Alberta and Ontario take steps to help teachers become more Internet savvy

New provincial-wide licences in Alberta and Ontario put Media Awareness Network’s Internet literacy resources in two-thirds of all Canadian schools.

Ottawa, February 5, 2008 – Alberta and Ontario have joined a growing number of provinces and territories who are licensing the award-winning Web Awareness Workshop Series, to raise awareness among teachers of the issues facing young people when they go online.

Media Awareness Network, a not-for-profit education organization that has pioneered Internet literacy programs in Canada, developed the Web Awareness program, a series of professional development workshops which focus on Internet issues such as: authentication of online information, electronic privacy, online marketing and consumerism, Internet safety, cyber bullying and online ethics.

The Alberta Department of Education has signed a two-year licensing agreement for the Web Awareness Workshop Series. Teachers in all school jurisdictions in Alberta can now access these powerful teacher-training tools to address issues related to students’ Internet use.

The Ontario Ministry of Education has licensed the Web Awareness Workshop Series and the classroom resource Reality Check! Evaluating Online Information for all publicly funded schools, licensed native band schools and publicly funded post-secondary faculties of education in Ontario.

“These licences represent a milestone, for both the Media Awareness Network and media education in Canada,” says Jane Tallim, Co-Executive Director of the Media Awareness Network. “With more than two-thirds of Canadian schools and faculties of education, and 19 of the 20 largest school districts in the country now having access to these programs, it’s clear that media education is in the forefront of the minds of key education policy makers.

Understanding students’ Internet activities is becoming increasingly important for Canadian educators as young people turn to the Internet as their main source of information, entertainment and communications. Research conducted by Media Awareness Network shows that Canadian teachers overwhelmingly agree Internet literacy should be taught in schools. Eighty five percent of teachers surveyed say that helping young people to think critically about Internet content is an important part of their job.

“These licences demonstrate that schools are recognizing the importance of their role in addressing emerging issues in our rapidly evolving technological society and teaching students responsible online citizenship”, says Ms. Tallim.

In addition to Alberta and Ontario, the Web Awareness Workshop Series is licensed for all schools in Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Reality Check! is licensed in Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and New Brunswick.

For more information on these resources, visit the MNet Web site at: /en/teacher-resources/licensed-resources.

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Media Awareness Network (MNet) is a Canadian not-for profit centre of expertise and excellence in media education. MNet's programs are funded by its public and private sector sponsors, donors and partners, who include: Bell Canada CTVglobemedia · TELUS · Microsoft Canada · National Film Board of Canada · Government of Canada. ·

For more information, contact:

Jane Tallim
Co-Executive Director
Media Awareness Network
Tel: (613) 224-7721, Ext. 230

Cathy Wing
Co-Executive Director
Media Awareness Network
Tel: (613) 224-7721, Ext. 227