All the News That's Fit to Tweet

The history of the Internet -- and the history of technology in general -- could be described as one big demonstration of the doctrine of unintended consequences: a system designed to help researchers collaborate, and developed to protect military communications in the event of a nuclear war, wound up being used primarily for shopping, socializing and entertainment. The same is true of many of the products and services on the Internet as well. In its early years it was mostly seen as a one-to-many broadcast medium, like TV or radio, but over time it's the more interactive elements that have proven to be most popular, with users producing at least as much online content as professionals.

History's Mirror: Media education and the teaching of history

On November 5, 2009, MNet Media Education Specialist Matthew Johnson participated in the Association of Canadian Studies' conference Knowing Ourselves: The Challenge of Teaching History of Canadian Official Minority Language Communities, speaking on the topic Media, Diversity and Our History. What follows is an expanded version of his remarks.

Outcome Chart - Ontario - Geography CGR4E: Living in a Sustainable World

This chart contains media-related learning outcomes from Ontario, Curriculum for Geography CGR4E: Living in a Sustainable World, with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site.

Outcome Chart - Ontario - Computer Engineering Technology, Grade 11 U/C Prep (TEJ3M)

Computer Technology Fundamentals

Overall Expectations

A4. describe network concepts, services, and security

Specific Expectations

A4.4 describe methods for making a network secure (e.g., firewalls, data and password encryption, user authentication, WEP or WPA keys, security of server room).

MediaSmarts Resources

Digital Citizenship: Using technology for good  

What happens online can have a real impact. It’s up to us whether the impact is positive or negative. What are some ways of using digital tech for good?

Why kids sext

Typically, youth sexting occurs in three contexts: in lieu of sexual activity for younger adolescents who are not yet physically sexually active; to show interest in someone a teen would like to date; and, for sexually active youth, as proof of trust and intimacy.

Outcome Chart - Ontario - Healthy Living Grade 9

This outcome chart contains media-related learning outcomes from the Ontario Grade 9 Healthy Active Living curriculum, with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site.

Outcome Chart - Nova Scotia - Healthy Living 8

Outcome Chart - Nova Scotia - Healthy Living Grade 8

Sexting and youth: Confronting a modern dilemma

It’s hard to think of a recent digital technology issue that’s captured the public imagination more than sexting. This may be because it combines elements of the classic moral panic with more modern “technopanic,” provoking worries not just about the morality of our children – and, in particular, young girls – but also about the possible effects of technology on how we grow, think and behave. As with most panics, of course, the issue is substantially more complicated and less sensational than we perceive it to be, and while it’s unlikely that our worries about sexting will ever seem in retrospect to be as absurd as our grandparents’ fears about crime comics, MediaSmarts’ new data shows that many of our beliefs and assumptions on the subject need closer examination.

Outcome Chart - Ontario - Foundations for College Mathematics 12 MAP4C

Outcome Chart - Ontario - Foundations for College Mathematics 12 MAP4C