Currently active in 5th-, 6th-, and 9th-grade classrooms across the district, the program uses the nationally acclaimed Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship curriculum. Developed in partnership with Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, this research-backed framework is designed to help students navigate real-world “digital dilemmas.”
A proactive approach to online safety
From protecting personal privacy to de-escalating digital drama, the initiative aims to create a secure online environment by teaching students how to identify risks and make responsible choices before problems arise.
"Our goal is to empower students to become responsible and ethical digital citizens," said Matt Smith, DSD Instructional Technology Specialist for K-12. "By exploring topics like online privacy, digital footprints, and de-escalating digital drama, students develop the critical thinking skills necessary to make informed decisions and interact respectfully with others."
Standards-based learning for the 21st Century
The curriculum is closely aligned with International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards, a global framework for rethinking education and creating innovative learning environments.
Students engage in age-appropriate lessons that tackle the specific challenges they face at different stages of their development. For a 5th grader, this might mean learning how to find a healthy "media balance" or keep online friendships safe. For a 9th grader, the focus shifts to more complex topics like the long-term impact of a digital footprint and recognizing "red flags" in online communication.
Key areas of focus include:
- Privacy and Security: Managing personal data and understanding how to keep information secure.
- Digital Footprint: Understanding that online actions are permanent and can affect future opportunities.
- Relationships and Communication: Building positive communities and practicing empathy in every digital interaction.
- Cyberbullying and Digital Drama: Giving students the tools to stand up for themselves and others, fostering a culture of "upstanders" rather than bystanders.
Parents invited to preview lessons
The following lessons are currently being implemented across the district, and parents are invited to follow the links to the Common Sense Media website to preview some of the free lessons for themselves:
- Grade 5
- Finding My Media Balance (What does media balance mean for me?)
- You Won’t Believe This! (What is clickbait and how can you avoid it?)
- Is It Cyberbullying? (What is cyberbullying and what can you do to stop it?)
- Grade 6
- Finding Balance in a Digital World (How do we balance digital media use in our lives?)
- Don’t Feed the Phish (How can you protect yourself from phishing?)
- Digital Drama Unplugged (How can you de-escalate digital drama so it doesn’t go too far?)
- Grade 9
- My Digital Life is Like… (What is the role of digital media in our lives?)
- Protecting Online Reputations (How can you respect the privacy of others online?)
- Hoaxes and Fakes (How can you avoid being fooled by fake videos and other information?)
Accountability and excellence
DSD has set a high bar for the program’s success. Each lesson includes interactive resources such as videos and handouts, followed by a quiz to assess student understanding. Students earn digital certificates from Common Sense Media upon completion, which are uploaded to their Digital Literacy Google Classrooms.
The district has established a goal for more than 90% of students to pass these assessments, ensuring that the vast majority of our student body is graduating with a firm grasp of digital safety and responsibility.
By prioritizing these online skills today, DSD is helping to ensure that our students are not just consumers of technology, but safe, savvy, and respectful leaders in a digital world.