How do I: Become an Information Private-Eye?

Learn how to be a superstar Digital Citizen by becoming an Information Private-Eye !

The UCDSB Learning Commons defines Digital Citizenship as the culminating ability of students to demonstrate Information Literacy, Digital Literacy, and Media Literacy skills as outlined in boxes below.

As a responsible Digital Citizen, students will exhibit fluency in the following areas:

• the research process
• personal online safety, security, and privacy
• critical processing of mass media messaging - body image, violence, gender representation, diversity, etc.
• online ethics -  academic honesty, netiquette, cyberbullying, excessive internet use, etc.
• digital footprint management 
• information communication technology fluency

What is Digital Citizenship?

Image Source: Media Smarts, Digital Literacy Fundamentals

Digital Literacy is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, understand, evaluate, create, and communicate digital information.  This is an ability that requires both cognitive and technical skills.  

Digital Literacy focuses on engaging students to participate in digital media in wise, safe, and ethical ways.

Sources: see the links below

Image Source: Media Smart, Digital Literacy Fundamentals

Learn how to

INQUIRE: Find out about my topic!

Information Literacy, is the ability to:

1. Access information efficiently and effectively
2. Evaluate information critically and competently
3. Use information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand
4. Manage the flow of information from a variety of sources
5. Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information 

Source: see the link below

Information is constantly growing in abundance and complexity as our networked environment provides continued access to new technologies, and with it increasingly diverse messaging and modes of communication.  The opportunities for life-long learning seem limitless.  

However, with increased access to this publicly produced and disseminated knowledge comes questions of reliability, credibility, accuracy, and appropriateness, particularly for junior audiences. 

Student development of Information Literacy, Digital Literacy, and Media Literacy skills help in the navigation of this knew digital environment.  By becoming a Digital Citizen students acquire the necessary skills to access, use, share, and navigate the the digital world safely, securely, and responsibly while making positive contributions.  

Media Literacy is the result of study of the art and messaging of various forms of media texts.  It explores the impact and influences of mass media and popular culture by examining texts such as films, songs, video games, action figures, advertisements, CD covers, clothing, billboards, TV shows, magazines, newspapers, photographs, and websites.

Media Literacy engages students as consumers of media.

Sources: see the links below