By Fr. Joseph Phan Trung Hoan, SDB

       EAO Zoom, 07/04/2022 -- Following the schedule of the SSSC (Salesian School of Social Communication) for the second online Layer of Formation for 2022, the topic focused on: “Digital and Media Literacy: Why Does It Matter?” It was animated by Sister Maria Nguyen Anh Thi, FMA, Coordinator of the SOCOM Sector of Vietnam province. 37 participants joined in the online session.

       After the welcome greetings from Fr Ambrose Pereira, the EAO Coordinator of Social Communication, Sr Maria briefly introduced herself and her studies on Media Literacy Education. She then presented some definitions and their comparisons in order to clarify, “what is digital and media literacy?”.

       She also invited the participants to reflect and share on the first part of her presentation. It was an excellent atmosphere of interaction among the members of the EAO region. There is the need to understand each setting well. She continued her presentation about the important role of digital and media literacy highlighting the fact that the young generations are growing up with greater access to media and new technologies as well as greater media impact in our daily lives.

       After that, she shared the common concern about using digital and media among digitally active Salesians in effective ways. In the conclusion she said, “Being Salesian educators who accompany young people in a media-rich world as today, it is important to improve ourselves and our students on digital and media literacy in our contexts. This process of learning and achieving digital and media literacy competencies enable us and young people to be critical media consumers and to participate in digital media in wise, safe and ethical ways. This in turn helps us and young people to take advantage of all forms of media in study, work fields, entertainment, education and evangelization”.

       After the second part of the presentation, the participants were divided in small groups to share with each other ‘a little bit the program of our schools, or provinces, or countries on digital and media literacy education.’ Then, the representative of each group shared her/his group work for assembly.

       The Zoom meeting closed after two hours in an atmosphere of joy with greater knowledge on a very relevant topic. The next session will be on 12 May about “Art of listening in a communication process” by Fr Jaroslav Vracoyský, SDB from Mongolia.

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