Pleasant Grove students learn safety, responsibility on digital platforms
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Pleasant Grove Independent School District is holding numerous activities on all their campuses for Digital Citizenship Week, which is recognized nationally on the third week of October, to provide students with the resources needed to navigate a digital world safely and efficiently.
Digital Learning Specialist Amy Riddell shared lesson plans with each campus on Media Balance & WellBeing, Privacy and Security, Digital Footprint and Identity, Relationships and Communications, Cyberbullying and News & Media Literacy
The primary source for these activities is through commonsense.org. According to Shane Riddell, a career and technology education teacher at PG High School, Common Sense is a nonprofit organization that provides resources for students and teachers.
It also has materials for parents and/ or guardians, including movie, television shows and app reviews, as well as information about potentially dangerous situations in the digital world.
The lesson plans included activities, both unplugged and digital, with lessons to include family engagement and teacher support training. The goal is to encourage responsible use of technology at all ages.
“Technology is a valuable resource in our professional, academic, and personal lives, therefore educators understand the importance of modeling and teaching digital citizenship to our students,” Amy Riddell said. “Digital citizenship includes safe, ethical behaviors online, and these practiced skills will follow our students into their future careers.”
At PG High, there are a variety of digital citizenship videos running on TVs visible to all students, multiple graphics displayed outlining civic duties, ethical responsibilities and their digital footprints, as well as a presentation rolling on a TV.
Other campuses are facilitating age-appropriate activities, both digital and “unplugged.”
“Although we focus on digital citizenship throughout the year, we are hoping to reiterate to our students the importance of staying safe while learning, creating and participating in a digital world,” Shane Riddell said.