Building on the tools, resources, mindsets, and technologies covered in this module, we will explore how to bring technology into your STEM workshops, camps, and programs in ways that have a meaningful impact. This involves not only integrating coding and digital skills, but also making intentional cross-curricular connections. By presenting how technologies intersect with various STEM fields, you will help youth understand its role in real-world problem solving and innovation, empowering them to recognize its importance in shaping the future. 

Navigating Digital Spaces

It is essential to equip youth with the knowledge and skills to interact safely and responsibility in the digital world. This is a foundational concept of the Cyber Smart Education Project. In this section, we will explore Digital Citizenship and Digital Hygiene - two critical skills that empower youth to be informed, ethical, and safe participants in digital spaces. 

• Digital Citizenship involves the responsible use of technology and the information we encounter, leave, and share online - our digital footprint. It includes understanding how to behave ethically and respectfully in digital spaces, while recognizing the impact of our digital actions on ourselves, others, and society. 
• Equally important is Digital Hygiene, which focuses on the practical steps we can take to protect our privacy and security online. Similar to how personal hygiene keeps our bodies healthy, good digital hygiene practices help keep our digital identities safe. This includes regularly updating software, using strong and unique passwords, avoiding suspicious links or downloads, managing privacy settings, and being mindful of online behaviour to reduce the risk of cybersecurity threats and data breaches.

Together, Digital Citizenship and Hygiene are essential to preparing youth to thrive in a connected world. Here are some strategies and considerations to help you improve and maintain your own online presence, while also incorporating these mindsets in your STEM workshops, camps, and programs: 

• Personal Online Presence: Review the privacy settings on your social media platforms and consider limiting the personal information visible to youth and others in order to protect against unwanted attention. 
• Digital Devices: Prior to providing youth with devices, it is important to clear out any previous user data, including browsing history, open accounts, or saved passwords. It is also important to provide devices that are approved for classroom use rather than any personal devices. Ensure that all classroom-approved devices are connected to a secure, monitored network, and set clear guidelines with youth about using digital devices responsibly. 
• Model Good Practices: When using web-based technologies, set a good example by following strong security practices yourself and empowering youth to recognize the importance of securing their digital accounts and engaging respectfully in online spaces.

Report - Media Literacy x Digital Citizenship

Check out Media Literacy Packet for an AI World (Google, 2024), a guidebook prepared by Google that covers key media literacy concepts and includes ready-to-use lesson plans that can be brought into your STEM programs, camps, or workshops.

Developed Resources 

Actua has created a set of resources to support your digital skills content development, designed to streamline your planning process and integrate coding and digital skills into the learning environment in an experiential, relevant, and accessible manner.

Developed Resources Section 1 - Artificial Intelligence

AI Content For Youth

Actua has developed a set of classroom-ready activities to guide youth to think critically and engage responsibly with AI. They are designed to give youth the knowledge, values, and confidence to understand how AI shapes their lives and communities, and to make informed, thoughtful choices.

Open slideshow in new tab: Actua's AI Youth Content Hub.

AI in Context: Responsibility and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence

Actua has developed a resource to support instructors in leading meaningful conversations with youth about how AI is created, used, and experienced. The resource encourages values-based reflection on human agency and responsibility while fostering curiosity, dialogue, and informed decision-making as digital citizens.

actua.ca/learning-hub/ethics-and-ai

AI Tools and Resources List

Actua has curated a digital library of third-party resource and AI platforms for you to explore and potentially incorporate into your programming.

Note: It is important that you discuss the use of any online application or account creation with your team and/or supervisor and follow any organizational guidelines and policies related to technology use and/or account creation.

Open slideshow in new tab: AI in Action: Tools and Resources Library.

UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Students

Actua’s AI content is aligned with the UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Students. By embedding cyber safety and ethical considerations into our content, we aim to empower young people to think critically about AI and recognize its influence on their lives and communities.

When developing or adapting any activities, we encourage you to use this framework as a reference to ensure your activities include opportunities for youth to explore how AI works, reflect on ethical considerations, and think critically about how AI affects individuals and communities. Find out more about the framework: AI competency framework for students!

Youth Reflection Journal

Leverage the Youth Reflection Journal to support participants in documenting their AI learning, capturing their ideas and questions, and reflecting on how their understanding develops over time.

Access the reflection journal here.

Developed Resources Section 2 - Digital Skills

Coding and Digital Skills Framework

Actua's Coding and Digital Skills framework establishes a cohesive framework focused on the toolsets, skill sets, and mindsets we aim to nurture in youth through coding and digital skills content. When designing an activity, it is essential to reflect on these connections and challenge yourself to support youth in each of these ways.

Open slideshow in new tab: Actua's Coding and Digital Skills Framework.

Content Framework Guide

The Coding and Digital Skills Content Framework Guide highlights key themes that align with the evolving digital landscape and industry trends. Designed to support the planning stages of activities, workshops, or camps, this guide offers relevant topics and ideas for embedding coding and digital skills. The goal is to help you create lesson plans and activities that are engaging, meaningful, and accessible for youth. Open in a new tab: Content Framework Guide.

Cyber Smart Youth Activities

Actua has a suite of activities to support discussing Cyber Smart topics including digital citizenship and hygiene for participants in Grade 2 to 12. When introducing digital skills and AI into programs, we recommend incorporating experiential learning experiences that promote cyber safety, security, and digital citizenship. Open in a new tab: Cyber Smart Youth Activities.

Educational Technology in Action

Actua has curated a comprehensive list of educational technologies to engage youth in interactive and meaningful learning experiences. This resource serves as a starting point to support you in discovering tools and platforms that support coding and digital skills development, and can be seamlessly integrated into your STEM workshops, camps, and programs. 

Open slideshow in new tab: EduTech Essentials: A Curated Guide.

Note: It is important that you discuss the use of any online application or account creation with your team and/or supervisor and follow any organizational guidelines and policies related to technology use and/or account creation.

Activity 15: Exploring EduTech - Bridging STEM and Digital Tools

Using the chart in your Activity Workbook or one similar to complete this activity.

1. Choose one to four web-based educational technology platforms from EduTech Essentials: A Curated Guide under Educational Technology in Action. This list also includes educational technology that leverages emerging technology. 
2. Start by exploring the technology, then connect it to STEM concepts. 
3. Finally, reflect on how you might integrate it into your STEM workshops, camps, and programs. 

Tech Integration

Cross-Curricular STEM Connections

Beyond Digital Implementation