Media Literacy Week is October 21-25 and the Decoda Literacy Library is providing resources to help explain the importance of this week, as well as teach media literacy skills.

Media literacy is the ability to decode media messages (including the systems in which they exist); assess the influence of those messages on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and create media thoughtfully and conscientiously. – Media Literacy Now

MediaSmarts is a Canadian-based company that has been developing digital media literacy programs and resources for Canadian homes, schools and communities since 1996. For parents and guardians, MediaSmarts offers interactive games for your kids, workshops on understanding what your kids do online, videos for digital and media learning as well as information guides on topics such as cyberbullying and online privacy. For teachers, MediaSmarts offers lesson plans and digital media classroom resources on teaching skills on topics such as authenticating information, managing privacy, addressing cyberbullying and being safe online.

Here is a video highlighting what MediaSmarts is and what it offers.

Media literacy is important because it helps us understand and critically evaluate the information we see or hear in the media. It allows us to spot fake news, bias, and misinformation, so we can make informed decisions and not be easily misled. To help your learners navigate today’s digital world safely and smartly, check out some further media literacy resources below.

Resources

• CTRL-F
• Developing digital detectives: essential lessons for discerning fact from fiction in the “fake news” era
• Media Literacy for young children: teaching beyond the screen time debates
• Media Literacy Now: The current state of media and children
• Media Literacy Week 2021