From 31 October until 4 November, the Media Literacy Week in Canada will focus on hands-on media creation for children and teenagers, and highlight the importance of teaching them digital and media literacy skills.
This year’s theme, “Makers and Creators”, will celebrate the ways parents and teachers can help young people become more creative, innovative and entrepreneurial by embracing media production, remixing, maker and do-it-yourself culture and coding. The week will highlight the wide variety of media products young people can create – blogs, videos, music, websites, apps, video games, etc. – using easily accessible digital tools.
Questioning
“When students produce and create their own media, they are more apt to question media messages produced by others and to hone their critical thinking skills,” said Heather Smith, President of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation(CTF).
“The teacher’s role is paramount in framing this media literacy exercise so it is an engaging, collaborative and a very rich learning experience for students of all ages.”
Annual event
Media Literacy Week is an annual event, co-hosted by MediaSmarts,Canada’s leading centre for digital and media literacy, and CTF, an Education International affiliate. Over 100 collaborating organisations recognise the week each year by organising activities across Canada and internationally.
For more information, please visit www.medialiteracyweek.ca