Workshops

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Digital media literacy workshop delivery

MediaSmarts’ experts are available to facilitate virtual and in-person workshops in school and community settings for parents/guardians, educators, youth and the general public. Our workshops cover topics such as online safety, misinformation, digital well-being, managing tech in the home, diversity and representation in media, digital citizenship, critical thinking, online hate and more.

Self-guided workshops and workshop kits (for workshops landing page)

Self-guided workshops and workshop kits

For educators

Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum Workshop

The Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum workshop provides teachers with a comprehensive approach to fostering critical thinking skills at all grade levels, with particular attention to addressing online misinformation and online hate through teaching critical thinking. The workshop looks at exactly what critical thinking is and why we need to teach it; explores how we can teach students how to think critically, including looking at different ways of approaching it for different parts of the curriculum; and finally, looks at how we can get students – and ourselves – to switch to using better shortcuts to critical thinking.

Digital Media Literacy 101 Educator Workshop

The Digital Media Literacy 101 educator workshop provides an overview of the key concepts, essential knowledge and core competencies of digital media literacy, as well as concrete steps for bringing lessons and activities into the classroom and tips for integrating it across the curriculum.

Facing Online Hate

The Facing Online Hate tutorial examines how the Internet is used to spread and incite hate – and how parents, community leaders and educators can respond. The first part of the tutorial provides an overview of hate and prejudice online and how it can radicalize young people and have a negative impact on both online and offline communities. The second part covers how teachers and parents can prepare young people to recognize online hate, to respond and to push back when they see it.

That's Not Me: Diversity and Media

The That’s Not Me tutorial focuses on the role that mainstream media play in shaping our perceptions about diversity. The tutorial explores what we see – and what we don’t see – on TV and in newspapers, video games, movies, the internet and other media. The tutorial looks at common trends in media portrayals of diversity and examines the reasons behind these trends; explores some of the factors behind media bias when covering diversity issues; and talks about the importance of media education to talking about diversity issues and empowering young people to take action.

For general public (for workshops landing page)

Workshops for the general public

Break the Fake: How to tell what’s true online

The Break the Fake: How to tell what's true online workshop will teach audiences four quick, easy steps they can take to spot misinformation and find out if something online is true or not. The workshop includes methods for recognizing AI-generated misinformation, including deepfakes, as well as tips on how to use AI for verifying information.

DigitalSmarts

Digital literacy is a vital tool for education, employment and economic participation, civic engagement, and even health and wellness. It reinforces existing inequalities based on socioeconomic status, ethnicity, education, immigration status and gender. Given the importance of digital literacy skills to under-represented populations, MediaSmarts and YWCA Canada have partnered to develop and deliver DigitalSmarts, a digital literacy skills program.

For parents (for workshops landing page)

Workshops for parents/guardians

Raising Digitally Resilient Kids

The Raising Digitally Resilient Kids parent workshop outlines how parents and guardians can support children’s well-being and help them balance the risks and benefits of digital media. Based on insights from MediaSmarts’ research with youth, the workshop provides an overview of online risk categories and provides resources and essential strategies that participants can take to manage these risks.

The Parent Network: Social Media and Your Kids Workshop

Understanding the connected world of kids and teens can be challenging for parents because adults don’t communicate online in the same way and are not necessarily using the same social media. Even more challenging is the reality that there’s always something new coming around the corner.

Workshop for youth (for workshops landing page)

Workshops for youth

Respecting Yourself and Others Online Workshop

The Respecting Yourself and Others Online workshop was created to provide tweens and young teens with strategies and knowledge that will help them respect themselves, respect others and respect the space when using social media.