A lot of great work on social media and at-risk youth has been done in the UK by Internet-safety consultant Stephen Carrick-Davies, and here's an important takeaway from his latest work: Educators and other professionals who work with marginalized young people need to understand and use social media – the social and communications tools of their everyday lives. In the UK, some of that work … [Read more...] about Learning from, working with at-risk youth
The highly problematic term ‘cyberbullycide’
Don't use it, and be skeptical of any so-called authority who does use it. "Cyberbullycide" (or "bullycide") is not clever, is not accurate, and its use could be harmful. Among other reasons why it isn't accurate (see this by prevention specialist Patti Agatston), the term suggests that cyberbullying is the sole cause of a suicide, and suicide prevention experts tell us that "suicidal behavior is … [Read more...] about The highly problematic term ‘cyberbullycide’
Peering thoughtfully through this window into our kids’ lives
Back in 2005, a friend in Massachusetts referred to his daughters' constant instant messaging (remember that?!) as "a window into their lives that I wouldn't have otherwise. [My daughter] leaves her computer on a table beside my desk, and I get to watch a bunch of this stuff happening. Sort of like me working while she and a friend talk right inside her open bedroom door while I am working on the … [Read more...] about Peering thoughtfully through this window into our kids’ lives
How anonymity’s a safety factor: 1 clear example
People sometimes fear or vilify online anonymity, and there are well-lighted places like Facebook where reliance on offline identity is a safety factor, but we seem often to forget that anonymity is a safety factor too, one that long predates the Internet. Well-known examples are political and human-rights activists in many parts of the world now and throughout history. Another example was … [Read more...] about How anonymity’s a safety factor: 1 clear example
Prensky’s thoughts for 21st-century teachers
Marc Prensky, who coined the term "digital natives" and a few years ago moved on to write about digital wisdom, called on educators to show the courage to do what "they know is right" and wisely embrace the technology that will increasingly help all of us, including students, solve the world's complex problems. This was in his 10-min. portion of a collective keynote at this summer's International … [Read more...] about Prensky’s thoughts for 21st-century teachers