Designing for Critical Digital Literacy: Counter–Fairy Tales and Instagram Shape-Shifters

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual Poster Session: SIG-Writing and Literacies Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

This study examined the use of critical digital literacy (Mirra, Morrell, & Filipiak, 2018) as a tool to guide New Media curriculum design in secondary classrooms in British Columbia. Teachers collaborated with the researcher to design and implement units focusing on critical digital consumption, production, and distribution of media. Here, we focus on student outcomes and emerging questions from two units. The first was inspired by the musical Hamilton, and asked students to consider: “Who tells your story?” Students wrestled with counternarratives and produced multimodal projects that engaged questions of power and identity. The second revolved around social media influencers and activism, and pushed students to engage in critical perspective-taking as they designed social media posts for multiple audiences.

Authors

• Robyn Ilten-Gee, Simon Fraser University
  Presenting Author

• Mark McLean, Vancouver School Board
  Presenting Author

• Roberta Loo
  Presenting Author

• James Francom, Van Tech Secondary
  Presenting Author