Fine Arts Overview
Many curricular expectations in Alberta Fine Arts courses relate to digital media literacy. The following excerpts from are Fine Arts curriculum document on the LearnAlberta website:
Many curricular expectations in Alberta Fine Arts courses relate to digital media literacy. The following excerpts from are Fine Arts curriculum document on the LearnAlberta website:
According to the 2023 Elementary English Language Arts and Literature curriculum, “Language is a uniquely structured system that forms the basis for thinking, communicating, and learning.” The curriculum is built around the six strands of language learning: reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and representing, with each strand touching on aspects of digital media literacy. The K-6 curriculum notes that English Language Arts and Literature “[helps] students develop deep understandings of others and themselves, build and strengthen interpersonal relationships, and engage in responsible citizenship,” integrating digital citizenship within citizenship education. To that end, digital media literacy education is integrated into elements of ethical citizenship, critical analysis of literature, differentiation of fact from opinion, access of information, and citation of sources.
The 7-9 English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum integrates the six strands of language arts: reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and representing. The program encourages the study and creation of a wide variety of text types and forms, including oral, print, visual and multimedia formats.
This section comprises a curricular overview, as well as information about professional development for media education.
Media Education in the English Language Arts Curriculum, Grades 10-12
Media outcomes are integrated throughout the English Language Arts 10-12 curriculum. In addition to including media texts as part of listening and speaking, reading and writing, and viewing and representing outcomes, the curriculum broadens and more clearly defines text and context to reflect media culture.
The following excerpts from English Language Arts (Senior High) (2001) details this broadened definition:
Broadening the Definition of “Text”
The social studies program in Alberta contains expectations that complement the critical thinking approach of media education. The Alberta social studies curriculum states,
In our changing society, students will need to be practised at using a variety of skills and strategies. Students will need to be able to acquire knowledge, to interpret and communicate information, and to solve problems and make decisions. In doing all of this, students require a wide range of critical and creative thinking skills and strategies that they can apply to a variety of situations.
Many curricular expectations in Alberta Social Sciences courses relate to media and digital literacy. The role of the Social Sciences courses in the Alberta curriculum is described as follows on the Alberta Education Social Sciences page: