CALGARY — Shaw Communications announced today students and teachers in British Columbia and Alberta now have access to Ignition, a digital literacy course developed by social impact education innovator EVERFI Inc. that is “designed to help students in grades 6-9 develop the skills they need to navigate online content and social media safely and confidently,” says a press release.
The curriculum for the six-lesson course is being made available to B.C. and Alberta schools at no cost through support from Shaw, according to the release.
“As the ability to learn, play and access information through technology becomes seamless across devices in the home and at school, the need for digital wellness and literacy education is ever-increasing,” said Chethan Lakshman, vice-president of external affairs at Shaw Communications.
Ignition covers a wide range of topics including cybersecurity, cyberbullying and responsible social networking.
Through the course, “students learn critical digital literacy skills that enable them to protect their privacy and safety while evaluating online content for accuracy, perspective, and motive. The course works to help students recognize and acknowledge the benefits and resources of digital communities while simultaneously placing them in those same virtual environments to tackle potential issues surrounding digital citizenship,” the release says.
“Students will also learn to create a healthy balance between on- and offline time.”
“We live in a fast-moving world of technology and many falsely think that because children are immersed in the digital world at a young age, they are naturally digitally literate,” said EVERFI co-founder and president Jon Chapman, in the press release.
“Just like traditional literacy, children benefit from guidance, instruction, and practice. By educating students on the nuts and bolts of how technology works, we are building the foundation for them to confidently navigate the possible pitfalls of being in these digital spaces.”
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