Digital Media Literacy Across the Curriculum

There have been four main approaches to integrating digital media literacy into the curriculum.^[1] The first, infusion, makes digital media literacy an integrated part of the inquiry process. The second, integration, makes digital and/or media into its own, separate subject, or gives it a prominent place within an existing subject: media literacy was first brought into the Ontario curriculum in Ontario following this approach in 1989 as one of the four strands of English Language Arts, on a par (at least in theory) with Reading, Writing and Listening.^[2] The third, cross-curricular competencies, identifies digital media literacy competencies as “not something to be added to the literacy curriculum, but a lens for learning that it is an integral part of all classroom practice”^[3]; and the last, dispersion, locates them within various grades and subjects without any overall design.^[4]

Does Media Education Work?

The question of whether media education, or digital media literacy, “works” is a bit misplaced. There is no doubt that it works in the same sense that other areas of study “work,” in that students who’ve received media education know more about digital media literacy than those that haven’t – just as students who take history courses know more about history than those that don’t.

Can Media Literacy Backfire?

If we can generally conclude that digital media literacy does work, it’s worth asking the opposite question: can media literacy backfire?

Best Practices

There are several challenges in identifying evidence-based best practices in media education: first, because most evaluations compare media literacy interventions either to a control group or to another intervention not based on media literacy; second because, as noted above, there is often a mismatch between what a program is teaching and the results it is measuring. As a result, “empirical evidence of best pedagogical practice, as opposed to self-testimony or retrospective reporting, is scarce”^[1]; in other words, while we can say generally that media literacy works, it is difficult to say precisely which elements of media literacy programs work better than others. 

What is Digital Media Literacy?

Media are all around us. From the TV we watch and the advertisements we see to the social media sites we use and the news we read. Our digitally connected world is constantly changing how we play, learn and interact with each other.

What do teens really think about screen time?

Screen time is a common topic for parents to try and manage today. Are we allowing too much? How do we make it safe? We will ask our friends and fellow parents for their thoughts or advice or learn tips from resources (like MediaSmarts!) to help us navigate this new aspect of parenting. When I was my kids’ age, we were just loading Netscape 2.0 onto our computers, and we’d check our ICQ messages before putting in a VHS to watch a movie or playing some Super Mario RPG.  The online world is so different now.

What is Digital Citizenship?

Digital citizenship is the ability to navigate our digital environments in a way that's safe and responsible and to actively and respectfully engage in these spaces. 

Defining Digital Media Literacy

Digital media literacy is the ability to critically, effectively and responsibly access, use, understand and engage with media of all kinds.

Physical Education and Wellness K-6

In the 2022 Elementary Physical Education and Wellness curriculum, digital media literacy is represented in several categories of knowledge, skills and procedures and understandings. Students learn about growth and development, safety, nutrition, mental health, healthy relationships and financial literacy.

Alberta - Physical Education and Wellness Grade 1

Character Development

Exploration of life opportunities and virtues develops resilience and personal talents and promotes lifelong learning.

Guiding question: How can personal characteristics contribute to self-understanding?

Learning outcome: Students examine personal characteristics, feelings, and emotions and explore understandings of self.

Knowledge: Emotions show how an individual feels.