For two days, we conducted our Digital Arts For All (DAFA) sessions with the upper sec Art students. They were new to using Apple Pencils and Procreate but were more than happy to try their hands at creating digital art, a different medium for them.
Some of the students chose to push themselves to utilise the wide variety of tools and we received some stunning pieces! They were open to asking what message on media literacy they could add to their digital art drawings, but after receiving advice from the trainers they were able to understand the main brief of the session. Because the core of DAFA was for the students to truly comprehend the meaning of being safe, smart and kind online.
Just last month, The Straits Times reported on a “record number of scams in 2020” where Singaporeans have lost more than $201 million, which means there’s been over 15,700 cases.
One of the Top 10 scam types was social media impersonation scams and it’s a serious concern when Make The Change works with youths. It’s why “Be Smart” is one of Digital Arts For All (DAFA)’s three foundational values.
And when we celebrated Safer Internet Day (Feb 9), which is a reminder to us on the serious dangers that come with our overuse of technology, which include hacked social media accounts, dangerous trending challenges, fake news and cyberbullying. Unless we are directly affected by them, we don’t realise how awful they can be.
But that shouldn’t deter us from using it once we receive the right education.
That is precisely why our DFG Youth Competition design brief this year is the Better Internet Campaign, which is all about creating a safer and better internet for everyone. We are open for submissions and close on June 15.
Schools that wish to enter will get a complimentary 2-hour Digital Arts and Cyberwellness Workshop for your students.
“At this digital arts workshop, there are no crayons and paper. Instead, participants create drawings on iPads, and also pick up media literacy skills along the way.” - Read more at TODAY ONLINE