Abstract:

The paper deals with the methods of informal learning of users of the Czech-Slovak Film Database – www.csfd.cz (presently with more than 200 thousand registered users from the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic). The article also shows experience with the pedagogic research performed by means of the database. Csfd.cz is a place where the film fans meet to collect information in the field of films and discuss it. Csfd.cz is a smooth connection and feedback between fans and the academic world, and between the world of filmmakers and reviewers. Former fans have become experts in their fields (film magazine editors or academicians easily collecting data for their articles or scientific studies). The fans are the respondents of our research and are looking forward to the results. The internet database mediates in ideal way the individual phases of open education: the motivation of an individual to watch a program; it facilitates the program selection and by publishing reviews and comments, the users learn to critically evaluate, compare and analyse a media product. The results also provide information about how the users train the media literacy and social communication.

Keywords:

Open education, informal learning, media literacy, lifelong learning, academic research, web questionnaire, virtual discussions.