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

MediaSmarts