The partnership supports pioneering research into the digital lives of Canadian families<\/p>\n
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is pledging its support for the next phase of a unique, multi-year research project that investigates the online behaviours of Canadian youth. This platinum sponsorship of $82,600 is CIRA\u2019s latest in support of national not-for-profit organization MediaSmarts, Canada\u2019s centre for digital and media literacy.<\/p>\n
The organizations share a common mission to promote the importance of digital literacy to Canada\u2019s social and economic future. CIRA has supported MediaSmarts since 2009, and is now continuing to support MediaSmarts\u2019 ground-breaking research by funding the next phase of their landmark study Young Canadians in a Wired World<\/a><\/em> (YCWW), which examines the digital lives of Canadian youth and has been ongoing since 2000. CIRA also sponsored the previous phase of this initiative.<\/p>\n Through its YCWW research, MediaSmarts has \u00ad\u00adgathered a wealth of information about young Canadians\u2019 online behaviours. The research has raised key issues<\/a> around the challenges and opportunities youth face in the digital age, and has highlighted the importance of education in helping young people make smart online decisions.<\/p>\n Using this research, and with funding from CIRA\u2019s Community Investment Program<\/a>, MediaSmarts has developed USE, UNDERSTAND & CREATE<\/a><\/em>,<\/em> an innovative digital literacy framework for students from kindergarten to grade 12, and Digital Literacy 101<\/a><\/em>, a digital literacy teacher training program supported by Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada\u2019s CanCode program. The training program has reached almost 3,000 new teachers since 2017.<\/p>\n CIRA now joins MediaSmarts as a Platinum Sponsor of the Young Canadians in a Wired World<\/em> Phase IV<\/em> focus groups, which will help determine the kinds of resources teachers, parents and civic organizations need to help young Canadians lead healthy online lives. Findings from the focus groups will be released in early 2020. <\/p>\n MediaSmarts and CIRA look forward to building on this important relationship through the development of digital literacy initiatives to benefit all Canadians.<\/p>\n Key facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Executive quotes:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cCIRA has been a long-standing supporter of our work, and their funding has been crucial in getting our new teacher training initiative off the ground,\u201d says Kathryn Ann Hill, Executive Director of MediaSmarts<\/strong>. \u201cWe are so grateful to CIRA for believing in MediaSmarts. Thanks to their continued support, we will once again have the opportunity to speak with youth across Canada about their online experiences; this is critical research that is foundational to our development of tools and resources that help build a better online world for all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe digital landscape is quickly changing and young Canadians need skills to help them safely navigate and contribute positively to the online environments they use daily,\u201d says David Fowler, vice-president of marketing and communications at CIRA<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to support MediaSmarts\u2019 new research, which will drive innovative digital literacy programming and resources to better educate Canada\u2019s young people.\u201d <\/p>\n Additional resources: <\/strong><\/p>\n About MediaSmarts<\/strong><\/p>\n MediaSmarts is the national, bilingual, not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. For the past 25 years MediaSmarts has advanced digital and media literacy in Canadian schools, homes and communities, delivered high-quality digital and media literacy programs and resources, and conducted vital research that contributes to the development of informed public policy on issues related to media. mediasmarts.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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