Special Interest Groups

Special Interest Group on Use of Media in Higher Education

This SIG focuses on the use of media in higher education and brings together members with a specific interest in this topic.

Activities and Opportunities for SIG Members:

• Advisory Committee Participation: Members are invited to join the Advisory Committee, playing a key role in developing the agenda for the annual Media & Learning Conference and online events.
• Workshops and Seminars: Members actively contribute to the programme of online workshops and seminars organised by and for the community, focusing on specific topics of interest.
• MLA European Projects: Members have the opportunity to be directly involved in MLA European projects related to media in higher education, with the current project being TransACTION!
• Collaborative Project Proposals: SIG members are encouraged to collaboratively prepare project proposals that leverage the potential of media in educational contexts. The MLA acts as a platform for finding partners, brainstorming ideas, and incubating projects.
• Newsletter Contributions: Members are invited contribute articles and other content to the monthly newsletter, focusing on media in higher education.
• Research and Project Support: For members conducting research or managing projects in this area, the MLA provides a platform to gather input and disseminate findings.
• Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration: A dedicated mailing list and Teams environment support knowledge sharing and collaboration among members on topics related to media in higher education.

SIG Chair

Lucy Kendra, Heriot-Watt Online, UK

Special Interest Group on AI in Higher Education

This SIG focuses on exploring how AI can be used to enhance teaching and learning, identifying ethical considerations related to the use of AI in education and brings together members with a specific interest in this topic. It will take a particular interest in the role of AI in media supported teaching and learning.

Activities and Opportunities for SIG Members:

• Advisory Committee Participation: Members are invited to join the Advisory Committee, playing a key role in developing the agenda for the annual Media & Learning Conference and online events.
• Workshops and Seminars: Members actively contribute to the programme of online workshops and seminars organised by and for the community, focusing on specific topics of interest.
• MLA European Projects: Members have the opportunity to be directly involved in MLA European projects related to AI in higher education, with the current project being TaLAI
• Collaborative Project Proposals: SIG members are encouraged to collaboratively prepare project proposals that leverage the potential of AI in educational contexts. The MLA acts as a platform for finding partners, brainstorming ideas, and incubating projects.
• Newsletter Contributions: Members are invited contribute articles and other content to the monthly newsletter, focusing on AI in higher education.
• Research and Project Support: For members conducting research or managing projects in this area, the MLA provides a platform to gather input and disseminate findings.
• Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration: A dedicated mailing list and Teams environment support knowledge sharing and collaboration among members on topics related to AI in higher education.

SIG Chair

Andy Thys, KU Leuven, Belgium

Special Interest Group on XR in Higher Education

This SIG is organised jointly between MLA and XRERA, an initiative set up by the Centre for Innovation, Leiden University. It is responsible for organising relevant online knowledge exchange sessions on XR in education to members as well as shaping part of the annual Media & Learning conference on the topic of XR.

Activities and Opportunities for SIG Members:

• Advisory Committee Participation: Members are invited to join the Advisory Committee, playing a key role in developing the agenda for the annual Media & Learning Conference and online events.
• Workshops and Seminars: Members actively contribute to the programme of online workshops and seminars organised by and for the community, focusing on specific topics of interest.
• Collaborative Project Proposals: SIG members are encouraged to collaboratively prepare project proposals that leverage the potential of XR in educational contexts. The MLA acts as a platform for finding partners, brainstorming ideas, and incubating projects.
• Newsletter Contributions: Members are invited contribute articles and other content to the monthly newsletter, focusing on XR in higher education.
• Research and Project Support: For members conducting research or managing projects in this area, the MLA provides a platform to gather input and disseminate findings.
• Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration: A dedicated mailing list and Teams environment support knowledge sharing and collaboration among members on topics related to XR in higher education.

SIG Chair

Monika Theron, Leiden University, The Netherlands

Special Interest Group on Digital and Media Literacy

This SIG focuses on the topic of digital media education and literacy at large and brings together members with a specific interest in this topic.

Current activities of this SIG include:

• Community Space: Operating a dedicated mailing list and Teams environment on the topic of digital and media literacy, open to members wishing to share knowledge and collaborate on topics of mutual interest.
• Wednesday Webinars: Organising the Wednesday Webinar series of online sessions, open to all, on the topic of digital and media literacy.
• European Projects: Direct involvement in MLA European projects related to digital and media literacy, including SMILES, EDUmake, BIK+, and EDMO2. See projects page.
• Newsletter Contributions: Contributing articles and other content to the monthly newsletter on the topic of digital and media literacy.
• Social Media Engagement: Engaging in MLA social media channels on the topic of digital and media literacy.
• Representation: Representing MLA in relevant conferences, networks, focus groups, organisations, and forums, including EMIL, EPRA, ERGA, and the different expert groups set up by the European Commission.
• Virtual Workshops: Conducting members-only practical workshops on effective media literacy training, starting in 2025.
• Policy Inputs: Providing policy inputs and contributions at the EU level on Digital and Media Literacy in Europe.

SIG Chair

Andy Demeulenaere, Mediawijs, Belgium

Special Interest Group on Teacher Education in Digital Media Literacy

This SIG focuses on teacher training and education specifically in media literacy, bringing together teacher trainers and educators (in-service and pre-service) across Europe. Created during the TeaMLit project, it currently has 75 members.

Current activities of this SIG include:

• Community Space: Operating a dedicated mailing list and Teams environment on teacher education and training, open to members wishing to share knowledge and collaborate on topics of mutual interest.
• Informal Training Sessions: Hosting sessions reserved for SIG members, featuring speaker presentations, exchanges of best practices, open discussions, and sharing of resources.
• Cross-Border Collaboration: Facilitating cross-border exchanges and collaboration between trainers, brainstorming new teacher education programs and EU projects.
• Newsletter Contributions: Contributing articles and other content to the monthly newsletter.
• Social Media Engagement: Engaging in MLA social media channels.
• Representation: Representing MLA in relevant conferences, networks, focus groups, organizations, and forums, including EMIL, EPRA, ERGA, and the different expert groups set up by the European Commission.
• Policy Inputs: Providing policy inputs and contributions at the EU level on teacher training gaps and needs in media literacy in Europe.