Digital Citizenship Lesson
Cyberbullying: Crossing the Line
Stacey, age 15
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- analyze online bullying behaviors that “cross the line.”
- learn about the various ways that students can be cyberbullied, including flaming, deceiving, and harassing.
- adopt the point of view of teens who have been cyberbullied, and offer solutions.
KEY VOCABULARY
harassing: bombarding someone with messages over digital media, or repeated contact when it is least expected
deceiving: using fake names, posing as someone else, or creating a fake profile about someone else
flaming: saying mean things, usually in ALL CAPS, and often in a public forum with the intention to humiliate
hate speech: a verbal attack targeting someone because of their race, gender, religion, ability, or sexual orientation”
Excerpt From: Common Sense Media. “Digital Literacy & Citizenship Student Workbook: Grades 6-8.” Common Sense Media, 2014. iBooks. https://itun.es/us/kx7qV.l
Watch the video - STACEY'S STORY
STACEY'S STORY - Video Survey
CASE STUDY - Attacked From All Sides
“Eric gets a lot of pressure from his parents to do well in school. Other kids in school tease him because he works so hard but still gets poor test scores. He gets instant messages and text messages during the day and at night about his poor grades. The word “loser” is in most of them, and the language becomes stronger every day. Today he received a text from a number he did not recognize, with a photo of his body with a turkey’s head. A thought bubble above the picture reads: “Why am I so STUPID? What a *!*#&** I am.” Eric thinks Alexis, the most popular girl in the eighth grade, is behind the message. ”
Excerpt From: Common Sense Media. “Digital Literacy & Citizenship Student Workbook: Grades 6-8.” Common Sense Media, 2014. iBooks. https://itun.es/us/kx7qV.l
CLASS DISCUSSION
- What forms of cyberbullying did the students use on Eric?
- Do you think Eric should tell his parents about the cyberbullying?
- If Alexis was the bully, what could school personnel, such as the principal, do or say to Alexis to make her realize that her behavior is wrong?
- What qualities do you think a “trusted adult” should have? In what ways can a trusted adult actually be effective?
Teachers - When you discuss bullet point #4, have a student write the answers on your board, take a picture and email to feliciadavis@mgsd.k12.nc.us.