TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2011 /CNW/ - In the spirit of supporting student
awareness about privacy protection and the importance of open
government, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Information and Privacy Commissioner of
Ontario (IPC), has just launched a new Resource Guide for Grade 11/12 Teachers.
Consistent with course profiles funded by the Ontario Ministry of
Education, the comprehensive new guide is designed to engage students'
interest and stimulate group discussion on a variety of timely topics
including freedom of information, individual rights, teens' "online
brand" and social networks.
"Our Office is extremely pleased to offer this new resource to help
educate young people about access to government-held information, an
important public value that underpins our free and democratic society,"
says Commissioner Cavoukian.
"As technology continues to evolve, it is equally important to educate
teens about privacy protection, and the fact that privacy is not about
secrecy — it is about the right of individuals to control their own
personal information."
The Grade 11/12 guide follows the Resource Guide for Grade 10 Teachers, launched by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
late last year. As well, a complementary Privacy by Design lesson is now available to help students understand how privacy can be
designed into technologies, processes and physical spaces. Learn more
about all of the IPC resources, which also includes a Grade 5 Guide, available for teachers on the IPC web site.
Four Key Units in New Grade 11/12 Resource Guide:
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Introduction to the IPC, Freedom of Information and Protection of
Privacy
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Personal Information and Privacy Matters
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Using the Web: Internet Privacy
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Open Government and Freedom of Information Matters
Educators can contact the IPC for free copies at info@ipc.on.ca. In addition, IPC staff are available to profile the new resource guide
in person at school boards.
The IPC would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their
work on the new Grade 11/12 Resource Guide: Bob Spence, former IPC
Communications Co-ordinator, and frontline educators Bernadette Hattar
and Sandra Mateus, both Co-operative Education Teachers at Rick Hansen
Secondary School of the Peel District School Board.
About the IPC The Information and Privacy Commissioner is appointed by and reports to
the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and is independent of the government
of the day. The Commissioner's mandate includes overseeing the access
and privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as the Personal Health Information Protection Act, which applies to both public and private sector health information
custodians. The Commissioner's mandate also includes helping to educate
the public about access and privacy issues.
