Technology Enhanced Learning as a tool for eInclusion and Media

Scholarly Essay from the year 2010 in the subject Communications - Journalism, Journalism Professions, printed single-sided, grade: keine, -, language: English, abstract: Bernadette Maria Kaufmann TEL as a tool for eInclusion and Media Abstract In this contribution I try to show off the importance of eInclusion out of two perspectives - the first perspective is taking a look at school: Students from all social backgrounds must have the possibility of developing at least good competencies in ICT and the use of online-learning tools. Apart from that it's important that the development of good media-competencies becomes part of the curriculum in schools. Schools should feel obliged to help students develop media-competencies as well as develop knowledge in maths, ethics or biology! I start with the example of a student's learning situation in a private school, then in contrast going on with illuminating most students' situation in public schools. Both scenes are taken from Austria and seem comparable to the experience realm of most European students aged 6 to 18 years. Then I consider a constructivist view of learning as an adequate pedagogic strategy for "new schools" that aim at helping students develop good competence in ICT and media perception. Media have come to play an immanent role in our society. We cannot ignore that students should learn how to make good use of media (online media as well as so-called traditional media like e.g. TV!) and become able to recognise chances and risks. The second perspective is dealing with the inclusion of poverty as a topic. The poor shall not remain "invisible" - as well as students from all social backgrounds should have the chance to get a good education, poverty should be a topic that's presented in media in an authentic way.