When looking for resources on how to address digital safety and citizenship with teens, I found quite a few sites that are student friendly and really, not meant for adults at all. There are plenty of sites out there just for students to engage in and learn from. One such site is developed and run by MTV; it is called, A Thin Line. The idea of “a thin line” comes from students walking a thin line when using the internet and social media outlets, and it enforces the idea that crossing the line can happen quite easily and with little effort… if you are uneducated or unaware. It’s a great resource for learning about varying topics from constant messaging to serious issues like sexting and bullying. The content is all targeted towards teens and, therefore, is in a language and format that is appealing. I think this would be a great resource to discuss healthy relationships online. It covers how to handle possessive partners. And, I like the quiz that students can take on using the internet in a responsible and healthy way.
I also found from Open Colleges and interactive info graphic on responsible use. This website is super beneficial for teaching about identity theft, computer viruses, online predators, and the topic that all Humanities teachers dread, plagiarism. The resources were a bit “young” or childish for teenagers, but very appropriate for middle schoolers and higher elementary levels. It would be great to have students learn about plagiarism through this site. Additionally, for teachers, I found a great website on what specifically should be taught to high school students on the Stay Safe Online Org website. I like this website primarily because it is truly driven toward high school students. It probes them to think about what they would want (or not want) college admissions councilors to see, and how to be an advocate for feeling comfortable online, just as they would advocate for comfort and safety in the real world. The tips for teachers are great, they present awesome ideas on how to keep students engaged in the information.
Not to shamelessly plug my school, The Country Day School, but I think we are making awesome strides toward teaching students about internet safety and digital citizenship. Just this past week we held a forum for all 7th graders and their parents (it was mandatory), and students discussed their usage and possible conflicts that come from using the internet. The conversations that came out of it were incredible. We need something like this in the high school still, but I think we are headed in the right direction.