The project goal was to create a toolbox for primary teachers with various tools that would help to integrate media and information literacy topics in their teaching and learning activities through engaging means. To achieve the goal, several objectives needed: - the toolbox needed to address multiple MIL topics and contextualise the learning to be meaningful for primary students; - the tools required to be practice-oriented would be easy to apply in different learning situations and contexts. - all tools must be complemented with guidance for teachers to provide them with basic knowledge of MIL (learning material) and good examples showing how different topics can be integrated into different subject knowledge activities. - a learning community among the teachers so they could share challenges and successes.
Research conducted in Lithuania showed that 95% of 1-5-year-olds have at least half an hour of screen time daily. In the same study, 40% of parents said their children use the internet, i.e. YouTube. This means that primary students are more exposed to the content they get online, but there is usually no formal teaching in primary education related to media and information literacy (MIL) (Frau-Meigs et al., 2017). Teachers in primary education may not have the necessary experience to critically assess a particular tool's pedagogical implications and be familiar with the ethical issues such platforms raise for student data privacy (Foulger, Wetzel, & Buss, 2019). The main project target groups are primary education TEACHERS and primary STUDENTS. TEACHERS needed relevant knowledge, practical, ready-made teaching materials, various educational tools, and guidance on basic MIL knowledge. PRIMARY STUDENTS needed attractive learning methods to keep their attention and focus. MIL skills acquisition should be tailored to their experience and connected with their life situations. Else, it will not be relevant.