Being Good Digital Citizens

Happy Digital Citizenship Week! Digital Citizenship Week falls during Cyber Security Month and makes for a perfect time to talk about these two overlapping topics and how we teach them at Independence.

At every grade level, we emphasize the importance of online etiquette. This ranges from treating devices with respect, to always following the rules of a digital service, to recognizing, preventing and avoiding cyberbullying. At every age, students are encouraged to take concerns to a trusted adult.

Our students learn the value of good digital communication. Whether it's our first graders using the green screen to enhance the quality of their mammal presentations or our fourth graders making book commercials for their Early Childhood friends, students learn about the power of using online tools to communicate with others. In middle school, students learn that an email is more like a formal letter than a text message and that a digital portfolio or a well-coded program can be powerful ways to demonstrate learning.

Conversations about online safety and cyber security vary by age group. Our youngest students are learning simple ideas, such as not sharing passwords. Our older students are learning about ways to avoid getting duped into a phishing scam, how to avoid malware and viruses, and what identity fraud means. Online risks are, sadly, a part of their everyday lives, but our students understand their part in their own safety.

Of course, the health and wellness of our students always comes first. Although we want our students to be as digitally literate as possible, we greatly value their IRL ("in real life") experiences. In designing our technology curriculum, we aim to be very mindful of the quality and quantity of our students' online experiences. Short but meaningful digital lessons are powerful. Perhaps most importantly, we talk with students of all ages about the need to put away their devices and enjoy the outdoors, family time or reading a great book!  

The Admission Office has started working with families for Fall 2019 enrollment. In addition to our school-wide Open House on Sunday, Oct. 28, please help spread the word about our first two Information Sessions of the 2018-19 school year:

• Tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 17 - Lower School (Early Childhood I-grade 4)
• Wednesday, Nov. 14 - Middle School (grades 5-8)

Registration for Open House can be found at www.theindependenceschool.org/admission/openhouse. Registration and further details for our Information Sessions are available at www.theindependenceschool.org/admission/events. Thanks!

Click here or on the graphic above to visit our official Facebook page and meet your hosts for Season 2 of INDY Live! New episodes will begin airing at the end of October.