Media Awareness for Teachers

Information Literacy (up to top of page)

• The Web...Believe it or not (.pdf courtesy of Cathy McLaren from Brandon School Division)
• Whois - find the owner of a web site
• The Wayback Machine - find out what a web site used to look like
• Information Literacy Quiz from November Learning
• Information Literacy Resources from November Learning
• Information Literacy Wiki by Hazel Clark

Media Awareness.org Links

• Cybersmart
• OnlineEducational Games
• Co-Co's AdverSmarts: An Interactive Unit on Food Marketing on the Web (Ages 5-8)
• Privacy Playground: The First Adventure of the Three CyberPigs (Ages 8-10)
• CyberSense and Nonsense: The Second Adventure of the Three CyberPigs (Ages 9-12)
• Jo Cool or Jo Fool: Interactive Module and Quiz on Critical Thinking for the Internet (Grades 6-8)
• The Target is You!: Alcohol Advertising Quiz (Grades 6-8)
• Allies and Aliens: Interactive Module on Online Hate (Grades 7-8)
• Passport to the Internet: Student tutorial for Internet literacy (Grades 4-8) (Need license)

Lesson Plans

• Classroom Resources to Counter Cyber Bullying: Lessons on Cyber Bullying for Grades 5 to 12

Intended to support and enhance school-based anti-bullying and empathy-building programs, Cyber Bullying: Encouraging Ethical Online Behaviour comprises the following:

• Introduction to Cyber Bullying — Avatars and Identity (Grades 5 and 6)
  In this lesson, students are provided with opportunities to explore the idea of online identities and to
  discuss the importance of using empathy and common sense when talking to others online.

• UnderstandingCyber Bullying - Virtual vs. Physical Worlds (Grades 7 and 8)
  In this lesson, students explore the concept of cyber bullying and learn how the attributes associated with
  online communication may fuel inappropriate or bullying behaviour.

• Cyber Bullying and the Law
  (Grades 7 and 8, and Grades 9 to 12 (two lessons))
  In these lessons, secondary and middle school students learn about and discuss the legal aspects of cyber bullying.

• Cyber Bullying and Civic Participation (Grades 7 and 8)
  This lesson allows students to explore the concept of civic participation in the creation of Canadian laws
  through a study of the consultation process found in the Canada Gazette.

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• Promoting Ethical Behaviour Online — Our Values and Ethics (Grades 7 to 9)
  In this three-part lesson, students learn about online privacy and ethical behaviour by exploring their
  digital footprints to better understand how their online interactions may not be as anonymous as they
  think they are.

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Introducing the Internet (Grades 2 to 5)

This series of lessons introduces students to the concepts and functions of the Internet.

1. Introducing the Internet: Exploring the Internet
   This lesson helps students understand how hyperlinks work and introduces them to basic Internet
   safety skills.
2. Introducing the Internet: Messages, Envelopes, Addresses
   In this lesson, students learn about how electronic messages are delivered over the Internet.
3. Introducing the Internet: Telephones and Networks
   This lesson provides students with an understanding of the basic structure of electronic network
   communications.

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   Deconstructing Web Pages (Grades 7 to 10)
   In this lesson, students apply the The Five Ws (and one "H") of Cyberspace to sources of information they find online.
   Assuming the role of a student researching a science project, students must authenticate the information in an online article about the artificial sweetener Aspartame.

   
   Online Marketing to Kids: Protecting Your Privacy
   (Grades 6 to 9)
   This lesson introduces students to the ways in which commercial Web sites collect personal information from kids and to the issues surrounding children and privacy on the Internet. Activities include a survey of privacy practices on popular children's Web sites, a letter-writing activity to voice concerns about online privacy, and an exercise where students learn to recognize "smoke and mirrors" in privacy policies for children's Web sites.
   

   Online Marketing to Kids: Strategies and Techniques
   (Grades 6 to 9)
   This lesson introduces students to the online marketing techniques used by marketers to target children on the
   Internet. Student activities include a survey of the marketing techniques used on several commercial Web sites for children, the creation of a commercial Web site for kids that incorporates common marketing strategies, and an analysis of case studies about online marketing to young people.