About NFB Mediatheque Education Programs

NFB Mediatheque Educational Workshops

The Mediatheque's innovative programs continue the NFB's legacy of technical innovation and the production of challenging, socially relevant content, as we provide the tools for students to create their own animated films , discuss important social justice issues, develop important messages, converse in a new language or experiment with documentary filmmaking.

Hands-on animation and filmmaking workshops challenge students to tell their own stories with the guidance of expert facilitators, while interactive workshops on the history of documentary film or the role of films in raising awareness about important social issues develop students' critical thinking and media literacy skills.

Not only for students, these workshops provide Canadians with an opportunity to contribute to the Canadian media landscape by both critiquing and creating media. This year the NFB Mediatheque is pleased to offer an ongoing teacher professional development program that will equip educators with the tools to teach students to de-construct and create their own media with the assistance of ground-breaking documentary and animation films.

All NFB Mediatheque programs are enhanced by non-sexist, non-violent and non-racist programming from the vast NFB collection of award-winning films for youth.

NFB Mediatheque workshops are directly linked to the Ontario Ministry of Education & Training Curriculum. Programs are continually evaluated and updated to reflect trends in teaching, curriculum and contemporary issues.

Pedagogical Approach

All activities are dynamic and interactive, engaging students in the learning process. Workshop structure and content are connected to the problem-solving approach outlined and endorsed by contemporary educational theory and practice. Instruction and activities can be adjusted to align with the motor skills and cognitive abilities of all groups. We take pride in our ability to create programming that is challenging, suitable and fun for all.

Target Subject Areas

Workshops encourage learning through interaction and experimentation, utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates visual arts, language arts, social studies and media literacy.

What to Expect in an NFB workshop

While fun is always the main goal in NFB Mediatheque workshops, we strive to meet objectives set forth in the Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum. Many of the key skills and competencies that are central in our workshops meet objectives across Canada, including:

• Media literacy
• Critical analysis
• Team work and collaboration
• Art appreciation
• Creative problem solving
• Storytelling
• Communication skills
• Introduction to and appropriate use of film/video production vocabulary
• Description and interpretation of filmic works
• Production of issue-driven works of art
• Planning and troubleshooting
• Leadership
• Understanding basic production roles and responsibilities
• Introduction to careers in the arts

Note: Learning outcomes vary according to type of workshop and target audience.