When center faculty instructor Kim Lepre was invited to evaluate this Digital Citizenship Initiative, she anticipated the same old reminders about on-line security. However she was pleasantly shocked to search out a lot extra to assist get her college students pondering 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 affords versatile sources that assist college students discover what it actually means to be accountable on-line.
On this Instructor Choose, Kim shares how this system sparked significant conversations in her classroom and gave college students an opportunity to follow sensible decision-making within the digital world.
What have been your preliminary ideas concerning the Digital Citizenship Initiative?
At first, I anticipated a fairly typical digital security lesson—reminders to “watch out on-line.” However as soon as my college students really tried the teachings, I spotted 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 have 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 most important win was that it didn’t really feel like I used to be pulling enamel 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 brief video plus hands-on exercise. It hooked the children instantly, and it gave us a standard language for speaking about on-line security. I may additionally see it working as a fast plug-in lesson throughout ELA or social research after we discuss viewers and accountability.
Which elements of the Digital Citizenship Initiative do you assume 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 remodeling it right into a secure however nonetheless enjoyable put up (full of Gen Alpha slang). It felt related to them as a result of they’re already posting on social media day by day.
It ties straight into our ongoing conversations about being accountable on-line. We discuss so much about how phrases and actions matter in individual, and this program helps prolong that to college students’ digital lives. It reinforces the concept that each put up, remark, or share is a alternative that displays who they’re, and that accountable on-line habits is simply as necessary as accountable habits within the classroom.
What do you assume college students may achieve from taking part on this initiative?
I recognize that it frames college students as problem-solvers. As an alternative of simply obeying guidelines as instructed, college students labored by means of actual eventualities and made safer decisions on their very own. Additionally, not all college students are allowed on social media, so I appreciated that this confirmed them find out how to responsibly use it.
It makes the idea of a digital footprint tangible. As an alternative of listening to “watch out,” they see precisely how small decisions—like a location tag or photograph element—can have lasting results.
How may these supplies prolong to assist dad and mom and households at dwelling?
The teachings are easy sufficient that children can take them dwelling and clarify what they realized. A couple of college students talked about speaking to their dad and mom about cookies or app permissions after class.
What recommendation would you give to different academics who’re contemplating utilizing the Digital Citizenship Initiative of their school 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 straightforward to choose and select which of them match into your pacing or the grade you educate.
You possibly can use these classes at a mother or father night time or throughout a group tech occasion. Our college has hosted related occasions round on-line security and psychological well being, so this might match proper in.
What do you recognize most concerning the initiative’s strategy to instructing digital accountability?
It treats college students as able to making sensible decisions. The supplies are usually not fear-based or punitive. It demonstrates sensible methods, which makes them take extra possession over their on-line habits.
Why do you assume packages like this are necessary in right now’s school rooms?
Prefer it or not, digital areas are the place youngsters spend a lot of their time, even when it’s behind their dad and mom’ backs. Simply as we educate them find out how to work in teams or resolve conflicts face-to-face, we now have to equip them with the talents to do the identical on-line.
Watch Kim’s video evaluate of the Digital Citizenship Initiative beneath.
