The Shrug Factor: Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship

This online event was developed by the Ontario Library Association for the Education Institute – a continuing education program for library workers. "The Shrug Factor", hosted by well-known journalist Karen Horsman, covers a range of issues from stereotypes to digital citizenship. The presentation is high energy with clips, music and lots more! It is being offered in advance of Media Literacy Week to assist libraries in their programming for the week.

The Director’s Cut Digital Citizenship Workshop

The Director’s Cut workshops provide an opportunity for children between the ages of 5 - 17 to experiment with state of the art digital film and imaging software and hardware. The Director’s Cut team will conduct a free workshop for Grades 6-7 at Trillium Elementary School to produce videos on the digital citizenship theme. The videos will be aired at the Media Literacy Week launch event to be held at the school on November 7.

Alberta Association for Media Awareness (AAMA): The other film series II, Exploring cultures through film

AAMA screens the film Boses: A moving tail of re-birth and the power of friendship, Boses takes a grim situation (child abuse), matches it with high-art therapy (classical music), and unfolds a narrative with a high dose of pleasure. This event is free.

21st Century Classroom Video Challenge

MindShare Learning’s 4th Annual 21st Century Classroom Video Challenge celebrates new thinking and new possibilities through the power of education technology. The search is on for Canada’s most tech savvy teachers. Share your classroom video story (maximum 5 minutes) on how you engage students through technology to support student success and qualify to win one of three (3) classroom technology packages valued at over $15,000. Three Canadian regional winners to be selected: Western, Central and Eastern Canada.

2011-12 My Privacy & Me National Video Contest

Do you know a young person who’d like to win $350? The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) has launched its 2011-12 My Privacy & Me national video contest for 12 to 18-year-olds – and the first-place winners will win $350! The OPC is asking young people to create their own public service announcements about privacy. Videos should fall into one of four categories: privacy issues relating to 1) mobile devices, 2) social networking, 3) online gaming, and 4) cybersecurity. Teams can consist of one to two people. There are prizes for the top three videos in every category, and the videos will be posted to their YouTube Channel and website.

English Montreal School Board Promotes Media Literacy Week Through Facebook Contest

The EMSB launched its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/emsb1) two years ago and has close to 1,500 “likes", originally known as "fans". It has been a successful method of communicating with students, parents and staff. The EMSB also has a Twitter feed (@emsb109) and both YouTube (EMSB TV) and Vimeo channels (Vimeo EMSB TV).

In recognition of Media Literacy Week, the EMSB is launching a contest to engage more students via Facebook by stepping up efforts to get more “likes” via a contest. All new “likes” to the EMSB page will be eligible to win gift cards from Chapters/Indigo and a number of other items. Anyone who previously does not “like” the EMSB on Facebook can log onto www.facebook.com/emsb1 and click “like”. All of these entries throughout the month will be tallied and entered into a drawing in which the winners will be chosen at random.

Atwater Library Internet Privacy Event

The Digital Literacy Project at the Atwater Library and Computer Centre in Montreal will co-present a Media Literacy Week event in partnership with James Lyng High School and The Community Learning Centre. Shanly Dixon from Concordia University will present her work on Internet privacy and facilitate a discussion at James Lyng High School that will involve several remote communities in Quebec via video conferencing.

Pentz Elementary School “Zine”

Lighthouse Media Group, publishers of the Progress Bulletin and Southshorenow.ca on Nova Scotia's South Shore, is working with teacher Curtis Snyder and his Grade 4/5 class at Pentz Elementary School to publish a zine that represents the best of their creative work. Lighthouse has created a blog so students can share their writing and artwork with peers and community members to get feedback. Lighthouse will also facilitate media literacy sessions on digital citizenship, including having a reporter visiting the class to do a story on the project. Once finalized, the zine will be published on the PentZine blog. Check the blog for updates starting November 4.

Media Literacy Week Launch Event

Media Awareness Network and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation will join with partners YTV’s The Zone, The Director's Cut and Trillium Elementary School to launch Canada’s 6th annual Media Literacy Week. The event – hosted by Carlos from The Zone – will feature the premiere of “digital citizenship” videos produced by Trillium students, and the presentation of Community Character certificates to students who have used technology to support their volunteer work in their communities. The Zone will air segments profiling youth involved in digital citizenship throughout Media Literacy Week.

Digital We

Social media and the Internet often get negative press when it comes to their educational uses, but to mark the start of Media Literacy Week students and teachers from four Manitoba schools will speak from the heart about how new digital tools open up ways for them to collaborate as a “Digital We” with classrooms around the world.

Ryan Miller and students from Stevenson-Britannia School will debut “It Starts With Me,” a song specifically written to highlight the importance of “Digital Citizenship”, the theme of this year’s week. In addition, students across Manitoba will be challenged to create videos, podcasts, photo essays and other media projects to show how they can “change the world” through digital collaboration.

Digital We is a collaboration between The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, the Manitoba Association of Computing Educators (ManACE) and Manitoba Education.

Fostering Digital Citizenship: a Bi-National Call to Action

In support of Media Literacy Week the U.S. National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) is collaborating with Media Awareness Network to produce a bi-national, online live chat about Digital Citizenship. Canadian and U.S. panellists will compare U.S. and Canadian media literacy education efforts around digital citizenship, and issue a call to action for a transnational movement dedicated to teaching young people the skills to become competent and engaged civic and political actors. Panelists will include Matthew Johnson, Mike Gange, Faith Rogow and William Frackelton. The moderator will be Ethan Delavan and the coordinator will be Annelise Wunderlich.

Northwest Territories Media Literacy Contest

How media savvy are you? Do you want to know more about how the media sells, communicates and packages information and products? The Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment is hosting a media literacy contest for students in grades 5-12 to compete for great prizes.

All submissions must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, November 16, 2011, or electronically submitted by Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 5:00pm MT to ecepublicaffairs@gov.nt.ca.

National Film Board's CineRobotheque

Exploring the My Tribe is My Life interactive site stimulates young people to take a closer look at their social media consumption and consider the impact of the Internet on their how they see themselves. They then learn how to produce an essay using video, pictures and a variety of digital sounds. Workshop available for groups of students at the Secondary 3, 4 and 5 levels, in English or French.

Length: 2.5 hours
Price: $7/participant (minimum of 25 participants)

Places are limited.

Media Education Workshops (in French)

Throughout Media Literacy Week, École Nouvelle Quérbes will conduct media education workshops to students animated by parents. Media Literacy Week will mark the beginning of a series of media literacy events throughout the year that will allow École Nouvelle Querbes to systematically integrate media education into its educational program.

National Film Board of Canada’s Mediatheque

The National Film Board of Canada’s Mediatheque continues to be at the forefront of media literacy awareness. This year’s series of workshops touch on Media Literacy Week’s official theme, Digital Citizenship. The NFB will be hosting day-long workshops available for school groups which will have participants creating stories online; doing an activity based on the new Digital Footprints workshop; watching NFB films; and engaging in critical thinking through debate and discussion. Themes will vary day-to-day: Bullying (Nov. 7 - SOLD OUT!); Gender (Nov. 8 - SOLD OUT!) The Environment (Nov. 9 - SOLD OUT!); Truth in Journalism (Nov. 10 - SOLD OUT!).

These events are free. Space is limited.

Crofton House School Student Film Festival

Students from Crofton House School are invited to a film screening of student-made films. These films are productions completed by students in the Digital Film Communication course. The filmmakers will make a brief presentation about their films before each screening. Selected students and teachers will judge the final results. Many of these productions will also be part of the Crofton House School’s annual student film festival and sent to provincial, national and international competitions.

The Director’s Cut school-based video workshops

The Director’s Cut workshops provide an opportunity for children between the ages of 5 - 17 to experiment with state of the art digital film and imaging software and hardware. The Director’s Cut teams will be conducting workshops in the following schools throughout Media Literacy Week:

November 7 - Simcoe, ON
Couchiching Heights Public School
455 Lacile Ave.
705-325-9311
Info: Rob Carnie rcarnie@mailscdsb.on.ca

November 7 - Markham, ON
John McCrae Public School
565 Fred Mclaren Blvd.
905-294-9122
Info: Marlee Corcoran@yrdsb.edu.on.ca

November 8 - Woodbridge, ON
Devine Mercy Catholic Elementary School
251 Melleville Ave.
905-832-2555
Info: Susan.tomei@hotmail.com

November 8 - Richmond Hill/Oak Ridges, ON
Windham Ridge Public School
32 Red Cardinal Trail
905-773-5443
Info: anna.marchetti-landry@yrdsb.edu.on.ca

November 9 - Whitby, ON (*This workshop is being offered free in recognition of Media Literacy Week)
Julie Payette Public School
300 Garden Street
905-668-2225
Info: Jeff_rousell@durham.edu.on.ca

November 10 - Caledon, ON
Brampton Christian School
12480 Hutchinson Farm Lane
905-843-3771
Info: Glen Heslinga gheslinga@bramptononcs.org

Cyber-ethics – Does the video game industry have a role to play in fostering better digital citizenship?

As part of Media Literacy Week, the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) – Montreal Chapter – will host a discussion with leading academics and senior members of the Montreal games industry on the topic of Cyber-ethics. Panelists include:

Jason Kee, Director, Policy and Legal Affairs, ESAC (moderator)
Mia Consalvo, Research chair in game studies and design and Faculty Member, Communication Studies, Concordia University
David Waddington, Assistant Professor, Educational Studies, Concordia University
Craig Morrison, Executive Producer and Creative Director, Funcom

As more and more games transition to partial or full digital platforms, online social interactions are permeating games of all types. From basic civility to issues of legality, new standards of cyber-ethics are being forged online and a new form of digital citizenship is emerging. As one of the world’s biggest hubs for production of first-rate video games, Montreal is leading the world in creating games on digital platforms. But what role does the video game industry have in shaping cyber-ethics and fostering a true sense of digital citizenship?

Exploring Canadian Newcomers’ Access to the Internet

This presentation by Catrina Ascenuik highlights the results of a study, which explored a group of newcomers access to the Internet. The purpose of this study was to discover how the distribution of resources within and outside an Enhanced Language Training (ELT) program affected a group of newcomers’ access to Internet literacy development. The four kinds of access examined were motivational, material/physical, skills, and usage access. This qualitative case study is based on van Dijk’s Digital Divide framework (2005), and Warschauer’s Model of Social Inclusion (2004). The eight themes found in this study will be discussed, along with an analysis of how the data found in this study can be implemented in the curriculum used in ELT classrooms.

Internet Information Evening - Knowledge is Power

In conjunction with Media Literacy Week, Trillium presents a parent information evening with technology specialist Nik Panter and other experts, on social media: how it is changing how our children communicate, learn and emote, and how we as parents can better understand and guide them through this new world. Other topics include: how our children use the Internet; risks to be aware of; precautions you can take to protect them and what Trillium School is doing to create a safe learning environment while keeping up to date with technology.

National Film Board of Canada’s Mediatheque

The National Film Board of Canada Mediatheque will be offering a workshop that will be open to adults only in the evening. This workshop will be based on the theme of Truth in Journalism and on their new Digital Footprints workshop. Attendees will create stories online; engage in discussion; and watch NFB films.

These events are free. Space is limited.

Teaching Safety and Citizenship

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is hosting its annual conference in Washington, D.C. on November 9th and 10th. This year’s theme is: Evaluate. Innovate. Collaborate: Strategies for Safe and Healthy Online Use.

MNet’s Jane Tallim will be participating in a panel on November 10th that will focus on teaching digital citizenship. Moderated by Anne Collier, of Net Family News, other panellists include Nancy Willard, Bonnie Sutton and Russell Sabella.

Media Literacy Education and National Film Board (NFB) Innovations

Toronto’s Mediatheque has provided teachers with great teaching opportunities for years, and now the NFB is raising the bar! As part of Media Literacy Week, join the Association for Media Literacy and the National Film Board’s outreach staff for a wine and appetizer reception.

Enjoy previews and hands-on try-outs of NFB’s new K – 12 production opportunities, remote online bookmarking, interactive sites, projects that promote both digital literacy and subject knowledge, and custom iPad app.

Be guided by veteran media literacy teachers in identifying and implementing media literacy education opportunities in each innovation.

Digital Respect – digital citizenship photo contest

Spread the word! Digital citizenship photo contest in celebration of digital citizenship for Media Literacy Week. Send an original photo to digitalrespect@gmail.com that you took conveying respect online and digital citizenship by November 11th, 2011 (11/11/11) and the winning picture will be featured on the Digital Respect website and the winner will win a pair of Converse shoes (in their size, in any style) - to qualify for the prize you must live in Canada (or have a friend in Canada who can easily bring you the shoes). You may still enter as a resident of another country and have your photo featured on their website. No age restrictions - anyone can participate.

Media Democracy Days

This year, MDD events will be taking place over three days at the Pacific Cinemateque, the Vancouver Public Library – Central Branch and Woodward’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. On Friday evening, keynote speaker Dr. Sut Jhally, founder of the Media Education Foundation, introduces the weekend with a screening of War Made Easy and reception to follow. Saturday features keynote Judy Rebick, founder of Rabble.ca, and a myriad of panels and discussion on the state of Canadian media. Subjects range from Aboriginal Uses of Media, the Future of Journalism, and Unions and Public Opinion in a "Crisis Economy". A media fair, with representatives from 30 independent media organizations will also be on display. Lastly, MDD is proud to present an inaugural day of hands-on media production workshops on Sunday November 13th. Participants will have a chance to learn DIY radio basics, film basics, or campaign organization, before ending the weekend with a "Launchpad for Action" group dialogue session on Mapping Media in Vancouver.

Bringing the “Social” back to Social Media (in French)

A public apéro will be held at Montreal’s Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) on November 17th. This evening, which is jointly organized by École Nouvelle Quérbes and SAT, invites all parents and teachers of the school to discover and discuss the challenges and needs of media literacy in public schools. The event, animated by Beat Richert, is also open to all other parents and teachers who are interested in media literacy.

“Vigilance Sur Le Net” in the English Montreal School Board

In recognition of Media Literacy Week, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) announced plans to introduce the use of a multimedia resource from Videotron called “Vigilance sur le net”. There will be a special introduction of this resource and its content to Rosemount High School students and staff on November 28, by EMSB Pedagogical Consultant Maureen Baron. The students will learn about Internet safety in general, cyberbullying and on how to set the privacy and security settings in Facebook. Following the presentation the students will engage in a learning activity which will allow them to reflect on, and integrate, the information presented. All high school French teachers in the board will receive a copy of this material, All EMSB French teachers will have access to the resources in the “Vigilance sur le net” program.