The Role of Media Literacy in the Professional Training of Educators

Abstract

The primary goal of any educational system is to prepare the younger generation for active and full-fledged participation in various spheres of social life. To achieve this goal, the educational process focuses on developing five key competencies that collectively help future professionals successfully adapt to the demands of the modern labor market and realize their potential in the information society. Among these competencies, information literacy holds a special place, defined as the ability and willingness to effectively use modern information sources in professional and everyday activities. This competency encompasses a wide range of skills, including searching for necessary information, assessing its reliability, processing, storing, and applying it to solve various tasks. This study examines the role of media literacy in the professional training of educators, emphasizing its integration into the educational process. Mixed research methods were employed, including qualitative analysis of literary sources and quantitative surveys. 117 school and university teachers from the South Kazakhstan region took part in the survey. The results indicate a significant gap between educators' theoretical understanding and practical skills in media literacy, underscoring the need for targeted professional development in this area. Based on the analysis, recommendations are proposed for integrating media literacy into teacher training programs and organizing short-term professional development courses to address identified gaps and promote critical use of media in the educational environment.

Key words: media literacy, professional training, educators, educational process, critical thinking, media information