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Welcome to Mission Interface: Unlocking Digital Fluency
As a Digital Integration Agent, you’ll learn how to bring digital and media literacy into your classroom by using videos, screen captures, and multimedia projects to make learning more engaging and accessible. You’ll also develop the skills to help your students think critically about digital content, while gaining the confidence to create, analyze, and navigate digital materials responsibly and creatively, preparing both you and your students to thrive in the digital world.
Below is some key information on digital and media literacy that all teachers should know. Once you’ve built your own confidence and expertise, you’ll find resources further down to use directly with your students. These include age-appropriate activities, ready-to-go slides, and take-home materials you can share with families to help extend digital and media literacy learning beyond the classroom.
mission support
Mission support
Digital Literacy Skills
What is digital literacy?
Digital literacy is the ability to confidently use digital tools and technologies to find, understand, evaluate, create, and share information in safe, responsible, and effective ways. It involves not only technical skills, like using devices and applications, but also critical thinking, problem-solving, and safely navigating online platforms. Think of digital literacy as these three core components: Finding and consuming digital content, creating digital content, and communicating or sharing it. As a teacher, possessing strong digital literacy skills is crucial for designing engaging lessons and learning formats, supporting diverse learning needs, and preparing students to navigate more complex technology in the future. Incorporating a variety of technologies and assignment formats into the classroom allows you to deliver curriculum content in interactive, engaging, and enjoyable ways while simultaneously strengthening digital literacy.
What Digital Literacy Brings to You and Your Students
In-Depth Example: Developing Digital Literacy through integrating Video Content in the classroom
Incorporating video content into the classroom is a powerful way to enhance digital literacy for both teachers and students. As part of the process of integrating videos into the classroom, teachers must be able to search, analyze, and vet both the video platforms and the content before using them in lessons. Digital literacy is strengthened in this process by learning what to look for, identifying reliable platforms and content creators, navigating platform filtering systems, and critically analyzing the content. This process is essential to classroom integration to ensure safe, age-appropriate and accurate content for students, which can all be achieved with strong digital literacy skills.
Taking it a step further, you could also have students create their video projects for various assignments in the curriculum, rather than having a traditional writing-based assignment. This process involves both you and the students learning and utilizing various digital tools, such as video recording apps, editing software, and online publishing platforms. Through creating videos, students practice multiple digital literacy skills: planning and researching content, scripting, capturing footage, editing clips, adding audio or text, and sharing their final product responsibly. This experience fosters greater creativity, technical proficiency, and communication skills, all while aligning with classroom curricula and enhancing their digital literacy. Teachers can also integrate lessons on copyright, citing sources and other tools that can improve the content of their videos.
Taking It Further: Screen Capturing – Creating Videos for Ongoing Student Support
Sometimes students come to you with questions about specific lessons or concepts they don’t fully understand. Instead of repeating explanations over and over, teachers with strong digital literacy skills can create and post videos that walk students through any challenging or tricky concepts. Posting these videos provides students with a resource they can refer back to at any time, helping them learn at their own pace and reducing the need for constant one-on-one assistance. Screen Capturing (also known as screen recording) is the process of recording what’s happening on your computer or tablet screen, including any apps, websites, or presentations you’re using to explain something, often with audio narration.
For example, Mrs. Ramirez, a high school math teacher, uses screen-capturing software like Loom to record herself solving problems step-by-step and explaining complex math concepts. She shares these videos with her students, so they can pause, rewind, or rewatch the lessons as many times as needed. This helps students who struggle to keep up with everything in class and allows advanced learners to explore concepts more deeply at their own pace. These videos can then be saved and reused for years, making this digital literacy skill valuable for providing long-term support and resources
How teachers can use screen capturing
- Tutorials and Demonstrations: Create pre-recorded lessons that explain software functions, step-by-step processes, or complex concepts. These can be shared as videos for students to access at any time.
- Feedback and Assessment: Use screen recording to provide visual feedback on assignments, showing exactly what needs improvement while explaining it verbally.
- Virtual Field Trips: Capture online tours or educational websites, allowing students to explore places and ideas they can’t visit in person.
- Collaborative Projects: Students can record their screens while working on group projects to showcase their contributions and teamwork.
- Digital Storytelling: Students use screen capture to combine narration and visuals, creating multimedia presentations that boost creativity and communication skills. This option allows students to give a presentation without using class time for the presentation.
- Software Demonstrations: Show students how to navigate new tools or platforms by recording your screen while explaining features step-by-step.
- Supply Teacher Resources: Teachers can pre-record classroom instructions for supply teachers to use with the class, ensuring students have work to do despite the teacher’s absence.
In the end, using video content, whether through creating student projects, recording screencasts, or producing tutorials, is just one powerful way to build digital literacy in the classroom, giving both you and your students the confidence to explore and master new technologies you may not have used before. If you’re ready to go beyond video and discover even more engaging ways to strengthen digital literacy, like blogs and vlogs, podcasts, digital arts, Canva and online collaboration tools, and even innovative AI applications, check out ICTC’s CyberBytes course for teachers (Topic Design and Evolution), where you’ll find practical, creative digital literacy to bring into the classroom.
Mission support
Media Literacy Skills
What is Media Literacy?
Media literacy is the ability to critically assess, analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide range of media formats, such as news articles, advertisements, television, films, and social media posts, to understand their meaning, purpose, and potential influence. While digital literacy focuses on confidently using digital tools and technologies to find, create, and share information, media literacy focuses on understanding the content itself: who created it, why it was made, what techniques are used to shape its message, and how it might impact different audiences. It’s about recognizing bias, detecting misinformation, interpreting symbolism, and considering ethical implications. In the classroom, strong media literacy skills enable teachers and students to navigate the saturated media environment with discernment, question the messages they encounter, and produce their own media that is accurate, respectful, and impactful.
key ways media literacy benefits teachers and their classrooms
The ability to critically assess and evaluate messages is key to media literacy, enabling us to move beyond simply consuming information to questioning its purpose, accuracy, and impact. This skill becomes especially vital in an environment where misleading narratives can spread quickly and shape public opinion. One of the most pressing challenges in this regard is the growing presence of misinformation and disinformation, making it more important than ever to sharpen our critical lens.
Identifying Mis and Disinformation
Have you ever scrolled through your feed, paused on a headline, and kept moving, only to later realize you took that information at face value without really questioning it? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us consume content so quickly that we don’t stop to ask whether what we’re seeing is true. In that moment, you may have unknowingly absorbed misinformation or disinformation, misleading or completely false content that’s becoming increasingly common online. Social media algorithms are designed to show us content we’re likely to click on, which makes it easier for misleading information to spread quickly and go unchecked.
As a teacher, you’ve likely heard students bring up news stories, headlines, or viral claims that sound questionable or are flat-out false. In today’s media-saturated world, guiding students to think critically about what they see online has become an essential part of your role. Social media, while a powerful tool, has also become a breeding ground for misinformation, and young people are especially vulnerable to accepting what they read at face value. Helping students develop fact-checking habits and a healthy skepticism toward digital content is crucial. But this also begins with your own awareness. Staying critically engaged with the content you consume, especially on social media, sets the tone for your classroom and models the kind of thoughtful, informed digital habits students need now more than ever.
Misinformation
Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information shared without the intent to deceive. Misinformation is often the result of error, misunderstanding, or a lack of knowledge about a subject. People who share misinformation typically believe it to be true at the time they share it. This distinction is crucial in understanding the motivation behind the spread of false information and in addressing the challenges it poses to accurate communication and trust in information sources.
Disinformation
In contrast, disinformation refers to the deliberate act of spreading misleading or biased information, the manipulation of narratives or facts, and propaganda that has the intent to damage reputations or cause harm. Therefore, disinformation is misinformation that is knowingly and intentionally spread. The key difference lies in intent: disinformation is shared with the purpose of deceiving or manipulating others.
Types of misinformation and disinformation
How misinformation snowballs on social media
Social media plays a massive role in how students (and all of us) consume and share information. While these platforms offer connection and access to knowledge, they also create an environment where misinformation can spread rapidly and unnoticed. As educators, it’s essential to understand the mechanisms behind this so you can help students recognize and respond to misinformation critically and responsibly.
- When a small amount of information is available, the truth is shared more often.
- However, when lots of information is available, social media users experience information overload.
- Information overload causes people to share information indiscriminately, without checking if it is true or false.
- Viewers get affected by the emotionally shocking information, particularly exaggerated headlines.
- Search engines and social media promote the most engaging and relevant content for each user.
- Cognitive and social biases are reinforced, making users more vulnerable to manipulation.
The C.R.I.S.P Scan Resource
The C.R.I.S.P. Scan is a great resource handout for students to help them identify and reject disinformation, fake news or false claims, ensuring the information you and your students consume is accurate, healthy and C.R.I.S.P.
Mastering Lateral Reading
Lateral reading is a critical thinking approach that involves verifying and evaluating information by consulting multiple sources before forming a conclusion. Rather than staying on a single page and taking its claims at face value (a practice known as vertical reading), lateral readers “read across” the web, opening new tabs, checking the source’s credibility, and comparing multiple perspectives, to build a clearer, more accurate understanding of a topic. Lateral reading is a crucial skill for navigating online content. Whether scrolling through social media, reading news articles, or researching for an assignment, lateral reading empowers people to make informed judgments based on reliable evidence rather than unverified claims.
Key Practices in Lateral Reading
Evaluating Source Credibility: Looking into who created the content, their expertise, the publication’s reputation, and whether credible references support the claims. Fact-checking websites like Snopes or PolitiFact can help confirm or debunk information.
Assessing Bias: Recognizing that all media can have inherent bias and considering multiple viewpoints to develop a balanced perspective
Cross-Referencing Information: Comparing claims with multiple reputable sources, from different news outlets to academic articles, to verify facts and reveal inconsistencies.
Developing Online Research Skills: Building habits that involve digging deeper, following links to original sources, and questioning unsupported assertions.
Fact-Checking Techniques: Utilize search engines strategically, understand how algorithms influence results, and identify red flags such as clickbait headlines or misleading endorsements.
Combating Misinformation: Using lateral reading not just for personal understanding, but to help stop the spread of false information by sharing reliable sources and correcting inaccuracies when possible.
Relevance to Teachers and Students
1. Critical Thinking Skills
- Lateral reading promotes critical thinking by encouraging individuals to question, evaluate, and analyze information from various perspectives. Teachers can equip students with the ability to critically assess sources, discern credible information, and avoid misinformation or biased narratives. These skills empower students to think independently and make reasoned judgments based on evidence rather than assumptions.
2. Information Literacy
- Today, students are exposed to an overwhelming amount of information online every single day. Teaching lateral reading enables students to navigate online environments thoughtfully and effectively, distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources, recognizing the importance of citations and references, and making informed decisions grounded in evidence.
3. Research Skills
- With the internet serving as a primary research tool, students must learn how to cross-reference information, fact-check claims, and evaluate the credibility of sources. Mastering lateral reading enables them to produce well-informed, high-quality research papers, presentations, and projects that are based on accurate, factual information.
4. Responsible Digital Citizenship
- In an era dominated by fake news and misinformation, lateral reading fosters responsible digital citizenship. Students learn to verify information, recognize biases, and participate in informed and respectful discussions. This reduces the likelihood of them sharing false content and helps them contribute positively to the online community.
5. Protection Against Online Manipulation
- Clickbait headlines, fake news, and propaganda are common tactics used to sway public opinion. Lateral reading strengthens students’ and teachers’ resilience to these forms of manipulation by helping them spot red flags, evaluate information critically, and base decisions on credible evidence.
6. Ethical Use of Information
- Lateral reading naturally supports the ethical use of information by reinforcing the importance of attribution, proper citation, and respect for intellectual property rights. Students develop an understanding of plagiarism and the responsible use of digital content, fostering academic integrity and respect for creators’ work.
Fact Checkers
Imagine you or your students come across a news story or social media post that sounds surprising or hard to believe. How do you know if it’s true? Fact-checking websites are valuable tools that help quickly verify the accuracy of information found online. By using these resources, teachers can demonstrate critical thinking and responsible research, while students build essential skills to question what they see, distinguish fact from misinformation, and become confident, informed digital citizens.
Snopes
Snopes is one of the oldest and most respected fact-checking websites, known for its accuracy and coverage of a wide range of topics. It investigates various types of media, including online text, social media posts, memes, videos, printed materials, and articles from other sources.
While political fact-checking is a significant part of their work, Snopes also addresses questions and rumours that readers frequently ask about or search for, especially viral claims that could cause confusion or misinformation. They use clear rating labels such as true, mostly true, mostly false, unproven, satire, scam, and more to help users understand the reliability of the information.
For teachers and students, Snopes is a valuable resource for exploring and searching fact-checked content, supporting critical thinking and media literacy skills.
PolitiFact
PolitiFact is a well-known fact-checking organization that focuses on verifying political statements and claims within the U.S. political landscape. They carefully examine speeches, transcripts, news reports, press releases, campaign materials, TV broadcasts, and social media posts made by politicians, public figures, and media outlets. To help users understand the accuracy of these claims, PolitiFact employs a clear rating system that includes “true,” “mostly true,” “half true,” “mostly false,” “false,” and the memorable “pants on fire” rating for statements that are not just false but outrageously misleading.
For teachers and students interested in U.S. politics or current events, PolitiFact offers a valuable resource for exploring or searching fact-checked political claims. It’s a great tool for developing critical thinking and media literacy skills around political information.
Teaching Materials (Slide Decks)
Here are three slide shows, filtered by grade range (Grades 9–12, 5–8, and 1–4), that you can add straight into Google Classroom. These slideshows make it easy for you to turn the information into teachable lessons with ready-to-go slides so that students can become the experts themselves. You can present them in class or share them with students and parents to explore on their own.
Classroom Activities
Here are lesson activities you can use directly in the classroom or upload to Google Classroom. There is a teacher version and a student version that can be directly handed out. This version works as a teacher guide or can be shared with students for easy use. The activities are curriculum-aligned and designed to deepen students’ understanding of cybersafety concepts. They are organized by grade range (Grades K-4 and Grades 5-12) and conveniently included in a single document for easy access.
continuing the cybersafety mission
Playing with Razors: A Handy Guide for Teens
“Playing With Razors: A Handy Guide for Teens?” Wait. What?! That title definitely grabs your attention. Would you have been as intrigued if it were called “Debunking Disinformation”? Probably not. Congratulations, you just fell for clickbait! But don’t worry, this time it’s harmless and intentional.
This course is designed to help teens navigate the tricky world of online information with confidence. In today’s digital age, where posts, videos, and messages spread faster than ever, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s true, half-true, or completely false. This course will give teens the tools to think critically, spot misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, and make informed choices. With the C.R.I.S.P. method as their guide, they will learn to cut through the noise and take control of their digital world, empowering themselves and those around them.
CyberBytes: Empowering Educators Through Digital Literacy
The CyberBytes Program is a free, self-paced course created exclusively for K-12 educators in Canada, designed to fit your schedule and enhance both your personal and professional growth. Developed by certified cybersecurity experts, this program empowers you to create engaging, tech-savvy classrooms while equipping you and your students with the skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
The flexible, self-paced course enables you to progress through three levels of training in four key areas, striking a balance between foundational knowledge and advanced applications. In Cyber in Culture and Society, you’ll explore the internet’s impact on daily life, identify disinformation, apply cyber ethics, use collaborative tools, and support mental and physical well-being with technology. The Cyber Backbone covers essential IT knowledge, including networking, hardware, software, and internet fundamentals. Cybersecurity and Privacy teaches how to protect personal information, secure devices, and understand privacy laws. Finally, Cyber Design and Evolution explores user experience design, 3D modelling, virtual and augmented reality, and how technology can enhance accessibility and creativity.
Join Cyberbytes today to empower yourself, transform your classroom, and help shape a digitally literate future.
✅Designed for Canadian Educators: Tailored to K-12 teachers across Canada.
✅Personalized Learning: Build skills at your own pace, focusing on topics relevant to you.
✅Expert-Driven Content: Created by certified cybersecurity experts.
✅Flexible and Accessible: Self-paced and available nationwide.
✅Open to all current K-12 educators in the Canadian school system. Start your journey to master digital literacy today!
Preparing Students for Tomorrow’s Digital World with their global education program
Cisco Networking Academy offers a free global program that equips schools with interactive courses, virtual labs, hands-on projects, and a wealth of resources. Students gain essential digital and professional skills, explore careers in IT and technology, and can earn badges and certifications that set them up for success. Teachers receive comprehensive, ready-to-use content, adaptable teaching resources, and continuous support, all without the need for specialized equipment. Their platform offers courses in a wide range of in-demand topics, including Digital Literacy & Professional Skills, Cybersecurity & Networking, Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, Programming, IT & Operating Systems, and Hands-on practical projects for real-world experience.
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a neutral, not-for-profit national centre of expertise with the mission of strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in the global economy. For over 30 years, and with a team over 100 experts, they have delivered forward-looking research, practical policy advice, and capacity-building solutions for individuals and businesses. ICTC’s goal is to ensure that technology is utilized to drive economic growth and innovation and that Canada’s workforce remains competitive on a global scale.
ICTC’s National CyberDay is funded by the Government of Canada’s CanCode Initiative.
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