The media education has several approaches. These approaches complete each other. One way to see the different approaches connected is to present those as a solution for the problems which can arise from other approaches.
See figure. The circle of problems in media education
Instrumental Media Education
- To see positively the use of media, it can enhance the learning and creative work e.g. in schools. This emphasises the instrumental perspective of media.
- The children are seen as active operators.
- The problem is that it is hard to control e.g. the misuse of internet.
Restrictive Media Education
- To avoid the misuse, we can increase control over children’s media comsumption.
- However, this will passivate children.
- The protection from the media might be impossible nowadays and the present atmosphere in education does not find strict control sensible.
Predictive Media Education
- When educator thinks s/he knows how to tutor a child to access, analyse, evaluate and use media sensibly, the media education is predictive.
- The children should have a critical attitude towards media presentations.
- The problem is to define how to be critical which usually requires the skills and understanding of media (instrumental media education).