Beyond the Click: Deepening Digital Literacy Through Critical Media Engagement

Building on foundational digital literacy skills, this session takes educators deeper into teaching students how to critically engage with the complex digital landscape they navigate every day. Participants will explore strategies for guiding junior/intermediate learners in analyzing bias, perspective, algorithms, and the construction of online identities. Through inquiry-based approaches and real-world examples, educators will examine how to support students in recognizing misinformation, understanding how media messages are crafted, and using digital tools responsibly and ethically. This session will also provide practical classroom activities, assessment ideas, and frameworks for cultivating digitally savvy students who are not just consumers—but active, informed participants in the digital world.