MediaSmarts is a Canadian not-for-profit centre for digital and media

literacy.

Our vision is to ensure that young people have the

critical thinking skills to engage with media as

active and informed digital citizens.

Vision

To:

• develop and deliver high-quality Canadian-based digital

and media literacy resources;

• provide leadership in advancing digital and media

literacy in Canadian schools, homes and communities;

• contribute to the development of informed public policy

on issues related to the media.

Mission

Key Audiences

• Education (Grades K – 12; post-secondary, academic researchers)

• Public libraries

• Parents and public at large

• Community organizations

• Child health professionals

• Law enforcement

Three Core Program Areas

Education

Public Awareness

Research

Empowerment education

• Is grounded in where youth are at developmentally.

• Values their involvement.

• Provides authentic experiences.

Media Literacy

1. Media are constructions2. Media have commercial implications3. Media have social and political implications4. Audiences negotiate meaning5. Each medium has a unique aesthetic form

Key concepts:

Young people need to bring critical thinking to all their media experiences, including with the Internet, television, movies, video games, music, magazines and advertising.

Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is not about technical proficiency, but about developing the critical thinking skills that are central to lifelong learning and citizenship.

USE UNDERSTANDCREATE

Ethics and Empathy

Privacy and Security

Digital Health

Consumer Awareness

Finding and Verifying

Cyberbullying; sharing other people’s content; SEL skills; empathy

Sharing your own content; data privacy; cybersecurity; digital footprint

Life balance; managing screen time; handling identity and sexuality, mental health, body image issues; recognizing and maintaining healthy relationships

Recognizing and decoding advertising; understanding Terms of Service and Privacy Policies; knowing means of redress

Search and authentication skills

Community EngagementInfluencing positive social norms; understanding your rights; understanding channels for engagement and activism

Making and Remixing Creating and modifying digital content; understanding copyright and user rights; using networked technology to collaborate.

Digital Literacy Framework

• Accessing/sharing other people’s content

• Social-emotional learning skills

• Empathy

• Dealing with cyberbullying

Ethics and Empathy

That’s Not CoolGrades 7-8

Ethics and Empathy

Privacy and Security

• Sharing your content

• Data privacy

• Cybersecurity

• Digital footprint

Privacy PiratesGrades 2-4

Privacy and Security

• Recognizing and decoding online advertising

• Understanding branding

• Understanding terms of service,

privacy policies, etc.

• Understanding contractual, legal

and political means of redress

Consumer Awareness

Adversmarts: Understanding Food Advertising OnlineGrades 2-3

Consumer Awareness

• Screen time/life balance

• Identity and sexuality

• Mental health

• Body image

• Healthy relationships

• Safety skills

Digital Health

Digital Health

Avatarsand BodyImageGrades 4-6

• Search skills• Authenticating

information• Proper use of sources

Finding and Verifying

Taming the Wild WikiGrades 7-9

Finding and Verifying

• Influencing positive social norms

• Understanding rights as a consumer, community member, citizen and human being

• Understanding channels for speaking out, civic engagement and activism

Community Engagement

Hate 2.0Grades 8-10

Community Engagement

Making and Remixing

• Creating and modifying digital content

• Understanding copyright and user rights

• Using networked technology to collaborate

Making and Remixing

First PersonGrades 9-12

ProgramDelivery

www.mediasmarts.ca

• World’s largest media education website • Seven million visitors annually• Content for educators, parents, students, librarians, researchers and journalists• Contains:

– educational games– parent tutorials and tip sheets– research– over 200 K-12 lesson plans, linked to

curriculum outcomes in each province and territory

Media/Digital Literacy Classroom Resources

Professional Development Media Literacy Resources (teachers and

librarians)

Media/Digital Literacy Classroom Resources

Public Awareness for Parents

Raising ETHICAL

KIDSFor a Networked

World

GoodNews!

• Many risky behaviours (such as sexting) are less common than widely believed

• Youth value their privacy and are developing social norms around consent and respect

• Youth have little interest in connecting with strangers and know how to deal with stranger contact

• Teachers and youth agree on the importance of digital literacy education

• Parents are still an essential part of children’s lives

Many youth are already making good choices online and are using digital media in pro-active ways….….we want to build on that, and more!