With the growing awareness of the need for media education comes also an increased demand for professional development for educators. While many approaches to professional development exist around the world, media literacy education often includes perspectives that reflect its interdisciplinary nature, at the intersection of education and communication. Accordingly, the content, format, structure, delivery and target audiences may vary. Effective professional development is situational and contextual, reflecting the institutional structures of both primary education and higher education. In this panel discussion, we gather a group of experts from Europe and the United States to explore these questions: Why is a community of learners important for media education? How is a community of learners cultivated through PD efforts? What kinds of content, format, and delivery models are most effective? What insights have emerged from navigating the institutional structures of primary and higher education to advance learning communities for media literacy education? What are the most significant challenges still to be overcome in fostering a community of learners?

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Media Education,Professional development,Community of learners