In the #DigCit spotlight …
Parent outreach is an essential component of an effective digital citizenship program. Each year, we ask all EGUSD Digital Citizenship Site Coordinators/schools to include a parent component in their annual Digital Citizenship Implementation Plans. Yesterday we had the pleasure of seeing first-hand how Katherine L. Albiani Middle School (KAMS) staff are involving parents in discussions on positive and safe uses of social media.
As a follow-up to KAM’s Wednesday #ICANHELP student assembly, Principal Brie Bajar and Activities Director Donna McNeel hosted yesterday morning’s Parent Talk Coffee Hour. During this highly-interactive discussion, parents were provided with a recap of the assembly and an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns about their own children’s use of social media. All who were present clearly enjoyed the combination of relevant, timely information and the warm humor included in the #DigCit Parent Talk.
The KAMS event complements Common Sense Media’s recently released Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences, which “sheds a light on teens’ changing social media habits and why some kids are more deeply affected by — and connected to — their digital worlds. The report is a nationally representative survey of more than 1,000 kids age 13 to 17.” The report tracks changes from 2012 to today, depicting how teens’ social media use continues to change over time. Click here to read the full report.
We would like to recognize the KAMS community for “leading by example” by awarding them with our first EGUSD Digital Citizenship badge. Congratulations!
If you have examples of digital citizenship leadership and best practices from your school, please let us know by leaving a comment or contacting us through email (eswift@egusd.net and kwatt@egusd.net). We look forward to awarding more Digital Citizenship badges throughout the school year.