Alberta and Ontario = take steps to help teachers become more Internet savvy

Alberta and Ontario take = steps to=20 help teachers become more Internet savvy

New=20 provincial-wide licences in Alberta and Ontario put =
Media=20 Awareness Network=92s Internet literacy resources in =
two-thirds of=20 all Canadian schools.

Ottawa,=20 February 5, 2008 =96 Alberta and Ontario have joined = a growing=20 number of provinces and territories who are licensing the=20 award-winning Web = Awareness=20 Workshop Series, to raise awareness among teachers of = the issues=20 facing young people when they go online. =

Media=20 Awareness Network, a=20 not-for-profit education organization that has pioneered = Internet=20 literacy programs in Canada, developed the Web = Awareness program, a series of = professional=20 development workshops which=20 focus on Internet issues such as: authentication of online=20 information, electronic privacy, online marketing and = consumerism,=20 Internet safety, cyber bullying and online ethics. =

The Alberta=20 Department of Education has signed a two-year licensing = agreement=20 for the Web = Awareness=20 Workshop Series. Teachers in all school jurisdictions in = Alberta=20 can now access these powerful teacher-training tools to = address=20 issues related to students=92 Internet use.

The Ontario Ministry of = Education=20 has licensed the Web=20 Awareness Workshop Series and the classroom resource Reality Check! = Evaluating Online=20 Information for all publicly funded schools, licensed = native=20 band schools and publicly funded post-secondary faculties of = education in Ontario.

=93These licences = represent a=20 milestone, for both the Media Awareness Network and media = education=20 in Canada,=94 says Jane Tallim, Co-Executive Director = of the Media Awareness = Network.=20 =93With more = than=20 two-thirds of Canadian schools and faculties of education, = and 19 of=20 the 20 largest school districts in the country now having = access to=20 these programs, it=92s clear that media education is in the = forefront=20 of the minds of key education policy makers.

Understanding students=92 = Internet=20 activities is becoming increasingly important for Canadian = educators=20 as young people turn to the Internet as their main source of = information, entertainment and communications. Research = conducted by=20 Media Awareness Network shows that Canadian teachers overwhelmingly=20 agree Internet literacy should be taught in schools. = Eighty=20 five percent of teachers surveyed = say that=20 helping young people to think critically about Internet = content is=20 an important part of their job.

=93These licences=20 demonstrate that schools are recognizing the importance of = their=20 role in addressing emerging issues in our rapidly evolving=20 technological society and teaching students responsible = online=20 citizenship=94, says Ms. Tallim. =20

In addition to = Alberta and=20 Ontario, the Web = Awareness=20 Workshop Series is licensed for all schools in Yukon, = Nunavut, Northwest Territories, New Brunswick and = Prince Edward=20 Island. Reality = Check! is licensed in Yukon, = Nunavut, Northwest Territories and New = Brunswick.

For more information on these resources, = visit the=20 MNet Web site at: http:/= /www.media-awareness.ca/english/catalogue/index.cfm.

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Media Awareness Network (MNet) is a Canadian not-for = profit=20 centre of expertise and excellence in media education. = MNet's=20 programs are funded by its public and private sector = sponsors,=20 donors and partners, who include: Bell Canada CTVglobemedia = =B7 TELUS=20 =B7 Microsoft Canada =B7 National Film Board of Canada =B7 = Government of=20 Canada. =B7

For more information, contact:

Jane Tallim
Co-Executive Director
Media Awareness=20 Network
Tel: (613) 224-7721, Ext. 230

Cathy Wing
Co-Executive Director
Media Awareness=20 Network
Tel: (613) 224-7721, Ext. 227