Ohrid, 16 August 2023 (MIA) - Media Literacy Tech Camp for educators interested in incorporating technology and media literacy skills into their teaching practice takes place from August 16-19 in Ohrid.

The TechCamp is organized by Center for innovations and digital education DIG-ED, the United States Embassy in North Macedonia, and the U.S. Department of State’s TechCamp team from DC for Macedonian teachers from all subject areas in primary education.

The TechCamp will focus on training teachers from all over the country in media literacy and cybersecurity skills to counter mis- and disinformation in schools, improve social cohesion among different ethnicities and support youth development.

During the TechCamp 40 teachers will be trained in media literacy education, and cyber security to create the open educational resources in local language.

“One of the best ways to counter misinformation is for people to develop the skills to recognize it and become media literate,” said Jessica McCue, senior program manager at the TechCamp.

“At these trainings, we work to strengthen personal skills and capacities through training sessions so that the teachers get to know the training itself. Then there are exercises and a process of recognizing the challenges, as well as presenting ideas and projects that could be useful in countering disinformation, for which small grants are also provided. With them, teachers will learn about challenges and ways to deal with them, as well as find projects that would be interesting and relevant to our environment,” she said.

Her colleague, Nolan Herrin, said that the trainers who will lead the camp will give lectures on experiences and practices on issues in the field of cyber-security, artificial intelligence as a global issue, the issue of digital literacy.

TechCamp is a hands-on, participant-driven workshop that connect private sector technology experts with key populations — journalists, non-governmental organizations, civil society advocates, and more — to explore and apply innovative tech solutions to global issues. TechCamp is focused on results, with participants identifying real-world challenges and working in partnership with trainers to apply technology solutions to these challenges. It also includes ongoing impact-oriented programs and efforts to help participants implement their projects post-workshop and stay connected and engaged with each other and trainers/subject-matter experts. 

Photo: MIA