Screen addiction and cyberbullying: Montreal students learn online safety in much-loved digital literacy class
More and more young people are attached to their phones and posting every aspect of their lives online. But some aren’t always aware of the potential risks and dangers involved.
Students at East Hill Elementary School in Montreal’s Rivière-des-Prairies are learning about online safety, and being warned about screen time addiction.
The Digital Literacy/Online Safety initiative is part of East Hill’s Media and Technology academic program, one that media teacher Nadia Barrafato says is loved by all of their students.
“It’s a program that they enjoy,” she said.
“Our students have voiced that they love this class, that they are happy to wake up in the morning and come to school when they have media.”
Barrafato says the class has many benefits.
“It’s a class that teaches 21st century skills and that allows for them to work collaboratively. It allows them to problem solve. It allows them to think critically. There’s no such things as mistakes here in the media lab. We encourage mistakes actually,” she said.
“The ultimate goal of the media program is to truly prepare our students for high school and the real world. And at the core of the program is really to to gain knowledge about internet safety and digital citizenship. We really want our students to be able to use technology, but we also want them to use it safely. So that’s the goal.”
Pre-kindergarten and students from Grades 1 and 2 attend the lab twice a week, whereas Grades 3 to 6 attend once a week.
Barrafato says the program starts with a general overview of how to use technology and operate computers — using input and output devices.
The younger grades use a programed called Kid Pix Deluxe 3D. As of Grade 2, students learn about correct finger positioning while using a program called TypingPal.
Barrafato explains that for Grades 3 to 6, they vary with different software. In Grade 5, students learn about coding.
“It’s more of a specific examination of the different forms of media in Grade 6,” explained Barrafato.
Internet safety is addressed as of Grade 3, but Grade 5 is where they take all the knowledge they’ve learnt and become “experts.”
Students in Grade 5 are divided into groups and use the media lab to design and code their very own video game with their “business partner.” Afterwards, the games are used to test third graders and address online safety.
“They have to work on a business plan first, and then once they generate their ideas, they then move on to creating a video game using Scratch, and that’s when they learn how to code,” Barrafato said. “And their target audience, what they keep in mind at all times is Grade 3. And so you have an older student teaching a younger student how to stay safe, and I think that’s fantastic.”
Students have to fill out a “Game Design Snapshot” and come up with a company name, then decide who is the president and vice-president of the group. They also have to come up with a video game title, a list of characters, and ideas for settings for the backgrounds. In addition, they also have to establish obstacles and challenges for the game, and instructions — yes or no questions, or multiple choice questions for their users to answer.
Barrafato says the brainstorming process and the discussion that takes place between two partners is important. By filling out a “game summary story,” students generate ideas of how their game will sound and look.
Students also have to come up with 10 internet safety and cyber bulling questions based on their notes.
