Cyberbullying Package
Dear Educators,
The Character Education Partnership is pleased to partner with CyberSmart! to distribute the free CyberSmart! Cyberbullying Package to schools nationwide.
These free cyberbullying lessons allow face-to-face character education to be extended into cyberspace. We wholeheartedly endorse their use by K-12 educators. By teaching and applying basic human values, including honesty, kindness, compassion, and respect, students are equipped with appropriate problem-solving skills to handle both online and face-to-face interactions.
CyberSmart! did their homework
Their carefully developed cyberbullying package
- uses a social constructivist learning approach to allow students/educators to construct their own knowledge, defining the problems and issues themselves and thus “owning” them. Without this ownership, no behavioral change can occur
- focuses on developing critical thinking and decision-making skills rather than teaching about technologies that change monthly
- recognizes that research shows that getting tough on the bullies themselves is not an effective intervention
- addresses research that reveals most youths do not disclose online harassment to adults for fear of adults overreacting and cutting off online access. Students need to have a student-initiated mechanism for confidential reporting to adults
- focuses on the critical role of the bystander, recognizing research that students do not want to identify themselves as either bullies or targets
- enables discussions with students about online safety and cyberbullying to be easily sustained throughout the school years, similar to the ongoing programs advocated by cyber security experts
- emphasizes the core character values of caring, honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect for self and others as the underlying message of cyberbullying education
- recognizes that issues regarding cyberbullying are intertwined with those associated with Internet safety, security, free speech, tolerance, and cyber citizenship
Tell us what you think
We encourage you to try our cyberbullying prevention lessons and tell us what you think. We listen very carefully to your feedback and appreciate you taking time from your busy day to contact us.
Warm regards,
Merle J. Schwartz, Ed. D.
Director of Education and Research
Character education helps young people become responsible citizens by teaching and applying basic human values, including honesty, kindness, compassion, and respect. This can only be accomplished by equipping students with appropriate problem-solving skills to handle both online and face-to-face interactions. These lessons are a great resource to continually remind the school community about safe, ethical online use within the context of living a life of character.
Merle J. Schwartz, Ed.D.,
Director of Education and Research,
The Character Education Partnership.