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Nov 6, 2025
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Jul 23, 2026
Published
Aug 17, 2026
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Abstract

The relationship between adolescents and digital technologies is a widely debated topic, often framed in terms of prohibitionist approaches on one hand, and digital empowerment on the other. However, as digital engagement becomes an integral part of everyday life, fostering critical thinking and responsible media use appears more effective than restrictive strategies. This paper presents a Media Education project aimed at empowering adolescents in their use of digital tools. The educational intervention was conducted in a lower secondary school, involving 238 students, and included interactive classroom sessions, debates, and playful activities such as video games and avatar creation. The pedagogical approach prioritised active student participation over traditional top-down instruction. A final questionnaire assessed both student satisfaction and the skills acquired. Results from correlation analysis and MANOVA indicate that interactive and playful activities significantly contributed to overall course satisfaction. These findings support recent theories suggesting that playful, participatory learning environments enhance students’ motivation and interest, promoting their immersion in educational contexts.

Keywords

Media Education Media Literacy Digital Technologies Adolescents School Intervention

Article Details

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How to Cite
Serraiocco, S., Pinetti, S., Cadamuro, A., & Bisagno, E. (2026). Media Education in a lower secondary school: a path to Digital Empowerment. Journal of E-Learning and Knowledge Society, 22(2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.20368/1971-8829/1136266

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