Page Content
Cathy Wing
Teaching digital literacy skills in homes and schools is becoming increasingly important as young Canadians turn to the Internet as their main source of information, entertainment and communication.
While young people are competent and sophisticated online users, they need a whole range of new literacy skills for accessing, evaluating, repurposing, creating and distributing media content to successfully navigate their digital world. How do they find, evaluate and make sense of online information? Do they know how to protect their privacy online, stay safe using social networks and be good digital citizens?
To reinforce the importance of the home and school connection when educating children about wise Internet use, Canada’s Media Awareness Network (MNet) is launching two new digital literacy programs for Alberta parents in 2010. Through a partnership with Bell, MNet is currently redesigning and updating www.bewebaware.ca—an Internet safety resource for parents. Also aimed at involving parents in their children’s online activities is a new interactive workshop:
e-Parenting Tutorial: Keeping up with Your Kids Online. This web-based tool will lead parents through scenarios that children can encounter online and will offer tips for teaching digital literacy skills in the home. The tutorial is being developed in partnership with the Alberta School Councils’ Association, the Alberta Library and Bell.
Digital literacy is an essential life skill in the information age, and the role of educators and parents is to empower young people with the critical thinking skills and knowledge they require to move beyond technological proficiency to become creative, reflective, evaluative and responsible e-citizens.
Cathy Wing is the co-executive director of the Media Awareness Network.
Also in the Learning Team
Parent, professional & volunteer
Alberta is at the forefront of change
Kurt Browning’s favourite teacher
Creating digitally literate young people
Web Awareness Workshop Series
Pincher Creek school’s staff room transformed by school council
Tips for building your child’s self-esteem
Partnership translates into success
Is it good when my daughter has a paradigm shift?
School success is a shared goal
Adolescence can be a difficult time
