There is no way a book about spending a year in the life of a middle school class – its 28 students' home, school and digital experiences – could be reduced to a single theme. But one main takeaway from The Class, by UK researchers Sonia Livingstone and Julian Sefton-Green, may surprise and sound familiar at the same time: the old saying that "the more things change, the more they stay the … [Read more...] about Learning about ‘The Class’: Researchers on their year in middle school
School & Tech
Handling toxicity: Insights for parents & teachers from Riot Games
There's real wisdom for parents, coaches and educators – not to mention gamers, athletes and social media users – in this business story about what toxic behavior does to a team. The game in question? League of Legends, a 30 million-player "team-based game" along the lines of Capture the Flag "or, more aptly, 'destroy the enemy base'," according to Google's re:Work's description. The game company … [Read more...] about Handling toxicity: Insights for parents & teachers from Riot Games
Major update on bullying, cyberbullying in the U.S.: Study
Bullying. Why haven't we solved this social problem yet? Because, according to an important update from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine, bullying is one very complex problem. "Composition of peer groups, shifting demographics, changing societal norms, and modern technology are factors that must be considered to understand and effectively react to bullying in the … [Read more...] about Major update on bullying, cyberbullying in the U.S.: Study
True school safety: A ‘compassion network’ in & around schools in Morgan County, W.V.
It's Kindness Week, and there's no greater kindness – for and from people of all ages – than what's being demonstrated in Morgan County, W.V., where great need is being met with great cooperation. County residents have created a web of youth-focused programs supporting kids in and out of school. I've been hearing about the growth of this amazing web of care since I met Gary McDaniel, a clinical … [Read more...] about True school safety: A ‘compassion network’ in & around schools in Morgan County, W.V.
A prosecutor’s good decision in teen sexting case
This is a catch-up blog post bookmarking real progress in the handling of teen sexting in the United States – and unusually good reporting on it from CNN. Thankfully, none of the reported hundreds of middle school and high school students in Cañon City, Col., who were accused of sexting will face criminal charges. That's important because Colorado is one of 30 states whose prosecutors have to rely … [Read more...] about A prosecutor’s good decision in teen sexting case