Quebec Competencies Chart - Digital Media Experiences are Shaped by the Tools We Use: The Disconnection Challenge

Level: Grades 7 to 12
Lesson Length: This lesson takes place over two weeks, with roughly three hours class time mandatory and an additional two to six hours for the optional media production activity.
Subject Area: Digital Health, internet & mobile, media production
Lesson Link: https://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resources/digital-media-experiences-are-shaped-tools-we-use-disconnection-challenge

Description: In this lesson, students consider the role of technology and media in their lives and then spend a week either tracking or limiting their media use. They then share their experiences and discuss how the ways that digital media tools are made may cause us to use them differently (or simply more often). Finally, students draw on those insights to create a mindful media use plan. In an optional extension activity, they interview other students for a video exploring their experiences and reflections over the course of the project.

Cross-curricular Competencies

  • To use information
  • To solve problems
  • To exercise critical judgement
  • To use creativity
  • To adopt effective work methods
  • To use information and communication technologies (ICT)
  • To construct his/her identity
  • To cooperate with others
  • To communicate appropriately

Broad Areas of Learning

  • Media Literacy
  • Health and Well-Being
  • Citizenship and Community Life

This lesson satisfies the following Competencies from the Quebec Education Program:

English Language Arts

Produces texts for personal and social purposes

Extends repertoire of resources for producing texts

  • Immerses self in texts to learn how they are constructed
  • Investigates the codes and conventions of various genres
  • Creates criteria for what makes text(s) effective
  • Examines the affordances of different modes and genres to make production decisions
  • Uses models of different texts to apply chosen features in own work
  • Applies codes and conventions of written and media language
  • Compares own style in relation to other writers/producers
  • Develops standards for using language responsibly to represent people, events and ideas

Constructs a relationship between writer/producer, text and context

  • Understands that all texts are constructed in specific contexts for specific audiences and purposes
  • Researches as a writer/producer to become more informed, to create authentic contexts and to characterize an audience
  • Assumes various roles in own productions
  • Analyzes the elements of the context and shapes the text accordingly
  • Examines the differences between producing texts for public and private spaces.

Adapts a process to produce texts in specific contexts

  • Participates both individually and collaboratively in different recursive phases of the production process
  • Confers regularly with peers and teacher throughout the production process
  • Uses feedback strategies to improve own productions and support peers
  • Reflects on own development as a writer/producer over time
  • Monitors own learning
  • Cultivates a variety of media and writerly practices
  • Explores a variety of avenues for wider publication

Physical Education and Health

Adopts a healthy, active lifestyle

Develops a plan designed to maintain or change some personal lifestyle habits

  • Using appropriate tools, prepares a summary of observable facts about own lifestyle habits
  • Chooses two lifestyle habits to maintain or change, if appropriate
  • Begins a process
  • Identifies own tastes and aptitudes
  • Plans a strategy with two realistic objectives and anticipates the consequences
  • Uses a variety of resources

Evaluates own process and lifestyle habits

  • Using appropriate tools, measures whether own fitness level has been maintained or improved
  • Judges whether the objective was met, in light of data collected
  • Explains the reasons for difficulties and achievements
  • Reconsiders choice of strategy and results obtained
  • Identifies new learning

Recognizes work accomplished

  • Makes a decision based on the evaluation
  • Carries out the plan
  • Applies own strategy to improve or maintain two lifestyle habits
  • Uses the resources required to carry out the plan
  • Perseveres in carrying out the plan
  • Using appropriate tools, compiles facts about changes to own lifestyle habits