When center college instructor Kim Lepre was invited to overview this Digital Citizenship Initiative, she anticipated the same old reminders about on-line security. However she was pleasantly stunned to search out a lot extra to assist get her college students considering and speaking about their digital lives in new methods. Accessible as a part of Verizon’s Digital Wellness sources by means of a partnership with Discovery Training, the initiative gives versatile sources that assist college students discover what it actually means to be accountable on-line.
On this Trainer Choose, Kim shares how this system sparked significant conversations in her classroom and gave college students an opportunity to observe sensible decision-making within the digital world.
What had been your preliminary ideas concerning the Digital Citizenship Initiative?
At first, I anticipated a reasonably typical digital security lesson—reminders to “watch out on-line.” However as soon as my college students truly tried the teachings, I noticed how interactive and discussion-based they’re.
After reviewing the supplies, what stood out to you most concerning the initiative?
What stood out was how naturally my college students engaged with it. They weren’t simply listening to me, they had been analyzing posts, debating dangers, and even competing to give you the most secure however nonetheless participating variations of a social put up. For me because the instructor, the largest win was that it didn’t really feel like I used to be pulling tooth to get them to take part.
How did you introduce the subject of digital citizenship to your college students?
I launched it throughout our advisory block, and it labored completely as a mixture of quick video plus hands-on exercise. It hooked the children straight away, and it gave us a typical language for speaking about on-line security. I may additionally see it working as a fast plug-in lesson throughout ELA or social research once we discuss viewers and accountability.
Which elements of the Digital Citizenship Initiative do you suppose would resonate most together with your college students? Why?
The post-makeover exercise was their favourite. They loved the problem of taking one thing dangerous and transforming it right into a protected however nonetheless enjoyable put up (stuffed with Gen Alpha slang). It felt related to them as a result of they’re already posting on social media every day.
It ties immediately into our ongoing conversations about being accountable on-line. We speak rather a lot about how phrases and actions matter in individual, and this program helps lengthen that to college students’ digital lives. It reinforces the concept that each put up, remark, or share is a selection that displays who they’re, and that accountable on-line habits is simply as essential as accountable habits within the classroom.
What do you suppose college students may acquire from taking part on this initiative?
I admire that it frames college students as problem-solvers. As a substitute of simply obeying guidelines as instructed, college students labored by means of actual situations and made safer selections on their very own. Additionally, not all college students are allowed on social media, so I preferred that this confirmed them easy methods to responsibly use it.
It makes the idea of a digital footprint tangible. As a substitute of listening to “watch out,” they see precisely how small selections—like a location tag or photograph element—can have lasting results.
How may these supplies lengthen to assist mother and father and households at residence?
The teachings are easy sufficient that youngsters can take them residence and clarify what they realized. A couple of college students talked about speaking to their mother and father about cookies or app permissions after class.
What recommendation would you give to different lecturers who’re contemplating utilizing the Digital Citizenship Initiative of their lecture rooms?
Don’t overthink it. Simply strive it out with one video or one exercise. The supplies are versatile sufficient to suit into any class interval. Plus, it’s simple to select and select which of them match into your pacing or the grade you educate.
You would use these classes at a mum or dad evening or throughout a neighborhood tech occasion. Our faculty has hosted related occasions round on-line security and psychological well being, so this might match proper in.
What do you admire most concerning the initiative’s strategy to educating digital accountability?
It treats college students as able to making sensible selections. The supplies aren’t fear-based or punitive. It demonstrates sensible methods, which makes them take extra possession over their on-line habits.
Why do you suppose applications like this are essential in right now’s lecture rooms?
Prefer it or not, digital areas are the place children spend a lot of their time, even when it’s behind their mother and father’ backs. Simply as we educate them easy methods to work in teams or resolve conflicts face-to-face, we now have to equip them with the abilities to do the identical on-line.
Watch Kim’s video overview of the Digital Citizenship Initiative under.
