Cyberbullying Package
Dear Educators,
The National Cyber Security Association is extraordinarily pleased to partner with CyberSmart! to distribute the free CyberSmart! cyberbullying prevention lessons to schools nationwide.
In developing these lessons, CyberSmart! adopted an integrated approach, examining all current research findings and using best practices from the fields of cyber security, school violence prevention, and character education to impact behavioral change. Together, these materials offer schools the opportunity to begin a dialogue with students and build a sustained cyberbullying prevention campaign to continually remind the school community about safe, ethical online use.
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 the CyberSmart! Cyberbullying Package 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,
Michael Kaiser, Executive Director,
The National Cyber Security Alliance
Research indicates that only a small percentage of schools have adopted curriculum to address cyberbullying. CyberSmart!'s research-based curriculum provides an easy way for K–12 educators get started in the prevention of cyberbullying by providing immediate access to quality materials for the classroom, families, and the community. We encourage schools to implement all of the CyberSmart! lessons.
Michael Kaiser, Executive Director,
The National Cyber Security Alliance.