Lost Skills of Old-Time Communication

The other day, a friend of my 11-year-old daughter called the house to make arrangements to get together for a group project.

Cell Phones and Texting, Parents

Outcome Chart - Alberta - Art 30

This outcome chart contains media-related learning outcomes from the Alberta, Art 30 curriculum, with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site.

Outcome Chart - Saskatchewan - English Language Arts Levels 30-A

This outcome chart contains media-related learning outcomes from the Saskatchewan, Grade 12 English Language Arts curriculum (ELA 30-A), with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site.

Outcome Chart - Nunavut - Grade 12

This outcome chart contains media-related learning outcomes from the Nunavut curriculum, with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site.

Outcome Chart - Ontario - Media Arts 12 Workplace

Outcome Chart - Ontario - Media Arts 12 Workplace

Outcome Chart - British Columbia - English Language Arts - New Media 11

Big Ideas:

  • People understand text differently depending on their worldviews and perspectives.  
  • Texts are socially, culturally, geographically, and historically constructed.
  • Digital citizenship requires both knowledge of digital technology and awareness of its impact on individuals and society.

Overall Expectations: Comprehend and Connect (reading, listening, viewing)

What parents need to know about YouTube

YouTube is a window into a world of wonder. There is so much great material to be found there, whether it’s for education, entertainment, or inspiration.  But there’s also a lot of inappropriate stuff in amongst the cat videos and Kid President. Question is, how do we, as parents, help our kids safely navigate YouTube?

Internet & Mobile, Parents

Outcome Chart - British Columbia - Physical and Health Education Grade 9

This outcome chart contains media-related learning outcomes from the British Columbia Grade 9 Physical and Health Education curriculum, with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site.

Outcome Chart – Ontario – English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices – College Preparation Grade 11

Strand A. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives and text forms in Canada 

Overall Expectations: 

A2. Deconstructing: demonstrate an understanding of how representations of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, communities, and cultures in text forms created in Canada are influenced by perspectives related to or shaped by historical period, cultural background, and social and political conditions and events, including perspectives related to gender and the role of women; 

For kids, social media isn’t always social

Here’s a weird thing: my kids don’t use social media to be, you know, social.

The other day, I was scrolling through my own Instagram feed, while my youngest daughter was looking over my shoulder. She was asking why I follow every account I follow. I explained time and again that each account was a friend of mine – some closer than others, but, for the most part, people I’ve met at some point in life and who I wanted to keep in touch with.

Digital Health, Parents, Social Networking