Most kids are familiar with using their devices, such as smartphones, iPads, or laptops, but there's much more to being a savvy digital citizen. Being fully prepared to tackle a world of technology means understanding how to use it appropriately.
Diana Graber, founder of Cyber Civics, Cyberwise and author of “Raising Humans in a Digital World,” first noticed the need for education in this area in 2010 at her children’s school.
Graber, who holds a master’s degree in media psychology and social change, took action by developing a digital literacy curriculum for middle schoolers to help them establish a healthy relationship with technology.
Teaching young people enables them to understand how to use technology ethically and wisely. According to the Cyber Civics website, their curriculum educates them on ethics, privacy, balance, and the decision-making aspects required to survive and thrive in the digital age during adolescence.
This gives them the necessary groundwork at a time when there is a national, if not global, recognition of the real need for media literacy education.
Effects of media education
A study released in the National Library of Medicine on the effects of media literacy education on knowledge and behavioral intention of adolescents in dealing with media messages found that mass media impacts the health behaviors of adolescents.
“Evidence demonstrates that traditional strategies such as censorship or limitation are no longer effective; therefore, teaching media literacy is the best way to safeguard adolescents from harmful effects,” the study indicates.
When Karen Hite, a grade-school teacher at Kimberton Waldorf School, Chester County, began implementing the Cyber Civics curriculum for a sixth-grade class six years ago, she discovered it was an excellent and straightforward curriculum to incorporate into a 40-minute lesson each week without having any specific expertise or training.
“It is designed to start in sixth grade because middle schoolers have more exposure to social media, phones, and online,” Hite stated. “It’s when a shift occurs, and they start looking outward to their peers more, and that increased awareness of their peers and peer pressure is part of why the curriculum was designed.”
Recognizing misinformation
Cyber Civics lessons cover a range of concepts, from basic to more advanced. It begins with understanding what it means to be a citizen in any community and how to apply that to the digital world, and then progresses to privacy and personal information, identifying misinformation, interpreting visual images, recognizing stereotypes and media representations, and ethical thinking in future technologies.
Hite said the curriculum for sixth graders explored how a computer functions, how to conduct research, and then transitioned to more critical thinking.
“They were taught about checking facts and identifying fake news, and how to determine the credibility of what they see in a story,” she stated.
There is also a lesson where they dismantle old computers to display their inner workings.
“It’s making this mysterious box less mysterious and revealing what enables it to function,” she stated.
Engaging activities
Recently, she conducted a Cyber Civics lesson for her eighth-grade class that included inquiries and tasks for small groups to carry out.
“They had to discern which internet pictures were authentic and which were not, and they were really into it,” she stated. “The activities are highly captivating.”
Next, they will explore what is considered safe to share online.
“We will discuss the presence of trolls seeking your information and data,” she said.
Hite values that the curriculum is designed so that an average teacher can deliver valuable lessons to students without any specialization in technology.
“It’s a valuable resource because it’s a comprehensive curriculum that addresses issues related to internet devices in a manner suitable for the students' age,” Hite said. “They are learning how to use technology as ethically as possible.”
More information
About Cyber Civics: Cyber Civics is an extensive digital literacy curriculum for middle school. It comprises over 75 lessons and practical activities that teach digital citizenship, information literacy, and media. Visit www.cybercivics.com to learn more.
“Raising Humans in a Digital World”: Based on academic research, “Raising Humans in a Digital World” is a guide to raising thoughtful humans who will become the positive and successful leaders our digital (and non-digital) world needs. Digital literacy educator Diana Graber demonstrates how children must learn to navigate the digital space by:
• Developing social-emotional skills
• Balancing virtual and real life
• Building safe and healthy relationships
• Avoiding cyberbullies and online predators
• Protecting personal information
• Identifying and avoiding fake news and questionable content
• Becoming positive role models and leaders
Source: www.amazon.com
