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Responsible Digital Citizens: Conversations for the Classroom

The role of the health educator is constantly changing. Twenty years ago, cyber bullying did not exist. Today's health textbooks include information on how to stay safe online and how to be responsible digital citizens. Teen Health and Glencoe Health both contain information on bullying and cyber bullying, and also offer activities to help students understand how to become responsible digital citizens.

In the health classroom, teachers might choose to discuss with students how cyber bullying begins, the harm it causes, and the consequences to the person who is being bullied and the person who does the bullying. Some classroom activities that you may want to use while studying bullying and cyber bullying include the following:

  • Organize students into groups and instruct them to write a scenario demonstrating responses to bullying. Ask: What should you do when a bully threatens you?
  • Hold peer-group discussions about making healthy decisions about digital communication. Ask: What should you do when an online relationship become threatening?
  • Have student groups create posters of positive responses to cyber bully threats and rumors. Display the posters in school hallways or on the school's Web site. Ask: What can you do to stop online rumors from spreading?

Teaching Digital Safety

There are many Internet sites available for teens and parents about cyber bullying. Many of these sites include simulations, online forums, and tips and strategies for recognizing bullies and their victims and opening lines of communication to promote good citizenship. At a minimum, students should understand what they can do to minimize the threat of a bully. Some tips to decrease harassment and bullying include the following:

  • Avoid replying to threats, insults, rumors, suggestive messages, or obscene pictures.
  • Avoid sending or forwarding suggestive pictures, messages, and/or rumors of yourself or others.
  • Avoid bullying back.
  • Save harassing messages as evidence.
  • Report threats and intimidation to an adult you trust.

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