The Internet is an integral part of children and teens’ lives, a place where they go to communicate, socialize, play, and learn. While they may be comfortable with digital culture, young people may lack a deeper understanding of the online environments they inhabit. To use popular online tools and Web sites in a secure and ethical manner – and to their fullest potential – young people need to develop the necessary critical thinking skills to apply to their online experiences. These digital literacy skills include: managing online safety and privacy, understanding intellectual property and copyright, behaving ethically online, researching and authenticating online information, managing online relationships, dealing with cyberbullying, understanding and recognizing online hate, identifying and deconstructing online marketing, and knowing how to harness technology to speak out on issues that you believe in.
Media Awareness Network offers a number of resources that help young people develop the digital literacy skills and tools they need to use the Web wisely, safely, and ethically.
Lessons
Introducing the Internet: Exploring the Internet (Grades 2-5)
This lesson helps students understand how hyperlinks work and introduces them to basic Internet safety skills.
Introducing the Internet: Messages, Envelopes, Addresses (Grades 2-5)
This lesson helps students understand how electronic messages are delivered over the Internet.
Introducing the Internet: Telephones and Networks (Grades 2-5)
This lesson provides students with an understanding of the basic structure of electronic network communications.
Introduction to Cyberbullying: Avatars and Identity (Grades 5-6)
In this lesson, students are provided with opportunities to explore the concept of online identities and avatars, and discuss the importance of using empathy and common sense when talking to others online.
Online Marketing to Kids: Protecting Your Privacy (Grades 6-9)
This lesson introduces students to the ways in which commercial Web sites collect personal information from children and to the issues surrounding children and privacy on the Internet.
Online Marketing to Kids: Strategies and Techniques (Grades 6-9)
This lesson introduces students to the online marketing techniques used to target children on the Internet and helps them to understand the similarities and differences between traditional marketing methods and online advertising.
Cyberbullying and Civic Participation (Grades 7-8)
This lesson allows students to explore the concept of civic participation in the creation of Canadian law through a study of the consultation process found in the Canada Gazette.
Cyberbullying and the Law (Grades 7-8)
In this lesson, students learn about and discuss the legal aspects of cyberbullying. Students review a variety of hypothetical case studies and consider the seriousness of each, who is legally responsible, what action (if any) should be taken and by whom.
Promoting Ethical Behaviour Online: Our Values and Ethics (Grades 7-9)
In this lesson, students learn about online privacy and ethical behaviour by exploring their digital footprints to better understand that our online interactions may not be as anonymous as we think they are.
Taming the Wild Wiki (Grades 7-9)
In this lesson, students are introduced to Wikipedia, the user-edited online encyclopedia, and given an overview of its strengths and weaknesses as a research source.
Deconstructing Web Pages (Grade 7-10)
In this lesson, students apply the "5Ws of Cyberspace" to sources of information they find online.
ICYouSee: A Lesson in Critical Thinking (Grades 8-10)
In this lesson, students use a Web-based activity to analyze Web resources.
Thinking About Hate (Grades 8-10)
In this lesson, students develop critical thinking skills to authenticate online information and to recognize bias and hatred on the Internet.
Alcohol on the Web (Grades 9-10)
In this lesson, students explore issues surrounding alcohol marketing on the Internet.
Cyberbullying and the Law (Grades 9-12)
In this lesson, students learn about and discuss the legal aspects of cyberbullying. Students review a variety of hypothetical case studies and consider the seriousness of each, who is legally responsible, what action (if any) should be taken and by whom.
Hoax? Scholarly Research? Personal Opinion? You Decide! (Grades 10-11)
This lesson is designed to help students determine the validity of information that is presented to them on the Internet.
Challenging Hate (Grades 10-12)
In this lesson students learn how the Internet can be used to facilitate the promotion of tolerance and respect.
Free Speech Versus the Internet (Grades 10-12)
In this lesson students learn about the inherent tension within democratic societies between freedom of expression and freedom from hatred.
Propaganda Techniques on Hate Sites (Grades 10-12)
In this lesson, students discuss the role of propaganda as a persuasive tool on hate sites.
Understanding Online Hate (Grades 10-12)
Through class discussion, students consider how mainstream, "putdown humour" can contribute to stereotyping and "othering" and discuss why hate groups consider the Internet to be a desirable medium.
Privacy in the Information Age (Grades 11-12)
This unit is designed to help students develop a critical awareness about privacy and the security of personal information.
Educational Games
Co-Co's AdverSmarts: An Interactive Unit of Food Marketing on the Web
(Ages 5-8)
This interactive unit is designed to help kids recognize the marketing techniques used on commercial Web sites that target children.
Privacy Playground: The First Adventure of the Three CyberPigs (Ages 8-10)
In this interactive game, the CyberPigs learn about online marketing, and about protecting their privacy as they surf the Internet.
CyberSense and Nonsense: The Second Adventure of The Three CyberPigs
(Ages 9-12)
In this interactive game, the three CyberPigs learn some important lessons about observing rules of netiquette.
Jo Cool or Jo Fool: Interactive Module and Quiz on Critical Thinking for the Internet (Grades 6-8)
This interactive online game takes students through a series of mock sites that test their savvy surfing skills.
Allies and Aliens: Interactive Module on Online Hate (Grades 7-8)
This interactive module is designed to increase students’ ability to recognize bias, prejudice, propaganda and hate on the Internet and in other media.
Student Tutorials
Passport to the Internet: Student tutorial for Internet literacy (Grades 4-8)
This interactive Internet literacy tutorial helps students develop the critical thinking skills they need to apply to their online experiences. (Licensed resource)
MyWorld: A digital literacy tutorial for secondary students
This interactive tutorial teaches students key digital literacy skills through a series of four thematically related chapters. (Licensed resource)
Teachable Moments
Hurricane Katrina and the Internet
Hurricane Katrina and the "Two-Photo Controversy"
Backgrounders
A Word About (N)ethics
Challenging Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying and the Law Fact Sheet
Cyberbullying Rights and Responsibilities: Backgrounder for Teachers
Parents' Guide to Cyberbullying
Professional Development
Web Awareness Workshop Series (Licensed resource)
Talk Media Blog
Related MNet Resources
Canadian Association of Internet Providers Privacy Code
Canadian Internet Codes and Guidelines - Overview
For Parents: Music: Online Music
For Parents: The Internet
For Teachers: Web Awareness
Media Awareness for Girl Guides: Internet Activities for Guides
Media Awareness for Pathfinders - Internet
Media Issues: Information Privacy
Media Issues: Online Hate
Provisions of the Copyright Act Relating to the Internet
Summary of the Canadian Broadcasting Act: Internet Provisions
Web Awareness: For Librarians: Internet Citizenship
