Quebec's Tele-Education Service Stands as Pillar in Digital Learning Field
In this digital age, screens dominate our lives, but they're not all created equal, according to Télé-Québec's CEO, Marie Collin. Public media, without any advertising pressure or inappropriate content, serves as an educational catalyst for our youth.
Kids are glued to screens from a young age, often as early as 2, and their screen time increases rapidly, as revealed in the OECD report "How's Life for Children in the Digital Age?". While digital spaces provide opportunities for learning and creativity, they also pose threats like inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and problematic social media use, impairing children's mental health, sleep, and development.
A world of digital content demands careful consideration. Tech companies and their powerful algorithms fracture young minds without considering their educational and cultural needs. In contrast, a public media dedicated to youth stands out, with a mission to create a secure and enriching environment for young people to develop. Unlike commercial platforms driven by profitability, public media focus on quality, originality, and inclusivity.
Télé-Québec embodies this vision since its inception, offering intelligent and stimulating programs for curious young minds. From educational projects to stories celebrating diversity, its content encourages imagination and cultivates a connection with Quebec identity. This alternates fragmented digital content, creating a cohesive experience designed specifically for young audiences, adapted to their pace, and suitable for family viewing.
Every day, screens transform into learning and cultural vectors, not just distractions. Instead of attempting to ban screens for children, we should guide parents, educators, and children to tame technology effectively. The Quebec College of Family Physicians suggests integrating digital citizenship workshops into the school curriculum, while the Quebec Association of Neuropsychologists recommends promoting good habits among both adults and children.
Public media, like Télé-Québec, acts as a true educational lever, offering content like Passe-Partout, a beloved program for many generations of Quebecers. It provides universal access to its content for the entire Quebec population, ensuring it's free, educational, and void of advertising pressure or inappropriate content.
By teaching digital literacy rather than demonizing technology, we can transform screens into learning tools for future generations. Through education and guidance, we can shift the focus from uncontrolled distractions to positive learning experiences and interactions. This approach prioritizes safety, education, and adapted content, making public media an essential partner for a well-informed and responsible digital society.
In response to the OECD report, we encourage a dialogue on the role of screens and public media in children's lives. By working together, we can mitigate the risks associated with digital media consumption and promote balanced, responsible, and enriching digital experiences for our youth.
- Public media, such as Télé-Québec, aim to create a secure and enriching home-and-garden for young minds, offering a cohesive environment designed for their pace and suitable for family viewing.
- Much like Télé-Québec's program Passe-Partout, technology can serve as a learning tool for sustainable-living, if we focus on digital literacy instead of demonizing screens.
- In the education-and-self-development realm, integrating digital citizenship workshops into the school curriculum can help guide children, parents, and educators to effectively manage technology.
- By fostering responsible online-education and promoting balanced digital experiences, we can ensure a safer and more enriching lifestyle for the younger generation, in parallel with the evolving data-and-cloud-computing landscape.
