Page 172 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-12: Health and Physical Education, 2015 - revised

Grade 11, College Preparation
C1. demonstrate the ability to assess the quality of health information and use credible health information to make informed decisions and take appropriate action about matters affecting their health;
C2. demonstrate an understanding of the components of healthy communities and the factors that affect and sustain health within them;
C3. demonstrate the ability to influence and support others in making positive health choices.
C1. Consumer Health
THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9–12 | Health and Physical Education
SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:
C1.1 assess the quality of health information, products, and services, and use information from reliable sources to make informed choices of health-related products, programs, and facilities (e.g., foods, health and exercise equipment, fitness facilities, skin treatments, health and wellness programs, dietary supplements)
Teacher prompt: “There are many different sources of health information, but how do
we know which sources are reliable and accurate? The most reliable health information
is based on current evidence and expert knowledge and comes from expert sources. The information that we get from government sources such as the Mental Health Commission of Canada; Health Canada; the Public Health Agency of Canada; the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport; the Ministry of Children and Youth Services; and public health units meets that criterion. So too does information from leading science organizations, research journals, and respected non-governmental organizations such as the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, the Offord Centre for Child Studies, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Factual information that is required by law, such as the ingredient list and Nutrition Facts Table on food labels, can also be considered reliable.
“Trustworthy information about the quality of commercial products and services can be obtained from sources such as Consumer Reports that are independent of any commercial interests and have the expertise and resources to perform thorough evaluations. If you want to know whether a company you are about to deal with can be trusted, you can check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a record of complaints. A web search may also reveal comments by people who have had experience with the product or company you are interested in. If you are thinking of using a product to treat a health condition, consult your family doctor first.
“The Internet provides easy access to information from many trusted sources, but it can also be a source of unreliable, fraudulent, and even dangerous information. If you find information that is inconsistent with what known reliable sources are saying, be careful. Check the author’s qualifications. Not everyone who claims to be an expert is an expert. Do a web search and check the reputation of the organization sponsoring the website. Your critical thinking and research skills will be your best tools for determining whether a site can be trusted or not.”
C. HEALTHY COMMUNITIES OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:
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