Last week we covered the Cyber Civics unit on digital reputations. In this important unit the students learned that they have, or will have, online or digital reputations that can be searched, copied, and shared. This information can be seen by large, invisible audiences and will last forever. Many people will judge them by what they see online, so it is important for students to understand how to manage their digital reputations.
It is vital for students to learn that online information can be both helpful and harmful to their reputations. Additionally, they should understand that their online actions not only impact their own digital reputations, but also the digital reputations of others and vice versa. I am again providing some suggested at-home activities that will support what we are covering in class if you would like to weave cyber civics into family discussions. Reiterating the importance of cultivating a digital reputation that will be helpful in meeting their life goals is key to solidifying these ideas as their online presence grows. Suggested activities for at-home discussion: Your children were asked to decide which of two fictional high school graduates they would offer an athletic scholarship to, based on what they learned about the candidates by reviewing their “digital reputations.” Ask your children to tell you which applicant they decided against giving the scholarship to and why. One of the most difficult concepts for students to grasp is how their actions can impact the digital reputations of others and how the actions of others can impact their own digital reputations. Ask your children if there is anything YOU have ever posted online, or might post, that could contribute to their digital reputations. Your digital reputation is something like a big billboard on the “Information Superhighway.” It advertises you to the world! Talk to your children about the digital billboards they created in class, and ask what their billboards will say about them in ten years (maybe they’ll even show them to you).
End-of-year Projects
Students completed a summary with an overview, list of goals, budget, and timeline for their projects. I was impressed with their thoughtfulness with this step. I loved seeing how their project planning skills have matured over this school year. I will continue one-on-one planning meetings this week. I'm nudging the students to take the initiative to schedule this meeting, but I will be turning the nudge into a request this week for the students that haven't yet requested meetings. Parental nudges are welcome too.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions or your child is feeling stressed out by assignments. We're all still working to manage expectations in this environment, and I'm sensitive to the varying levels of stress amongst households.