Cyberbullying in Schools
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is
bullying that takes place online. Cyberbullying can be anonymous but more
often than not, it is not. Because of the shame or guilt that comes with
the targeted person, many cases of cyberbullying are not reported. Not
sure that this exists? Watch this video
and then decide if it is time to take action.
School librarians are a
key to teaching digital citizenship and preventing cyberbullying. We are often the eyes and ears of the
school. We see interactions and hear the celebrations and worries of both
staff and students. In addition, school librarians are often the ones who
receive the most training and information on using technology as technology is
a major role of the job.
Ways to Prevent
Cyberbullying in Schools
1. Teach Digital Citizenship: Digital citizenship must be more than a one day event in order to really teach students best practices for online. It is important to integrate digital citizenship throughout the school year. One way to teach digital citizenship is through the flipped classroom model. Many elementary school libraries are on a fixed schedule allowing for classroom visits every one to two weeks. Using the flipped model to allow for students to view or read material before instruction allows for students to frequently discuss the topic of cyberbullying. I have recently developed a 6 week flipped model where students can view the materials in the classroom on the weeks they do not have library. Guided questions and lessons are provided to the teachers to extend what is viewed and read. Students also have the opportunity to post to the class discussion about this issue. The school librarian will touch on the lessons throughout the year to continue to build digital citizens who are working to prevent cyberbullying.
This chart will help you break down the digital citizenship standards and ages they should be taught.
1. Teach Digital Citizenship: Digital citizenship must be more than a one day event in order to really teach students best practices for online. It is important to integrate digital citizenship throughout the school year. One way to teach digital citizenship is through the flipped classroom model. Many elementary school libraries are on a fixed schedule allowing for classroom visits every one to two weeks. Using the flipped model to allow for students to view or read material before instruction allows for students to frequently discuss the topic of cyberbullying. I have recently developed a 6 week flipped model where students can view the materials in the classroom on the weeks they do not have library. Guided questions and lessons are provided to the teachers to extend what is viewed and read. Students also have the opportunity to post to the class discussion about this issue. The school librarian will touch on the lessons throughout the year to continue to build digital citizens who are working to prevent cyberbullying.
This chart will help you break down the digital citizenship standards and ages they should be taught.
2. Educate
Parents: Parents are a key to
preventing cyberbullying. Technology is new. I have two young children myself and they are
learning more online tools each day. I didn’t have a school email as a
teacher until my second year of teaching and using it did not become mandatory
until my 5th year of teaching. Children today know more and understand more
than most parents. It is important to
equip parents with the tools needed so that they know how to protect and
prepare their children for online use. This can be done through a page on
the school or library website. A Digital
Citizenship night can be the topic of a PTA meeting or part of a School
Technology Night. Common Sense Media is a great website to share with parents to help guide them to resources to use with their children.
3. Prepare
Teachers: Teachers have so many
things on their plate that many times they just do not think ahead about
cyberbullying. They have classroom expectations in place to prevent
classroom behaviors, but creating online expectations is new to many teachers,
especially those who chose to not participate in personal use of social
media. School librarians need to prepare teachers with ways they can
identify and prevent cyberbullying. This
can be done through faculty meetings, weekly or monthly school library newsletters
for teachers, and special technology meetings such as Tech Tuesday where
teachers can sign up for optional professional development in technology.
I have found success in just posting articles to my Facebook page. Many of my teacher friends follow me online
and by posting these topics the conversations open up online and carry over
into the classroom.
What is Shocking About
Cyberbullying?
The most shocking thing
I from reading in this Module was the amount of adults who were subjects of
bullying. I thought my one experience from a principal was the rare case
of bullying. Most of the bullying I
experienced was in person. At this time we still had most communication
on our school mailboxes and not on email.
I have written it off to a bad boss for the last 18 years. But now
I realize that this experience was very similar to the experience of 6th grade
and mean girls. Both were bullying that
I kept quiet about, that I internalized, and that I allowed to affect my
personal and professional life. Sitting here in my mid-forties I realize
that I have given the power of my relationships in and out of work to the power
of two people. Two people who made me
second guess every word I said or wrote, who kept me quiet in the corner, and
who made me feel that in order to do anything that others might see or hear
that it had to be perfect.
If you are anyone you
know may be experiencing bullying of any form, don’t keep quiet. Reach
out and talk with someone. You do not
need to carry this alone and it should not go unreported.
Have more ideas to help
prevent cyberbullying? Share them in the comments below.
Learn more about this topic at https://cyberbullying.org/
Learn more about this topic at https://cyberbullying.org/
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