MediaMasters: a record of >160.000 children

During the Media Literacy Week (from November 4 to 12), MediaMasters took place, the serious game about the opportunities and dangers of (digital) media.

A new record

A record number of > 160,000 pupils from group 7 and 8 from regular and special education participated in MediaMasters this year. They playfully built up knowledge about media-wise topics such as WhatsApp, privacy, online bullying, fake news, gaming and more.

During Media Literacy Week, the children tried to earn as many bits (points) as possible at home and at school by completing MediaMissions, answering media quizzes and playing extra games at home. The first five weekly missions were played over 27,000 times, with over 200,000 mission questions answered. In total, more than 3,000,000 questions were answered and 45,000,000 bits were earned. During the peaks we had no less than 20,000 simultaneous users and the class that managed to earn the most bits was named 'Most media savvy class of the Netherlands'.

The children from group 7 of Het Startblok elementary school in Oude-Tonge can call themselves the 'Most media-savvy class in the Netherlands', because they earned the most bits. MediaMasters was also played in special (primary) education. The episodes were digitally accessible and supported by sign language and subtitles, so that hearing-impaired children could also participate. A version with audio description was available for visually impaired children. In special education, Klas Bovenbouw 2 from the Aventurijn in Volendam won the special education competition.

Outgoing Minister Arie Slob (Education and Media) also visited the reformed De Fakkel elementary school in Almelo during the Media Literacy Week. There he talked to the children about media literacy and the theme Samen Sociaal Online (Socially Together Online).