MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES ON MEDIA LITERACY AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF MEDIA EDUCATION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

The article explores the use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in media education for high school students, which is particularly relevant in the context of current trends in digitalization, globalization, gamification, the spread of disinformation, and the implementation of online programs and courses for youth education in a digital environment. The enhancement of media education for Ukrainian youth is also critical due to the ongoing information war, which has been waged since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict (the annexation of Crimea, the armed conflict in Donbas, and the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022). The aim of the article is to review MOOCs in media literacy as a modern tool for media education for senior high school students. The research methods include: analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, which forms the theoretical basis of the study; analysis and comparison of existing e-learning platforms and MOOCs; identifying their common and distinguishing features; and summarizing descriptions of specific MOOCs, their structure, and content. The abbreviation MOOC is explained: “massive” refers to the broad range of interests that a course covers, as well as the ability to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously; “open” indicates free access to the course or its content; “online” characterizes the way the course is delivered via the internet; “course” means a specially organized learning program with specified time intervals, providing access to resources that help achieve the learning goals and outcomes. The structure and content of online courses such as “Media Literacy for Educators”, “Media Literacy: Practical Skills”, “Very Verified: Online Course in Media Literacy”, “Fact-check: Trust, but Verify”, “News Literacy”, “Express Media Literacy for Teens” and “Online Course in Fakeology” are examined. It is noted that such courses provide ample opportunities for developing media literacy, fact-checking skills, critical thinking, the ability to logically justify one’s position, as well as enhancing digital and communication competencies and the skills to engage in lifelong learning.