I believe that as far as education is concerned, social media fits under the umbrella of citizenship education. It is not enough anymore to teach students how to be ‘good citizens’ in the physical world, we have an obligation to help them learn how to be productive citizens in the digital world. The Digital Citizenship Education in Saskatchewan Schools document quotes Ohler in this way:
The Saskatchewan Curriculum has many references to relationships, interactions and interdependence, as well as creation and exploration using multimedia tools as early as Kindergarten in both the Health and Social Studies curriculums. We need to be teaching skills such as reading critically, protecting privacy (of yourself and others), how advertising and marketing work, how online algorithms work and the difference between fiction and reality. All of these skills can be embedded in both Social Studies and Health curriculums.
There are great resources to help educators navigate this space but I think many educators shy away from teaching these skills because they don’t understand the skills themselves. Having access to well curated materials is a great starting point!
Common Sense Education has hundreds of lesson plans and Professional Development for teachers. Accounts for teachers is completely free! This is a great place for educators to find self guided lessons about AI, ChatGPT, Digital Citizenship, Student privacy and more. I believe that learning about these online activities will empower teachers to teach them to their students.
Canadian Centre for Child Protection has resources for parents, kids and teens regarding online safety as well as free printable PDFs for use at home or in the classroom. The teen section “Need Help Now” is an important link for teens to know. It is a website that explains the steps to take if an inappropriate picture of you has been posted online. The website is also directly linked to cybertip.ca. For younger students, I have used the Zoe and Molly online activities with students in Grade 3-5 as part of the Health Unit on Personal Safety.
Kids in The Know is a resource I have used every year! There are lesson plans for students from Kindergarten – Grade 12. This website is funded by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. The only downside to this resource is that you need to purchase the materials and they arrive in booklet format. This makes it difficult to stay completely current as technology changes. That being said, I really like the resource for Elementary students because the focus is on the deeper learning of personal safety, healthy relationships and assertiveness – skills that are easily applied to all online activities that students will encounter.
Finally, Media Smarts is a great resource for teachers. Access to this resource is provided free of charge for all Saskatchewan teachers through the Ministry of Education. There are lots of lesson plans for use in the classroom but my favourite aspect of this website is the Professional Development section. There is a section called Media Literacy 101 and another called Digital Literacy 101. These resources are provided in a way that they could be presented as a workshop for teachers or they can be completed as self directed PD.
If we are going to be successful at teaching students how to navigate in online spaces, we need to understand the world they are living in and we need to focus on the important concepts of reading critically, protecting privacy (of yourself and others), how advertising and marketing work, how online algorithms work and the difference between fiction and reality. When students can master these foundational concepts, they will be more prepared to handle the online world!
Your blog post highlights an essential aspect of education that cannot be overlooked—preparing students to navigate the complexities of the digital world. The Saskatchewan curriculum already incorporates themes of relationships, interdependence, and multimedia exploration, but as you’ve pointed out, there’s a critical need to explicitly teach digital literacy skills, including privacy protection, media analysis, and algorithm awareness. These are not just supplementary skills; they are essential for responsible and informed citizenship in today’s world.
One of the most pressing issues is that many educators may lack confidence in teaching these topics, not because they don’t recognize their importance, but because they themselves haven’t had the opportunity to develop these skills. That’s why resources like Common Sense Education, Media Smarts, and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection are invaluable. They provide educators with the tools they need to engage students in meaningful discussions about digital spaces while also supporting their own professional learning.
Your mention of Kids in the Know also stands out, as it reinforces that digital literacy isn’t just about technology—it’s about personal safety, relationships, and critical thinking. The challenge, as you note, is keeping resources current in an ever-evolving digital landscape. However, by focusing on core skills—such as evaluating online information, understanding persuasive digital tactics, and maintaining personal boundaries—students can develop a solid foundation that will serve them well, no matter how technology advances.
Ultimately, ensuring students are equipped to handle digital spaces is a shared responsibility. Schools, educators, parents, and policymakers must work together to prioritize these essential skills. Your call to action is clear: teachers must feel empowered to embrace digital literacy instruction, and with the right support, they can guide students toward becoming thoughtful and responsible digital citizens.
Karissa 🙂
Carol, I appreciate the resources you shared in your post. I regularly use Civix, Media Smarts, and Common Sense Education, but I’ve never heard of Kids in the Know or cybertip.ca – I’ll definitely check them out now.
I completely agree that digital literacy is essential – not just for students, but educators and parents, too. The foundational skills you mentioned are more important than ever. I spend just as much time teaching middle-years students how to read laterally online as I do teaching them how to read physical books.
Last week, I watched the posted TikTok documentary that highlights major issues like censorship, eating disorders, and racism. It reinforced how necessary digital literacy is in combating these online challenges. What videos did you watch last/this week that connect with the resources you shared?
TikTok Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwu5C8JWO_k&t=199s&pp=ygUsdGlrdG9rICBjZW5zb3JzaGlwLCBlYXRpbmcgZGlzb3JkZXJzLCByYWNpc20%3D
Hi Karissa and Kimberly,
Thank you for your comments on this post. As I watched the 2 documentaries about Amanda Todd, I was so upset that she fell into this awful trap. There are so many skills that students need to know and as they navigate the online world. I think it is so important to teach the foundational skills before we throw students into the online world. These skills are easier than ever to teach now because of the vast amount of online resources that are available to teachers and parents. Edutopia has a great article about teaching digital citizenship skills. Here is the link: https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-digital-citizenship-skills/
Thanks for sharing, Carol. Unfortunately, we had some similar issues arise between our middle-year girls this week. This will come in handy moving forward in a positive direction next week.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Hi Carol, thank you for your post with the incredible resources. I do find it curious that the Digital Citizenship Education in Saskatchewan Schools document has a quote that encourages kids to use their technology at school, while at the same time banning their technology.
@GeorginaAsare commented that collaboration with parents is important. I wonder if the education provided for SK teacher provides any strategies for engaging care givers?