WEBQUEST:

Social Networking and Cyberbullying: Communicating with Peers and Parents through Public Service Announcements

Ms. Kathy Spitzer

School Librarian, Cicero-North Syracuse High School

Introduction

On January 25, 2010 the Post Standard broke a story about a Roxboro Rd. Middle School student who was suspended due to the creation of a Facebook page that allegedly libeled a teacher at the school. With the popularity of social networks, cyberbullying has increasingly become a problem for teens and as we can see in this newspaper story cyberbullying isn’t just limited to a peer group.

Article from The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) - Monday, January 25, 2010

Task

Your task is to work with one other person to create a script for a one minute Public Service Announcement focusing on two or more of the following:

· What is cyberbullying?

· What are the consequences of cyberbullying for the victim?

· What are the consequences of cyberbullying for the perpetrator?

· What is the difference between libel and slander?

· What authority do school officials have in relation to cyberbullying?

· What do the statistics say about cyberbullying? How often does it occur?

· What is the connection between Freedom of Speech and cyberbullying?

Choose a target audience for your one minute Public Service Announcement:

· the Cicero-North Syracuse High School student population, or

· parents of students who attend Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Some questions you’ll want to answer before proceeding are:

· What is libel?

· What is slander?

· What cases of cyberbullying have been reported in the U.S.media?

· What is Freedom of Speech?

· Does Freedom of Speech protect you when you libel someone?

Cyberbullying resources:

· Cyberbullying: Trends and Tudes

· National Crime Prevention Council

· Suggestions about cyberbullying for administrators and parents

· Stop Cyberbullying Now

· Cybersmart

· Cyberbullying Activity

· Acceptable Social Networking Activity

· The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use

· Cybersavvy

· Guide to Being Safe Online

Freedom of Speech:

· Defamation of Character: What is slander? What is libel?

· Freedom of Speech

· School Officials and Cyberbullying

· Freedom of Speech in Schools

Information for Parents:

· Cybersavvy: A Guide for Parents

· Advice for Parents

· Social Networking: Tips for Parents

Cyberbullying in the news:

· Justice for Megan?

· Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act

· Phoebe Prince: Bullied to Death?

· States Examine Cyberbullying

· Cyberbullies 4Real

· Cyberbullying Information from Our Newest Product: Global Issues in Context.

· Cyberbullying Grows Bigger and Meaner

Statistics:

· Internet Safety Technical Task Force Report

· iSAFE Statistics

· Cyberbullying Research Center

Process:

You will use the Character Education Public Policy Analyst process to create your Public Service Announcement.

Learn more about the Character Education Public Policy Analyst.

1. Begin here by defining the problem.

2. Gather your evidence.

3. Identify causes.

4. Evaluate a policy.

5. Develop solutions.

6. Select the best solution.

7. Identify benefits and costs.

Rubric for evaluation:

Public Service Announcement Rubric

Conclusion:

By creating a Public Service Announcement about cyberbullying students will:

Gain an awareness of the extent of and problems associated with cyberbullying

Explore Freedom of Speech and its relation to cyberbullying

Be empowered by communicating with their peers through video technology.

STANDARDS

ELA Standards:

1. Students will read and write for information and understanding.

2. Students will read and write for literary response and expression.

3. Students will read and write for critical analysis and evaluation.

4. Student will speak and listen for social interaction.