Just from watching Engadget's 6 min. video report about it I could tell "The Last Goodbye" – a 16 min. virtual reality experience that debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival that just wrapped in New York – will have a profound impact on anyone who experiences it. The reporter called it "emotionally harrowing." So there are really two central roles in this VR experience: that of Holocaust … [Read more...] about VR as empathy teaching tool: What to love, what to watch out for
Risk & Safety
Reasons why ’13 Reasons Why’ demands discussion
By now, if you live or work with young people, you've probably heard about "13 Reasons Why," Netflix's dramatic series about a teenager's suicide. Based on a Young Adult book of the same title, the series – now a hot topic at schools in the U.S. and other countries – needs discussing. On one hand, it exposes issues today's high school students often face (among them, depression, bullying, … [Read more...] about Reasons why ’13 Reasons Why’ demands discussion
‘Blue Whale’ game: ‘Fake news’ about teens spread internationally
[Thank you to all commenters on this post! I've just posted an update (5/17/17) that I hope you'll read before commenting further here.] It has been reported as real news here in the U.S. in recent weeks, just as it was earlier in eastern Europe, and what a dark, disrespectful message it sends about young people in any country. I'm talking about coverage of the so-called "Blue Whale suicide … [Read more...] about ‘Blue Whale’ game: ‘Fake news’ about teens spread internationally
The resilience part of digital parenting (& kids’ safety)
Parents concerned about the digital part of parenting deserve to know that they are not starting from scratch when their kids start using phones, tablets and other connected devices – even if they haven't had conversations about digital safety yet. Far from it. Besides a loving family member or 2, 3 or 30 and the safeguarding norms, identity and values that most kids develop at home, kids also … [Read more...] about The resilience part of digital parenting (& kids’ safety)
How to choose (or make!) an anti-bullying video that helps
Recently a graduate student was given the assignment to find videos on YouTube that are "helpful to kids in confronting bullying." The criteria given the student were: Make sure the video… 1. presents accurate information about both the problem and what bullying is (sometimes behavior's just rude or mean, not bullying) 2. is made by kids for kids 3. shows kids standing up for … [Read more...] about How to choose (or make!) an anti-bullying video that helps