Blog #5 Cyberbullying (ISCI 761: Module 9)
Cyberbullying is one of the most horrifying things that can happen to a person. Cyberbullying is defined as “repeated aggressive behaviors that are intended to cause harm to a victim with relatively less power to defend themselves” (Faucher, Cassidy, & Jackson, 2015, p. 112). After watching the videos, my heart just breaks for people who are victims of such behaviors. What stands out to me the most regarding Cyberbullying is how it can ruin a person and cause a person to make a bad decision. Instead of going to someone about it, people are scared of telling because of the continuous backlash they may fear being bullied more. I have not dealt with cyberbullying personally, however, I have seen students in middle school bully and be bullied. I do not allow that to happen in the library and if it does I take the situation straight to the guidance counselor. Students are exposed to social media and technology at such a young age now due to our society and I feel that this is harmful. If parents and educators do not show the responsibilities and consequences of students using technology, the worse could happen.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the article Evaluating a Middle-School Digital Citizenship Curriculum (Screenshots): Quasi-Experimental Study. Screenshots is a “program [that] imparts knowledge and teaches skills upon which young adolescents can build a set of beliefs and behaviors that foster respectful interactions, prosocial conflict resolutions, and safe and secure use of communication technology” (Bickham, Moukalled, Inyart, & Zlokower, 2021). Also, as I read the results of the study there was a huge comparison in the student's beliefs regarding the questions asked.
If I am ever exposed to a cyberbullying situation in the library, I would address it with the mindset of respecting others. Teaching students to be kind and to understand how harmful bullying can be is the goal. But I also know that bullies can be struggling with something that leads them to be a bully, which is something else that should be addressed. Treating others how you want to be treated is my belief and mindset and is what we teach our students currently. I would also have information regarding digital citizenship and how to address it. “Teaching digital citizenship means embracing the reality that we’re all interconnected through the Internet, and that we therefore need to understand the responsibilities and risks that come with life online” (Wayback Machine, 2018). Digital citizenship is important because it promotes online safety and how to act in the digital world.
Seven Digital Deadly Sins: An interactive board that describes the seven sins.
References
Bickham, Moukalled, S., Inyart, H. K., & Zlokower, R. (2021). Evaluating a middle-school digital citizenship curriculum (screenshots): Quasi-experimental study. JMIR Mental Health, 8(9), e26197–e26197. https://doi.org/10.2196/26197
Faucher, C., Cassidy, W., & Jackson, M. (2015). From the sandbox to the inbox: Comparing the acts, impacts, and solutions of bullying in k-12, higher education, and the workplace. Journal Of Education And Training Studies, 3(6), 111-125.
StopBullying Gov. (2021, August 24). Is it cyberbullying? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtfMzmkYp9E
Wayback Machine. (2018, November 29). Teacher’s Guide to Digital Citizenship | Edudemic. https://web.archive.org/web/20181129151348/http://www.edudemic.com/teachers-guide-digital-citizenship/
Hi Daley!
ReplyDeleteI think one of the scariest things about cyberbullying is how common it is. Technology affords us great potential for connection but it also greatly amplifies feelings of being alone. If a student goes home from school and receives multiple mean messages from different perpetrators on different platforms, it can feel like everyone must think those negative thoughts about you and there is no escape. We have to underscore that there is a human on the other side of every digital encounter -- I agree with you that we have to teach our students about respect and understanding. Students have to understand that they are citizens both in the real-world and the digital-world, and they need to be thoughtful, kind citizens in both spheres.
Have a great week!
Margaret
Hi Daley,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is heartbreaking to think about what some of my students go through. Most of my friends and I got Facebook when we were seniors in high school. We had texting and AOL instant messenger, but cyberbullying wasn’t really an option when I was a teenager. I was so sensitive to what other people thought about me, and I remember stressing over feeling ignored at the lunch table. I cannot imagine looking at my Instagram, reading cruel, anonymous DMs, and walking through the halls next day, not knowing who said it and who agrees with the insulting things that were said. The anonymity, prevalence, and ease of cyberbullying make it all the more pernicious.
I am glad I read your blogpost because, while I thought about what a school’s approach to cyberbullying can and should be, I had not considered that the library may be the setting for cyberbullying. Students may use library computers or work quietly on their laptops in the library, so it follows that I could be on the forefront of this issue. It is important to think about my own approach. I appreciate the empathy that you brought to your consideration, and you are right that a lot of students who bully are also hurting. There must be consequences, but we also need to avoid shaming students.
Great job with this post!