Developing children’s algorithmic literacies through curatorship as media literacy

Children in current times are likely to encounter algorithms, particularly recommendation systems, as part of their everyday media experiences. In this paper we consider children’s use of algorithms from a media literacy perspective, namely through curatorship practices. We detail a pilot workshop where children had opportunities to develop understandings and critically reflect on algorithms through non-digital media production. Children engaged in the process of curation through a series of activities where they took photos and then curated these images in a variety of ways. The activity provided opportunities for the children to critically reflect on algorithms, specifically recommendation systems, in ways that moved them beyond experience. One part of the pilot was to consider the inter-relations evident between digital and more traditional texts, materials and resources and the opportunities afforded when diverse materials and tools are brought together in the one event. The pilot explored different activities to help participants consider how algorithms are part of, and impact, their everyday literacy and media practices.