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How to help students navigate the darker side of online
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Apr 27, 2017
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How to help students navigate the darker side of online
Jurupa Unified is one of many school districts that provides digital training classes to help its students manage the problems of cyber-bullying and fake news.
Students in the Aspire program work individually at computers separated by privacy screens. The partitions help the students feel less anxious.
Students in the Aspire program work individually at computers separated by privacy screens. The partitions help the students feel less anxious.
(
Kavitha Cardoza/WAMU
)

Jurupa Unified is one of many school districts that provides digital training classes to help its students manage the problems of cyber-bullying and fake news.

It's hard enough when kids have to hear mean comments in the hallways at school, but now those comments can follow them all the way to their online profiles.

With more students connected to the internet than ever, schools are forced to confront the problem of cyber bullying.

That includes Jurupa Unified School District, which began offering digital training lessons to kids after thousands of its students received netbooks from the schools this year.

"We really wanted to demonstrate to our parents and community that we are committed to teaching the students to use these devices in enriching and responsible ways," said Joshua Lewis, director of Education-Information technology at Jurupa Unified.

He told Take Two's A Martinez that schools need to, "create a district-wide culture of digital literacy and appropriate digital citizenship."

Lewis said that the classes make sense for the modern student. This generation is the first to grow up with constant online access. Helping them navigate the waters is a key responsibility for educators.

"We teach students a variety of things in education. Sometimes it's quantum physics and not all students can relate to that. But when it comes to digital citizenship and these lessons, it mirrors their daily lives and the reality of their futures." 

To hear the full conversation, click the blue player above.