Va. schools to offer social media education program

Posted to: Education News Virginia
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By Kathy Adams
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 20, 2012

RICHMOND

Students in Virginia public schools have a new tool for learning how to use the Internet wisely.

My Digital Life, a 3-1/2-hour online program for eighth- and ninth-graders will be free and voluntary for each of Virginia's school divisions, Gov. Bob McDonnell said Thursday in a joint news conference with Sen. Mark Warner. The goals are to educate students on safe, productive use of the Internet and social media and encourage them to pursue careers in science and technology.

The program offers a series of interactive lessons on topics including cyberbullying, selecting a cellphone plan, the dangers of sending text messages while driving, buying a laptop, applying for college, financial aid and employment online and avoiding identity theft. It also aims to teach students that what they share online today could come back to bite them in the future, Warner said.

“What you say and do on the internet can and will come back to bite you at some point,” he said.

Teachers may work the half-hour My Digial Life modules into the curriculum or assign them as homework.

Two companies - EverFi and Neustar - partnered to offer the program, which would have cost schools more than $1 million if they had created it, said Tom Davidson, chief executive officer of EverFi, an educational technology company based in Washington, D.C. EverFi created the site and Neustar, a telecommunications company based in Sterling, Va., is providing the funding.

In addition to better preparing students to deal with the issues that arise with using technology and the internet, the initiative is also a recruitment tool to encourage more students to go into STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – fields, one of the governor’s priorities.

“For us, this initiative is about teaching our children to be safe on the Internet,” Neustar Chief Executive Officer Lisa Hook said, “as well as teaching them to be comfortable with technology and to go into technology careers.”

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using vs uses

Submitted by truthseeker on Fri, 01/20/2012 at 11:45 am.

Teaching the procedures for use of social media is something the kids can do for the adults, as anyone who ever tried to set the time on a VCR can testify.
However, teaching the USES, job seeking, investigations, resume writing and other uses involved in day to day business are becoming more and more necessary in the modern world. This, along with the pitfalls and dangers, would be useful if not necessary in everyday life.

foot in the door

Submitted by JimmyJJ on Fri, 01/20/2012 at 6:34 am.

Sure, this course is voluntary and free, for now. This is merely a way for the school system to get their foot in the door. Some people in the schools want to be in every part of the student's lives.

And We Wonder Why Virginia's Public Schools Are Failing

Submitted by 20 Year Navy VET on Thu, 01/19/2012 at 11:09 pm.

Focus on the important and critical building blocks. In this day and age, using social media is a job for the parents or guardians.

Potential

Submitted by arnative on Thu, 01/19/2012 at 8:16 pm.

While I don't disagree with the concept, or even the materials being taught, 8th grade is too late. For it to really be worthwhile, these need to be built into the elementary grades since, as many other posters have pointed out, they are already becoming proficient by the time they reach middle school.

The country is doomed.

Submitted by Swifty Epstein on Thu, 01/19/2012 at 5:59 pm.

The country is doomed.

Yet another hobby class

Submitted by heidihoneighbor on Thu, 01/19/2012 at 1:40 pm.

You know as adults you have to pay for your hobby classes, and they do not count towards a degree.

Kids now days know more about gadgets and social outlets than anyone else, and they do not need to be encouraged

This is yet another waste of the taxpayers money, and yet another waste of the teachers time.

How about

Submitted by A Markowitz on Thu, 01/19/2012 at 9:35 am.

teaching Civics and Living Skills instead, using social media is something the kids already know -- probably better than the teachers. Using it responsibly could be part of living skills but doesn't justify an entire class curricula.

You're right, Al

Submitted by gabriellel45516 on Thu, 01/19/2012 at 11:48 am.

I totally agree it is not necessary to have a separate curricula for using social media. In some places it is already being discussed in conjunction with other classes. At dinner last night we had a huge discussion about the SOPA and PIPA bills. It was prompted by our 8th grader who said they were discussing it in her keyboarding and civics classes yesterday.

Preach on!!

Submitted by Mrs. Feldman on Thu, 01/19/2012 at 10:36 am.

I concur fully.

Markowitz

Submitted by RicM25798 on Thu, 01/19/2012 at 9:58 am.

I somewhat agree with your comments, but teaching about social media is important. Using tools like LinkedIn and other related social websites greatly expands one's job-searching capabilities.