning platform called Mebis. In addition, teachers test the lessons before publication to secure quality. This community work between educators and the Bavarian state government has proven to be extremely useful since 2009, and not only schools benefit from the education initiatives, but also all educational institutions, also in the special education field.

The role of AI in media education

Another important topic in today's media education is how to deal with artificial intelligence (AI). The relationship between man and AI has long been considered dystopian. But the discussion has changed: more and more are being asked which values should flow into the AI. Unlike in the past, the focus is now on the critical argument. Educational offers that deal with the analysis and understanding of AI generated content are becoming increasingly important. It is pointed out that such technologies, if they are based on the existing data, can reproduce social injustices.

The current media landscape forces schools to redesign teaching content and ensure that the students develop the necessary skills to deal with these tools. The media driver's license makes a valuable contribution, especially since the quality of the applications often depends on the background of the developers. Therefore, comprehensive workshops and discussions about artificial intelligence in school education are crucial.

Overall, the commitment of the Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium and similar initiatives in Bavaria reflects an important step towards future-oriented education. Media literacy is no longer considered isolated, but as an integral part of the promotion of social skills, critical thinking and responsible action in the digital world. The results are promising and it is clear: the schools assume the challenge of making young people fit for the digital future.