The Dire Need for Media Education

National Media Education Week was an effective way at targeting youth to think critically of media technologies. Whether it is the internet or common television, this campaign was aimed at providing teachers with curriculum to teach students the dangers of media technologies. National Media Education Week was even sponsored by CTVGlobemedia with advertisements during the campaign week. I found it difficult to participate in this week due to my position as a student but I wanted to spread the word on how this movement is aimed at teaching students, therefore I emailed the link to my old guidance councillor from high school. She placed a poster of National Media Education Week in the staff room in order to promote the cause. I am not sure if anything was accomplished but I do know that several courses in my high school outline the importance of critical thinking when using the media in any way. National Media Education Week can also be used to target cyber bullying and to prove that technology can be abused. It is important to have such a campaign to incorporate media awareness into the education system in Canada. However, from my personal experiences there is not enough of this education available for students in grade eight and nine (the transitional grades). Hopefully this campaign will increase the urgency for more media education during those years.