A digital citizenship study session took place during the Nov. 2023 Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) board meeting to discuss effective methods for creating a better environment online.
The goal of the study session wasn’t to ban communication services, but to encourage students to use them appropriately and reduce negative behavior, MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan said during the board meeting.
“There’s always the latest cutting edge, new app that kids feel most comfortable with or starting to use,” Jordan said. “But it does start to get overwhelming in terms of thinking about all the different spaces as an education entity that we are then expected to have insight into or know what conversation is happening and be responsive to.”
Digital citizenship, or using the internet responsibly, is a critical concept, former Board President Chris Norwood said in an interview. It’s a life skill that everyone, especially children, should have, he added.
“Understanding what it means to be a digital citizen lets you know what types of behaviors you should have online, and then what types of behaviors are acceptable to (use) online,” Norwood said.
Not using social media properly can have negative consequences, Principal and Chief Innovator Greg Wohlman said. The results of these negative consequences can be seen in the mental health of people of all ages, all over the world, and they can be devastating, he added.
“If we can find a way to teach people about the pros and cons of digital citizenship, I’m hoping that that will (take effect) in some way, especially in not only our country but the world,” Wohlman said.
Cyberbullying is a societal issue, Wohlman said. Students can talk to trusted adults to cope, but it’s more effective for the school to encourage students themselves to stop cyberbullying, he added.
“If you could imagine 3,025 students not participating in exacerbating the problem of online bullying, that would be powerful,” Wohlman said. “Just like, ‘Hey, fighting in school doesn’t belong; it just doesn’t have a place here.’ So online bullying doesn’t have a place with our students, doesn’t have a place in our community.”
Part of the school district’s efforts to reduce negative behavior online is the “Say Something” app, which is effective for creating a better environment, Tech Services Director Chin Song said in an email.
The “app is a part of an integrated system in creating a safer school,” Song said. “It allows anonymous reports, which can be a big deal for a student who is worried about speaking up.”
The culture created by teachers and leaders at schools encourages students to care about their peers and report any negative behavior, Norwood said.
“The ‘Say Something’ app is effective because kids care about their school and their community as a whole, as well as their friends,” Norwood said. “No tool is going to be as effective as positive human relationships.”
Social media was a primary form of communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, so people were more likely to be affected by cyberbullying, Board Trustee Robert Jung said.
“There’s a lot of negative pieces of (social media),” Jung said. “And if you’re not familiar or have the skills to deal with that negativity, it can have a negative effect on mental health.”
It is always better to develop a relationship with someone in person than online, Jung said.
“Once you have a real relationship, you can use virtual (communication) as another way to enhance that relationship,” Jung said. “But it shouldn’t be the only platform that the relationship is based on.”
