Prioritizing Student Safety with Education Technology Implementations

Eva Harvell, Director of Information Systems, Pascagoula-Gautier School District

Eva Harvell, Director of Information Systems, Pascagoula-Gautier School District

Just like curriculum focus on the ABCs and 123s, technology focuses on safety and security. No matter what the new program or resource is in the educational technology space, safety and security is the top priority. Without it, you just have a program integrated with random technology components.

I recall sitting with our district’s curriculum specialists in 2010, looking at the new Common Core State Standards and mapping out a plan to integrate technology into core subjects. Even then, safety and security were part of the discussion. In 2024, as we discuss integrating AI into the classroom, these topics are a big part of the discussion.

As a technology director, safety and security means I have a robust firewall, evolving content, teacher-friendly classroom management tools and a current digital citizenship curriculum. The words “robust”, “evolving”, “teacher-friendly” and “current” are key. Without them, you just have equipment and resources that are most likely not meeting the needs of your students and teachers.

Let’s take a deep dive into safety by focusing on digital citizenship.

Digital Citizenship is more than understanding how to search for the information you want. It encompasses nine elements:

• digital access

• digital commerce

•digital communication and collaboration

• digital etiquette

• digital fluency

• digital health and wellness

• digital law

• digital rights and responsibility

• digital security and privacy(Digital Citizenship: Using Technology Appropriately)

Digital access, digital etiquette, and digital law are categorized under “respecting yourself and others”. These three elements focus on equitable access and distribution of technology and resources and oversee the responsibilities, rules and policies of the digital world.

Digital commerce, digital communication and collaboration and digital fluency can be categorized under “educate yourself and connect with others”. They prioritize buying and selling goods and services online, sharing information with others, and understanding technology and what it is used for.

Digital health and wellness, digital rights and responsibility, and digital security and privacy can be categorized under “protect yourself and others”. It keeps your physical, social and emotional self in check and understands everyone has the same opportunities for a positive and problem-free online experience while comprehending negative experiences and ways to handle them.

"When we provide an environment that fosters digital responsibility and literacy, we not only equip students to navigate the digital world but also lay the foundation for a future where innovation thrives together with integrity and well-being."

When you begin searching for a digital citizenship program to integrate into the K-12 classroom, you want to look for all nine elements. Each element lends itself to the other and provides an overall good program for helping students better understand digital citizenship.

One program that does the best at encompassing the nine elements is Common Sense Media’s K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum. This curriculum offers a variety of resources for teachers, students and parents as they navigate through gaining a better understanding of digital citizenship. Those resources include:

• Over 70 lessons for Kindergarten through 12th grade

• Scripted lessons that teach skills and habits around digital citizenship

• Family engagement resources in multiple languages

•Lessons and activities aligned with US education standards

• Professional development for educators to better understand the curriculum

• Engaging online resources and age-appropriate videos to help students grasp the skills and habits being taught

Common Sense Media updates and adjusts the lessons and resources to stay current with the research and the needs of K-12 education. My district has been integrating this digital citizenship curriculum in our classrooms since 2014. During that time, we witnessed updates to the lessons, the addition of online resources for teachers and students, language availability on the family engagement resources and updated alignments to education standards. Seeing a program like Common Sense Media work to stay current showcases the level of dedication they have to providing quality resources and information to teachers, students and parents.

For example, one of the six core topics is Digital Footprint and Identity. It focuses on sharing information online and how an individual represents their digital identity. The lesson is for second graders to know what information should and should not be shared online. In the sixth grade lesson, students learn about the positive and negative aspects of presenting oneself differently online versus in person. By twelfth grade, the lesson focuses on sharing their purpose within a digital footprint.

When it comes to technology, if the discussion does not include safety and security, school districts are missing the mark! By making those topics a priority, we are ensuring our students and teachers remain engaged in an environment that will promote positive outcomes. Digital citizenship must also be part of this conversation.

When we provide an environment that fosters digital responsibility and literacy, we not only equip students to navigate the digital world but also lay the foundation for a future where innovation thrives together with integrity and well-being. Let's commit to integrating these principles into every aspect of our educational technology initiatives, ensuring students are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.