Digital Best Practices

Digital Best Practices

Resources that promote digital health & wellness for K-3 students

Instructional Strategies

Student-centered instructional strategies to promote digital health & wellness

Unsafe Use

Consequences of irresponsible social networking & unsafe use of technology

DigitalPrivacy

Resources to understand digital privacy & how it applies to the classroom

CyberBullying

Helpful resources regarding cyberbullying for teachers & students

ISTE

ISTE Standards for Students & Educators

ISTE 1.2.d

ISTE 1.2.c

ISTE Standards for Educators

According to ISTE Standard for Educators 2.3.c Model Safe, Legal, Ethical Practices, educators mentor students in using digital tools safely (ISTE, 2024). ISTE Standard for Educators 2.3.d. Manage, Protect Data states that educators model management of their personal data (ISTE, 2024). Teaching students these digital citizenship skills begins with educators modeling these practices in the classroom.

ISTE Standards for Students

According to ISTE Standard for Students 1.2.c Safeguard Well, students monitor time spent online to safeguard their well-being (ISTE, 2024). ISTE Standard for Students 1.2.d. Digital Privacy states that students protect their personal data while online (ISTE, 2024). Teaching students ways to maintain digital balance and keep their information secure helps students become responsible digital citizens.

Innappropriate Content

Technology may expose students to inappropriate content that can affect behavior, such as violence, hate speech, or dangerous challenges (Marshall-Seslar, 2022).

Misleading Information

Misleading information that spreads fast on social media can have negative or dangerous consequences, affecting decisions students make about their health and beliefs (Marshall-Seslar, 2022).

Anxiety

Addiction to social media can lead to social comparisons, cyberbullying experiences, and struggles with self-esteem. Overuse of technology can be harmful to mental well-being, leading to long-term consequences of anxiety or depression (Marshall-Seslar, 2022).

Sleep Deprivation

Distractions from devices can disrupt the body's internal clock, making it harder to fall asleep or get the quality of sleep needed (Marshall-Seslar, 2022).

ISTE. (2024). ISTE standards: For educators. ISTE. https://iste.org/standards/educators

ISTE. (2024). ISTE standards: For students. ISTE. https://iste.org/standards/students

Marshall-Seslar, A. (2022). 15 dangers of social media & how to avoid them. McMillen Health. https://www.mcmillenhealth.org/tamtalks/dangers-of-social-media

Betts, L.R., Kellezi, B., Macaulay, P.J.R., & Stiller, J. (2018). Perceptions and responses towards cyberbullying: A systematic review of teachers in the education system. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 43, 1-12. https://www-sciencedirect-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S1359178918300491?via%3Dihub

Beckett, T. (2022). 3 tips for balanced digital wellness. ISTE. https://iste.org/blog/3-tips-for-balanced-digital-wellness

References

Teach students to create strong passwords & keep their information secure by watching this video from Google for Education.

Google for Education

ISTE: Digital Citizenship Lessons

Download the FREE DigCit lessons from ISTE. Use the "Alert" learning activities to focus on privacy and security.

YouTube Video

DigCit Lessons

Privacy & Security

Common Sense Education

Check out the interactive Privacy & Security lessons offered by Common Sense Education in their digital citizenship curriculum.

Cyberbullying, Digital Drama & Hate Speech

Check out the interactive Cyberbullying, Digital Drama, & Hate Speech lessons offered by Common Sense Education in their digital citizenship curriculum:

Help students learn what it is and what it isn't by watching this video:

Resources

Importance

Cyberbullying is important to discuss in the classroom because of its wide-reaching negative consequences on students and the surrounding community. Students of all ages can be vulnerable to cyberbulling and teachers play a critical role in cyberbullying prevention (Betts et al., 2018).

Discussion: Self-Awareness

Facillitate classroom discussions about what a balanced lifestyle looks like. Use a book such as "The Couch Potato" to guide conversations. Ask students to reflect on their feelings and monitor their physical health to determine when it might be a good time to unplug (Beckett, 2022).

Healthy Habits: Mindfulness

Integrate yoga and mindfulness exercises into daily classroom routines, such as mindful breathing, to build healthy habits of taking breaks from technology (Beckett, 2022).

Positive Thinking: Goal Setting

Help students establish offline goals, such as learning a new hobby, to find positive soltutions for maintaing a balanced lifestyle between physical and digital activities (Beckett, 2022).