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Developing a Safe Space for Tough Conversations on Technology

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When developing my new 9th grade technology course I wanted to make sure that I was teaching my students important life skills that were relevant and interesting to them. I needed to create a safe space for tough conversations around online privacy, internet safety, and digital wellness. Equally as important was a lab environment that encouraged students to explore, whether through coding, vlogging, or making. To do this, I worked very hard at the beginning of this school year to create a classroom that puts student interests front and center while encouraging a culture of sharing, risk-taking, and respect.

I am the Upper School Digital Learning Specialist at Garrison Forest School (GFS) in Owings Mills, MD. GFS is an independent, all-girls’ K-12 day and boarding school located outside of Baltimore. I teach film theory and production classes in the visual arts department as well as the previously mentioned 9th grade technology course, Digital Thinking: Apps to Ethics. In Apps to Ethics we cover everything from managing your Google Drive to understanding Snapchat’s privacy policy. One week we’ll study copyright and fair use, while the following class conversation will focus on Instagram and it’s culture of validation through “likes” and “followers”. Here are a few things I did at the beginning of the school year to encourage authentic conversation around every one of these topics.

1. Establish “Community Norms.” Classroom guidelines for behaviors are imperative in creating a safe space. I borrowed mine from the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC). These norms encourage students to “lean into discomfort” and “suspend judgement of [them]self and others.” You can find the full list of norms here.

2. Encourage your students to get to know each other. You’d be surprised at how little students know about peers that they may have been in school with for years. I find that you are less quick to judge the person sitting next to you when you know that they binge-watch the same Netflix series as you. Small personal connections create a comfort level necessary for students to share authentically with one another. The internet is home to hundreds of fun “getting to know you” activities for the start of the school year.

3. Get to know your students. This year, I’ve made a conscious effort to familiarize myself with the interests of my 9th grade students. I’ve been introduced to a world of YouTube celebrities that I never knew existed! When an adult shows a genuine interest in a student’s hobbies and passions, it reminds them that their thoughts, opinions, and behaviors are valid.

4. Reflect, reflect, reflect! I ask my students to reflect on their learning at the end of every unit. Simple reflection questions include “What are the three most important things you’ve learned this unit?” and “How have you applied what you’ve learned to your everyday life?” However, the most important question I ask is, “What is something that I (Ms. Muñoz) can do to make this class better?” This is an important reminder that they are the most important member of this class and if I’m not meeting their expectations, they should let me know… respectfully, of course!

StacieMunozStacie Muñoz is the Upper School Digital Learning Specialist at Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, MD. She has recently presented on ePortfolios and Digital Citizenship at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference and the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS) Tech Retreat. A film production graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts, Stacie is passionate about media literacy and how the arts can inspire social change. 

Categories: Educational Issues

1 Comment

  1. Renee Hawkins says:
    January 4, 2016| Reply

    Fantastic description of how to start these conversations with students. They so often feel that adults just don’t get it and are told in a variety of ways that these powerful tools are simply a waste of time. It’s great that they are given “voice and choice” which in turn validates their online experiences and makes everyone more open to hearing alternative points of view. Well done!

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