Promoting digital citizenship during a pandemic

School librarians and teachers are instrumental in ensuring students build strong digital citizenship skills--even while they're learning from home

When the coronavirus pandemic forced school closures and stay-at-home orders across the country, the internet became a social and academic lifeline for young people. Students are now engaging in distance learning daily. They’re also spending more time on social media as a way to stay connected to friends and family. … Read More

4 tips for an effective digital citizenship program

Identifying the issues facing your school and learning how to prevent those issues is a proactive way to approach digital citizenship

Today, students are not merely digital natives; they are voracious consumers and creators of digital content both in school and out. This increased access has also increased the risk that students will engage in riskier behaviors online or be exposed to content that’s inappropriate, or even dangerous. How to interact … Read More

Is it fake? How to teach with news and media sources

Teaching students how to identify and use high-quality news and media resources isn't as daunting as one might think

Between the recent presidential election, COVID-19, and racial unrest, our students are barraged with 24/7 access to news and media that can be real, fake, or altered. According to the presenters in a recent edWebinar sponsored by ABC-CLIO, the relationship between the terms “news” and “media” are fundamental distinctions that … Read More

5 ways to help students develop digital literacy

Student engagement and critical thinking will be key in developing digital literacy skills to take students from school to the workforce

It’s commonplace to be impressed when we hear of excellent test scores and educational backgrounds from top institutes, no matter the type of degree or accolades. However, preparing our kids with test-taking strategies and admission into the best universities is not enough–and will be an extinct ideology with the changing … Read More

6 steps to promote good digital citizenship for all students

6 steps to promote good digital citizenship for all students Dr. Audrey Hovannesian March 29, 2019 Standing at the intersection of digital citizenship and responsible device usage, school districts can make a real difference in their students’ lives

By the time today’s digital natives enter high school, most of them have already been using devices, computers, the internet, and social media for years. They use these tools on their own terms and for their own reasons, many of which aren’t readily apparent to older adults who didn’t grow … Read More

Turning media literacy into civic engagement

Students who use tech devices with ease don't necessarily have media literacy skills--here's how to cultivate media literacy and civic awareness

Being an informed contributor to America’s democratic practices and principles requires strong media literacy skills. Without them, even the most civic-minded will find it hard to assess and interpret the mass of information out in the world. Jeff Knutson, Common Sense Education Content Strategist and Senior Producer, recognizes how challenging … Read More

Could digital citizenship be the most important pandemic lesson?

As our world becomes increasingly connected, the basic elements of digital citizenship will prove critical for students’ continued success

When the pandemic prompted schools to quickly shift to distance learning last spring, educators became responsible for using online technologies to teach students. This was the first time that many educators had to grapple not only with virtual classroom management, but with helping their students learn the ins and outs … Read More

4 SEL success tips for elementary schools

Here are the steps one elementary school principal took to ensure both initial and long-term success of a social emotional learning curriculum for grades K-5

Five years ago, we had about 900 students in our K-5 elementary school, with roughly 40 percent of them either eligible for free or reduced lunch. Being in a geographic area that’s challenged by generational poverty and other socioeconomic issues, we needed a way to overcome some fairly steep challenges … Read More

5 ways bullying changed during the pandemic

While bullying may have changed during COVID, cyberbullying is still a very real concern and remains a significant threat to students’ well-being

Throughout my career as a school counselor, I’ve worked with students in a variety of educational settings. This includes alternative and charter schools, traditional brick-and-mortar settings, and online school. Even though they’re all different, I’ve witnessed similar bullying behavior and trends in each of them. Here are five ways bullying … Read More

4 ways to create safe mental health environments for our students

Stepping in to solve the youth mental health crisis in classrooms may seem daunting, but with a plan, it’s possible

The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt our nation’s youth a difficult hand. After adapting to virtual learning over the past year and a half, many students this school year prepared to return to in-person education, despite concerns about their emotional well-being and the evolving pandemic situations. According to recent research, nearly … Read More