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Media Arts

Media Arts

Providing students with access to effective media arts programming is a priority at the Toronto District School Board. Media Arts education is an important part of a student’s school experience and we are proud of the strong media arts programs offered across our schools. 

Media Arts is a strand that begins in Grade 10 in the Secondary (Grades 9-12) provincially mandated Ontario Arts Curriculum. Expectations within all of the arts disciplines (Dance, Drama, Music, Media Arts, Visual Arts) are framed by the creative and critical thinking processes.

Media Arts in Secondary Schools
Media arts in secondary schools focuses on the development of students’ creativity, artistic and technical skills, and theoretical knowledge. Students produce media art works that communicate ideas, feelings, and beliefs to specific audiences. It also provides students with the opportunity to reflect on the social, cultural, and historical contexts of media art, which enhances their understanding of the world in which they live. The technologies and processes used and adapted to create media art may be traditional, including, but not limited to, photography, film, photocopy art, analog and electro-acoustic sound, classical animation, and video/television. The technologies and processes may also be digital: computer software, digital imaging and graphics, digital sound recording and sonic sculpture, two- and three-dimensional animation, multimedia production, holography, and web page design. (adapted from the Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9/10, The Arts)

Media Arts in TDSB schools takes many forms and can be unique to each school and broader community. In order to graduate, students are required to take an arts credit and students can enroll in multiple credits in media arts from Grade 10-12. Media arts courses in TDSB secondary schools include multiple forms and genres with a strong emphasis on creativity and student voice.

Exhibition Opportunities
TDSB educators value the benefits that exhibition opportunities can offer to both students and the broader school community.  They are also very committed to process based learning in the classroom including the facilitation and inclusion of student creativity and critical thinking, student voice, mental health and well-being for all, as well as practices that explore social justice in the classroom.  TDSB educators are committed to exploring ways to use media arts education as an anti-colonial practice, in classrooms, exhibitions, resources, and partnerships with the broader community.

In addition to offerings for students in their school programs, TDSB offers a variety of enhancements to the media arts curriculum such as system wide showcases and artist in the classroom projects. Please see the events page for details.

Professional Learning for Teachers
All TDSB Teachers can access professional learning opportunities in media arts such as exploration classrooms and learning modules throughout the year. All TDSB board wide projects, festivals and concerts are embedded with professional learning, and are rich growth opportunities for teachers as well as students.

Partnerships
Schools are welcome to invite Artists from the TDSB Educational Partnership directory to their schools to enrich programs.