By
For Parents
October 15, 2018

"The past decade has seen an exponential increase in digital tools and opportunities, which carry the need for students to master a new set of life skills for behaving safely, ethically and responsibly online. Students are much more likely to understand good digital citizenship – the norms of appropriate, responsible technology use – when teachers and parents/trusted adults model it and explicitly teach and promote it on a regular basis." - Helen Crompton, Old Dominion University

Digital Citizenship Week is coming October 15th – 19th! This year’s focus is on Building a Culture of Shared Responsibility. Each day during the week, schools and parents/caregivers can take simple steps to get in sync and partner together to educate and support students with digital life.

Below, you’ll find materials for the week. Monday through Wednesday offers complementary activities and conversations that can begin at school and extend into the home. On Thursday and Friday, instructional staff and parents are provided the same simple strategies that can be used at home and at school to support students. A common message from trusted adults has a big impact on kids!

We hope Digital Citizenship Week will spark some educationally valuable conversations that can be promoted and supported all year long, by both parents and teaching staff.

Monday, October 15: Shared Responsibility

FCPS Shared Responsibility Model

Consider the following:

  • What can your family commit to doing at home with your children to best support your children’s school in providing a safe, positive online learning environment for everyone?
  • How does using technology at home with your child provide opportunities for you to teach them about digital citizenship and for your child to demonstrate positive digital citizenship?

Parents Take Action:

  • Regularly ask your child to log in and show you the digital tools they use at school and at home.
  • How are your household expectations for technology use working? It's a great time to review and revise them with your child. Device Contracts, Media Agreements and Tip Sheets are available to support the conversation. (Translations included)
  • Parents can actively model and explicitly teach their children good digital citizenship practices. One of the most effective ways for parents/caregivers to support their children is to actively help them understand, interpret, and respond appropriately to the content, contact, and conduct they experience online together.

Did you know...

  • Android Users: If your family uses Android devices, Google’s Family Link can help you set certain digital ground rules, manage apps, keep an eye on screen time and remotely lock your child’s device.
  • Apple Users: If your family uses Apple devices, Apple Families provides tools that help keep parents in the loop.

Tuesday, October 16: Healthy Habits

Healthy Habits for Screen Time at Home

Parents take action:

  • Identify some healthy ideas from the resources that resonate and make adjustments as needed in your household today.
  • Include your child in selecting ways the family can improve healthy habits for technology use at home.
  • Device Free Dinners are an easy way to make a small change with big returns!

Wednesday, October, 17: Using Media to Build Character

Our students are facing a future full of big problems to solve. Empathy, ethics and a sense of civic responsibility are more important than ever. Digital tools, books, movies, information, and apps - while not the answer to inspiring empathy - can help students gain another perspective, collaborate with others, and design solutions to meet the needs of today’s world.

Thursday, October 18: Supporting Student Thinking

Are we speaking the same language?

When school staff and parents speak the same language, it makes a strong impression on kids. Here’s a simple strategy that both parents and school staff can use to help students think through their actions online and consider the impact on themselves, others, and your family or school.

The Spectrum Strategy

  • View it: The Spectrum Strategy
  • Try it: The next time your child or student is facing a digital dilemma and doesn’t know what to do or has undesirable behavior in relation to their online activity, give the Spectrum Strategy a try.
  • Reflect:
    • How did using this strategy change how this conversation might have gone?
    • How does this strategy honor the complexity of choices children face and how did it support the child's thinking?

Friday, October 19: Handling Haters, Trolls and Cyberbullies

Have you ever heard kids say “I don’t want to be a snitch?” You might also know children who go straight to an adult to resolve their conflicts with peers instead of problem-solving for themselves. Others stay silent and fearful when being treated in an unkind way.

How can adults support children in knowing when digital drama rises to a level that should be reported?

These resources and strategies can help students understand how online haters, trolls, and cyberbullies might be impacting them and provides action steps for students to take accordingly. Check out these video links to learn more.

Parents and Teachers Take Action

  • Share a story about a time when someone did something hurtful to you on social media. How did it make you feel, and how did you deal with it? Help students understand ways they can rate the severity of the behavior and what action steps they can take.
  • Tips for helping someone in crisis.
  • Having a contact card on your child’s mobile device in case they need help a good idea. Consider adding these numbers to your children's phones if they have one:
    • When you are at school: Text NEEDHELP to 85511 – Hit send
    • If you are not at school you can: Call Crisis Link at (703) 527-4077. Text NEEDHELP to 85511. Call 911