Digital Media Literacy
The Junior Cycle short course in Digital Media Literacy develops in students a greater sense of what it takes to thrive in a digital environment through four inter-connected strands: My digital world; Following my interests online; Checking the facts and Publishing myself.
Strand 1: My digital world.
In this strand, students explore how and why to use digital technologies; investigate the ethical and legal issues around downloading media from the internet and develop an understanding of online safety for themselves and others.
Strand 2: Following my interests online.
In this strand, students will explore how digital texts are published and their various purposes; they will compare how similar information is presented in different formats and explore how to represent information using digital imagery.
Strand 3: Checking the facts.
In this strand, students will investigate how the choice of digital media influences and impacts on consumer patterns and explore the notion of bias and influence online.
Strand 4: Publishing myself.
In this strand, students investigate online rights and risks, demonstrate good standards and protocols for online sharing of information and learn to cite and reference accurately when using online sources.
Classroom-Based Assessment: Final Project
The final project is a significant piece of work that can be presented/published in an appropriate digital format, and should be completed towards the end of the course. It can be based on any topic related to the course. This project will be published and should demonstrate engagement with learning outcomes across all four strands. As part of the Classroom-Based Assessment, students should encompass an awareness of how to remain safe online, how to respond to potentially harmful situations, the benefits and risks of social networking, and how to be a respectful and responsible online citizen.