Utica Community Schools is creating an awareness campaign that encourages students to become good digital citizens under the guidance of their teachers and family members.
The district is introducing a “media agreement” in its handbooks and integrating instructional materials to promote the positive use of digital content and resources by students.
“Utica Community Schools, in partnership with parents, will focus on teaching responsible digital citizenship and cyberspace safety as students use more technology at school and in their daily lives,” Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “It is an effort that can succeed only with support from parents and the community.”
The agreement is based on materials created by Common Sense Media, a national nonprofit organization that assists schools and parents on the use of technology.
Through the agreement, students will pledge to protect their privacy and reputation, understand the importance of evaluating online content, and avoid any activity that could harm others or themselves. Parents are being asked to support this effort by being aware of their children’s online activities and help guide them to sites that contain appropriate material.
The agreement is also part of the continued integration of digital citizenship skills in UCS programs. At the elementary level, the content is being delivered through media center instruction and will use age-appropriate materials for kindergarten through sixth grade students.
In junior high, the district has also introduced a mandatory course called “Digital Literacy and Media Design.” The course will provide seventh-grade students the opportunity to enhance their understanding of communicating ideas through digital means. Students will also learn to evaluate and use content presented in diverse forms of digital media.
At UCS high schools, district administrators will focus on positive digital citizenship as part of their orientation activities and ongoing discussions with students.
