The Media & Learning Association (MLA) or to give it its full name the MEDEA: MEDIA & LEARNING ivzw is an international, not-for-profit association set up in 2012 under Belgian law to promote and stimulate the use of media as a way to enhance innovation and creativity in teaching and learning across all levels of education in Europe. Members include national and regional agencies charged with the promotion of innovation in teaching and learning as well as universities, ministries of education and schools’ networks.
The Media & Learning Association has three different types of members:
At present the most important activities of the association are:
- The organisation of the annual Media & Learning Conference which is run each year in collaboration with partners who have included in the past the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training and KU Leuven. These conferences attract on average 300 participants mostly from Europe.
- The organisation of online events including the Online Media & Learning Conference series focused largely on Higher Education, the Media Literacy webinar series and Media & Learning Workshops aimed at our members and others in specific areas, e.g. meeting the requirements of the new EU Accessibility guidelines, sharing best practice during the pandemic, working with 360 degree video, etc..
- The organisation of the annual MEDEA Awards, which recognises excellence in the use of media to support learning
The main governing body of the Media & Learning Association is the Management Board which meets on a monthly basis and which is responsible for all major decisions including the approval of new members. This board is elected on an annual basis at the Association’s AGM. Day-to-day management of the association is the responsibility of Sally Reynolds, the Association’s Chief Operating Officer.
The work of the association is organised through Special Interest Groups (SIGs). These are standing committees that include different members of the association and which both direct and provide input and support the work of the association in different areas. Read more about the SIGs here.
The association’s main communication channel is the Media and Learning News site which highlights general news and information about the use of media and film in education and training across all sectors. It also carries news about the various events and initiatives organised by the Media & Learning Association. A monthly Media and Learning Newsletter is published which includes a digest of current items from the news site, this newsletter is sent out to more than 10,000 readers.
The association provides a European project facilitation and knowledge sharing service for its members including network facilitation. This includes participation in European supported projects and SIGs on topics related to the innovative use of media in teaching and learning. Visit our Projects page to see in which projects the association is currently involved.
The association is represented in several European-wide initiatives and expert communities such as EDMO , EMIL – the Media and Information Literacy Taskforce of EPRA, the European Commission expert group to tackle disinformation and promote digital literacy through education and training and the Media Literacy Experts Group of the European Commission.
MEDEA : MEDIA & LEARNING ivzw
Leuvensesteenweg 132, 3370 Roosbeek, Belgium
Telephone: +32 16 28 40 40
E-mail: info@media-and-learning.eu
