Digital Natives

Digital Citizens

Board Update: Technology in the Lives of the GA girls

-! Digital Identity of GA girls and developing a sense of Digital Citizenship-! Challenge for educators and parents: many of our kids know more than we do-! Technology at GA is an incredible academic tool and a significant social force as it is a critical means of communication for most of our students---anyone who has access to phone or computer.-! Technology has created strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in our program and in the GA experience, similar to what you have experienced at home. HUGE topic in public and private schools and in the media—note NYT article yesterday on cyber bullying. -! Heightens responsibility and accountability for parents and educators and understanding where that line of demarcation is and since stakes are high in terms of potential vulnerability of the kids, so are anxiety levels.-! In terms of parent education: weʼve hosted numerous talks in recent years both by outside and internal experts and in January, this group will give a presentation that will include much of what we share tonight and then give parents the chance to ask questions.-! Important for the Board to feel empowered as ambassadors. Therefore, we wanted to share what GA is doing to promote digital citizenship and then wrap up w/some practical steps parents can take.

Dirk

Internet safety education at GA started in the Fall of 2004.

Internet Filters - smartphones, 3G, Optimum WiFi, SafeSearch

“Dr. Englander reminded parents that while children may be nimble with technology, they lack the maturity to understand its consequences.” - NYT Sunday

Google Docs, Wikis, blogs, mobileme !lkr, twitter, live-chat, youtube, podcasting, webcasting

US Students

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

On-line Sports/Exercise Sleeping

How US StudentsUse the Internet

(we could only check two) :75 % schoolwork

73% social networking

32% email

12% shopping

8% playing games

US - Favorite Activities

Social Network93%

None7%

Highlights of CSBGL research - GA US Students

FacebookiChatTextingYouTube

Lower School Resources

Guiding Principles: Common Sense Media RulesExamples:! -Safety (never open emails from strangers; when in doubt, ask your parents)! -Privacy (safeguard your personal information; nothing on the Web is completely private)! -Netiquette (appropriate contact and communication with others)! -Viruses (computers can be damaged by viruses from email or the Internet)Lessons are taught using age-appropriate, engaging activities in an element of funGroup III: Refocus on Common Sense Media Guidelines Girls use Photobooth to create their own Internet safety videos.Group IV: “Welcome to the Web” (Online resources that teach students about the Web)

Group III Learns to

surf SMARTS = keep Safe

M = Don't Meet UPA = Accepting emails can be

dangerousR = Reliable

T = Tell someone

Students develop deeper understanding of Internet safely and learn to “surf SMART”:

Associated Projects: Groups I-IV•! World Math Day•! Virtual Chess

Internet Safety addressed at Parent Coffees

Middle School, Groups V & VI

Established Computer Curriculum

Elements of Digital Citizenship

Email etiquette, safety, privacy, respect, copyright

Advisory and Health Curriculum

“Power of my words”

Cyberbullying

Girls coming in from LS have good understanding of internet safety and have a healthy skepticism continues through MS

Group V and VI- 3 computer classes every 6 days talented new computer teacher, Melissa Cassis, who replaced John Howard computer curriculum- email etiquette, digital citizenship (treating one another with respect), cyberbullying, online safety, ! ! respecting creative work (unethical to copy someone's work and present it as one's own)! ! Use of Common Sense media, Brain Pop, etc. to teach these important lessons Group VI Health Curriculum- relational aggression unit on cyberbullying

Middle School Group VII

Computer Curriculum

Pre-"ight laptop checklist

Rewrite AUP, new responsibility, laptop rules

CommonSense Media activities

Understanding your digital footprint

Copyright, plagiarism, internet research

Group VII- Laptop Program begins--GA leases laptops to all students in grades 7-12! Repeat of Group V and VI! Useful academic tool- probes in science, DILL in language classes, Wikis Blogs in English and history, Geometer's Sketchpad in Math ! Controls- lanschool, 10:30 shut-off, ! Computer classes continue! ! curriculum- laptop care, digital citizenship (treating one another with respect), online safety,

Digital footprint (what you leave behind after going on-line, google self search)! ! respecting creative work (unethical to copy someone's work and present it as one's own), budgeting timeParent Brown Bag

Challenges/ Vulnerabilities- Ever-changing digital world requires shifting curriculum Safety-Healthy Skepticism Social-Always Challenging, laptops add to challenge Constant reminders about kindness and respect e.g. Formspring (anonymity) Temptations are always present Time management / Distractibility Open Door when assistance is needed - comfort level with adults (inappropriate 8th grade iChat example from home computer over weekend) Biggest challenge: Parental Supervision at home

23 minutes.....2008-2009

Social Networking and the Development of Girls' Identities

2009-2010

Technology: Mindful Use vs Dependence

2010-2011

The Effects of Technology on Childhood & Adolescent Female Development...Cognitive, Emotional, Physical, Creative and Moral

Areas of Vulnerability

Physical/Social/Emotional/Virtual“Mistakes get magnified”23 minutes...

SocialSafetyLack of focus/time managementAcademic Dishonesty

Summary:

- Tech resources for parents on GA website

- Set limits on internet access/bed time

- Keep cell phones/laptops out of their bedrooms at night.

- Encourage usage of internet during homework time in a shared space for ease in monitoring.

- Depending on age of children, help them to monitor their own behavior: Ie the 23 sticker.

- Katie Koestner: Take on one challenging convo a week!

- No silver bullet! It’s ALL about engagement

Q&A