Canadian teachers positive about technology in the classroom

Ottawa, February 15, 2012 – While Canadian educators believe that digital technologies can enrich students' learning, there are still significant challenges to overcome in making this happen – with one of the main barriers being students' lack of digital literacy skills. And school filters and policies that ban or restrict networked devices in the classroom take away the very opportunities young people need to develop digital literacy skills such as good judgment and responsible use.

Ontario Digital Media Literacy Textbooks

MediaSmarts has developed four online multimedia textbooks to support the Ontario curriculum for Language 1-8 and English 9. These freely available textbooks are designed to give educators flexibility in meeting both the Overall Expectation relating to Digital Media Literacy (A2) but also related Overall and Specific Expectations in the A, C and D strands, including Critical Thinking in Texts; Creating Drafts; and Publishing, Presenting and Reflecting.

Quebec Competencies Chart - Media literacy key concepts Lesson 3: Audiences negotiate meaning

Quebec Competencies Chart - Media literacy key concepts Lesson 3: Audiences negotiate meaning

Quebec Competencies Chart - Understanding the Internet Lesson 4: Communication and Social Media

Quebec Competencies Chart - Understanding the Internet Lesson 4: Communication and Social Media

Watching Watchmen

The most anticipated movie of the year, at least in some circles, is opening on March 6th: Watchmen, the adaptation of the 1986 comic book of the same name. The original, which won a Hugo Award for science fiction and was named one of Time's top 100 novels of the twentieth century, tells the story of a group of retired superheroes investigating the death of one of their colleagues; the mystery leads the reader through the alternate world their existence has created, in which heroes with cosmic superpowers overawed the Soviet Union and in which Richard Nixon is still president in 1985. Though time will tell how successful the film will turn out to be, the buzz around its launch gives an opportunity to look at comics and how they're adapted into other media.

In a hashtag, darkly

How #Ottawapiskat turned the tables on media coverage of native issues Over the last few months the Idle No More movement has succeeded in bringing Aboriginal issues to national attention. This has been due in no small part due to the movement's use of Twitter, where #IdleNoMore was a Trending Topic in both Canada and worldwide.

Helping kids cope with media coverage of war and traumatic events

The intense media coverage that accompanies traumatic events, such as war, acts of terrorism and natural disasters, can be very disturbing. Certain young people are particularly vulnerable and some can be seriously distressed simply by watching replays of such events.

Parents, educators, health practitioners and others who work with kids can help to lessen anxieties arising from the coverage of catastrophic events.

Canadian parents want collaboration to help them manage their children's Internet use

Ottawa, November 9, 2000 - The Media Awareness Network (MNet) announced today that CanWest Global is MNet's newest sponsor.

Starting this year, Global will contribute $100,000 to the Media Awareness Network every year for five years.

CanWest Global Media Awareness Network's newest sponsor

Ottawa, November 9, 2000 - The Media Awareness Network (MNet) announced today that CanWest Global is MNet's newest sponsor.

Starting this year, Global will contribute $100,000 to the Media Awareness Network every year for five years.

Quebec Competencies Chart - Adversmarts: Understanding Food Advertising Online

Quebec Competencies Chart - Adversmarts: Understanding Food Advertising Online