IOE academic discusses youth provision and digital literacy in a global age

Dr John Potter from the UCL Knowledge Lab attended the Young Connected Creative Master Symposium (YCCMS) at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia last week, where he spoke about the challenges of youth provision in the 21st century and new conceptions of digital and media literacy.

The Symposium aimed to advance collaboration, project development and possible research networks in the area of childhood and youth studies, digital literacies and learning.

Dr Potter, Reader in Media in Education, spoke about three key concepts: Dynamic Literacies, Third Spaces and Digital Curation, drawing on his recent work in the field and connecting this with the major themes of the meeting.

The conference brought together diverse perspectives to describe, theorise and imagine how to address the current crises of youth provision. Keynote speakers highlighted new research trajectories, with a special focus on the development of alternative or third spaces of youth provision that have emerged (or are emerging) in gaming environments, informal learning sectors, libraries and other public spaces.

The symposium featured a number of presentations, workshops and public engagement activities in Melbourne. Keynote speakers included former IOE academic Dr Rebekah Willett, Professor Soo Ah Kwon from the University of Urbana Champaign and Professor Kristiina Kumpulainen from the University of Helsinki.

Delegates explored questions such as how and where 'digital literacy' is changing the terms and conditions of cultural production, learning, identity and social and political engagement. They also looked at the ways in which out of school institutions such as libraries, museums and youth services are responding to changes in youth provision.

Earlier this month, Dr Potter discussed his research with Professor Neil Selwyn from Monash University in Melbourne, as part of its 'Meet the Researcher' series.

John also gave a keynote speech on dynamic literacies and digital media education at the Evens Foundation's 'Media Meets Literacy' event in Sarajevo last month. The event focused on the increase of fake news, misinformation and propaganda that has been prevalent on social media over the past few years, and focused on ways that citizens can become critical users of the media.

As chairman of the Evens Foundation Jury, he awarded their media education prize to Zalab, a project that works with refugees and marginalised communities in Rome.

Links

• Listen to the podcast: Dr John Potter speaks with Monash University
• Dr John Potter's research profile
• UCL Knowledge Lab