Youth and Digital Skills Symposium: Preparing young Canadians to make social, economic and cultural contributions

To explore the critical issue of promoting the importance of essential digital literacy and skills for Canadian youth, a one-day invitation-only Symposium was organized by the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) and MediaSmarts in Ottawa on February 10, 2014. This summary report -- Youth and Digital Skills Symposium: Preparing young Canadians to make social, economic and cultural contributions -- encapsulates “what we heard”. It frames the challenges and opportunities and suggests ways forward as captured by the organizers.

Young Canadians in a Wired World, Phase III: Sexuality and Romantic Relationships in the Digital Age

This report is drawn from a national survey of Canadian youth conducted by MediaSmarts in 2013. The classroom-based survey of 5,436 students in grades 4 through 11, in every province and territory, examined the role of networked technologies in young people’s lives. Sexuality and Romantic Relationships in the Digital Age (the fifth in a series of reports from the survey) examines issues such as sexting, romantic interactions online, and accessing pornography and information about sexuality.

Young Canadians in a Wired World, Phase III: Encountering Racist and Sexist Content Online

This report is drawn from a national survey of Canadian youth conducted by MediaSmarts in 2013. The classroom-based survey of 5,436 students in grades 4 through 11, in every province and territory, examined the role of networked technologies in young people’s lives. Encountering Racist and Sexist Content Online (the sixth in a series of reports from the survey) looks at how often Canadian youth are exposed to prejudice online, how it makes them feel and how they respond to it.

Do you have the right answers?

Ottawa, ON (August 19, 2014) - We know that kids have a lot of questions about media. As parents and educators, we want to make sure we can provide them with the right answers to difficult questions. Check out our new video which we launched today at the Telecom Summit in Toronto.

Kids live media

Science

The 2023 Science K-6 curriculum states that “the study of science allows students to nurture curiosity, ask and answer questions, explore scientific and technological concepts, and acquire knowledge and understanding of the world. Science provides a reliable basis for decision making and is essential in developing innovative ideas and solutions.

Aboriginal Studies

Alberta’s Aboriginal Studies curriculum “is intended to provide a conceptual framework for all learners to enhance understanding of the diverse Aboriginal cultures within their region, Canada and the world.” (Aboriginal Studies 10-20-30).

Computer Science

“The use of information technology will help enable all students to solve problems, improve their personal performance, and gain the critical and abstract thinking skills necessary to become lifelong learners and contributing members of their communities” (Manitoba Education and Training, Technology As a Foundation Skill Area).

Music

In the New Brunswick Music curriculum, media and digital literacy outcomes mostly fall under Strand 2, Understanding and Connecting Contexts of Time, Place and Community, and Strand 3, Perceiving, Reflecting and Responding. Digital citizenship habits skills are also found in General Curriculum Outcome 4, “Students will be expected to respect the contributions to the arts of individuals and cultural groups in local and global contexts, and value the arts as a record of human experience and expression.”

Science

“Science and technology both exist in a broader social, cultural, and economic context. They are affected by the values and choices of people and governments and in turn have a significant impact on local as well societal issues.” K-6 Science and Technology Curriculum (2004)

Media and digital literacy enable students understand the ways in which science and technology affect and are affected by their social contexts by helping them to develop critical thinking habits and skills and to interpret the ways in which they gain information about the world around them.