Teaching Digital Safety

The appearance of education has evolved throughout the years.  Technology has changed the face of classrooms across the world, from writing on a chalkboard to conducting a lesson on a SMARTboard, technology has proven to be effective for students as well as teachers.  These days, children are exposed to technological tools even before they start school.  Therefore, it is important to incorporate the use of technology in the classroom, as well as teach students about the importance of digital safety as early as possible. Teachers could use their lesson plans and provide activities in order to teach their students about digital safety in regards to cyber bullying and textual harassment.

Bullying is a major issue in schools throughout the country. Technology gives students a new medium in which to bully.  Cyber bullying is defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cellphones, and other electronic devices,” (Hinduja & Patchin, 2011).  In the video Cyberbullying: What’s Crossing the Line? Amy Withers, a teacher at Amistad Dual Language School in New York City, successfully carries out her lesson on cyber bullying through the use of a video and class discussion (Common Sense Educators, 2013).  The students were able to identify the issues that derived from cyber bullying and are able to come up with their own conclusions as to what the consequences are and how they can prevent the issue.  Media in lesson plans and activities is a great tool for teachers to introduce a difficult concept to the class.  It is also effective in evoking emotion from the students and allows them to open up and share through discussion.

Texting is a feature popular among students.  Cellphones and computers are considerable outlets for these teens.  It is a way for them to express themselves without being seen, and gives them a certain level of confidence in this way because they are not face to face with the other person on the receiving end.  However, texting can become dangerous when done for reasons other than simple communication.  Teachers can incorporate safe texting into their lesson plans by creating an activity that allows the students to determine what are appropriate and inappropriate messages.  Activities on the TextED website are also a great way for teachers to instruct their students on the do's and don'ts of texting.  Lessons and activities on texting and sexting should be aimed at the middle school and high school levels.

As an elementary teacher, I would use media such as videos to introduce my lesson.  I would then allow my students to explore the concept of digital safety by having them complete activities such as those found on netsmartzkids.org.  It is important for my students to be able to protect themselves against cyber bullies and dangerous texting, therefore digital safety concerning these issues will definitely be incorporated into my lesson plans and activities in my classroom.


References:

Common Sense Educators. (2013, June 19). Cyberbullying: What's Crossing the Line? [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/lesson/cyberbullying-crossing-line-6-8

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2010).  Cyberbullying fact sheet:  Identification, Prevention, and Response.  Cyberbullying Research Center. [PDF File].  Retrieved [2013, November 18], from http://www.cyberbullying.us/Cyberbullying_Identification_Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf