Abstract:

The paper aims to show the importance and relevance of using media in schools as a way for working and developing the necessary skills for citizens of the 21st century. In this context, the authors particularly highlight the use of film education in educational environments, drawing on initiatives and existing projects to point skills and abilities that can be worked directly thanks to these film education activities. On the other hand, the research emphasizes the need for teacher training that takes into account this development of new skills in students through the use of media education, given their benefits and advantages over several very important factors in the educational context. At the methodological level, the research uses relevant literature and desk research concerning three conceptual fields: i) New skills for 21st century; ii) Different topics and issues in relation to the role of schools and teachers in this context; and iii) a set of film education initiatives that help to visualise how media can be a tool for improving students skills. Given this, the paper concludes that it is essential to consider several dimensions in teacher training in order to achieve that teachers can use media content in the classroom. In this way, several topics are briefly suggested and proposed: awareness on 21st century skills; social innovation techniques; knowledge management among teachers; creative classrooms thanks to media devices; efficiency and sustainability of media education initiatives; and open educational contexts that help to enlarge the current roles of teachers in schools.

Keywords:

skills, media education, teacher training, film education, formal education.