Digital Citizenship Initiative Helps Academics Navigate On-line Security
When center faculty trainer Kim Lepre was invited to evaluation this Digital Citizenship Initiative, she anticipated the same old reminders about on-line security. However she was pleasantly shocked to seek 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 provides 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 observe sensible decision-making within the digital world.
What had been your preliminary ideas in regards to 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 in regards to 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 provide you with the most secure however nonetheless participating variations of a social submit. For me because the trainer, the most important 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 youngsters instantly, and it gave us a standard language for speaking about on-line security. I might additionally see it working as a fast plug-in lesson throughout ELA or social research after we discuss viewers and accountability.
Which components 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 transforming it right into a secure however nonetheless enjoyable submit (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 straight into our ongoing conversations about being accountable on-line. We speak so much about how phrases and actions matter in particular person, and this program helps prolong that to college students’ digital lives. It reinforces the concept each submit, remark, or share is a alternative that displays who they’re, and that accountable on-line habits is simply as vital as accountable habits within the classroom.
What do you assume college students might achieve from collaborating on this initiative?
I admire 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 the best way 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 picture element—can have lasting results.
How might these supplies prolong to assist mother and father and households at house?
The teachings are easy sufficient that youngsters can take them house and clarify what they discovered. Just a few college students talked about speaking to their mother and father 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 lecture rooms?
Don’t overthink it. Simply attempt it out with one video or one exercise. The supplies are versatile sufficient to suit into any class interval. Plus, it’s simple to choose and select which of them match into your pacing or the grade you train.
You possibly can use these classes at a father or mother night time or throughout a group tech occasion. Our college has hosted comparable occasions round on-line security and psychological well being, so this is able to match proper in.
What do you admire most in regards to the initiative’s strategy to educating digital accountability?
It treats college students as able to making sensible decisions. The supplies should not fear-based or punitive. It demonstrates sensible methods, which makes them take extra possession over their on-line habits.
Why do you assume applications like this are vital in at this time’s lecture rooms?
Prefer it or not, digital areas are the place youngsters spend a lot of their time, even when it’s behind their mother and father’ backs. Simply as we train them the best way 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 evaluation of the Digital Citizenship Initiative beneath.
