Summary: Module 6 Blackboard Collaborate Discussion Group Two: Amy Englund (6-8 ESL) Kate Karlonas (5 Math/Social Studies/Literacy)

Caroline Olen (5/6 English Language Arts) Once we were all able to launch the live discussion, the following were the main questions we discussed, the conversation is copied below: 1. What do your schools have in place for bullying prevention? We discussed this question after agreeing that we loved the anonymous tip website described in the KVTV video, but that it seemed like a tool that is better suited for secondary level students than elementary/middle. The video highlights the benefit of breaking through the code of silence which causes students to feel they cant tell on their peers. In our experience in late elementary and middle school, overall our students have not yet realized that such a code exists, they are still more than willing to implicate their peers. Amy did mention that her school has a similar anonymous tip system available to students and parents, and Kate mentioned that the guidance counselors at her school present a series of bullying lessons, while at Carolines school bullying is addressed by the health teacher. 2. How much technology do your students have access to? We discussed this question after establishing that we all taught middle school aged students, who have varying levels of access to personal technology. Amy shared a wealth of information about her schools BYOD policy in which students are allowed access to their personal devices and teachers model how to use them for appropriate educational purposes. She said her school has seen great results and an increase in productive use of technology in school. All agreed this seems to be the way of the future. The role of maturity of the students in this scenario was also discussed, as well as the possibility of theft, and possible disadvantages for students who do not own any devices.

3. The WOW Cyberbullying Apprenticeship video mentioned the possibility of suicide, students in the video were shocked by it, how do you think your students would react to this reality? Discussion of this question lead to some great info sharing. Kate mentioned that her students had seen a video that touched on the issue of suicide but in the context of pressure and high achievement not bullying, Carolines students had not discussed the issue in any capacity, and Amy shared information about the C2 (C-Squared) program that her district uses to discuss bullying and the consequences and to encourage anti bullying. 4. How does your school tackle the cyberbullying issue, given that it is something that most often occurs off of school grounds? The major conclusion drawn from discussion of this final question was that this is still a gray area. Caroline recalled that her high school always reminded students that their actions outside of school still reflected on the school community, Amys school takes a similar approach, adding consequences for outside behavior, Amy described a specific example involving eighth grade students sending inappropriate pictures.

Kate Karlonas 3 7:12 PM What did you think of the suggested video links? Caroline Olen 1 7:12 PM not a lot of new info, interesting things to think about though Amy Englund 7:12 PM I thought they were good but I agree with Caroline not a lot of new info. Kate Karlonas 3 7:13 PM I agree-but I loved the one about the using technology to submit confidential tips about bullying fighting etc Amy Englund 7:13 PM What do your schools or school district have in place for Bully prevention? We also have that at our school or something similar that parents and students can submit information 7:13 PM

Kate Karlonas 3 7:13 PM the only question is, what if kids tipped off something was going to happen and it was fabricated? Caroline Olen 1 7:14 PM I did too! But it's funny, in elementary they haven't really realized yet that it's not cool to tell on each other, it's not as much of a problem for us, actually it's the opposite, they tell us too much sometimes Kate Karlonas 3 7:14 PM Our guidance does a series of Bullying lessons to our homerooms throughout year Caroline Olen 1 7:14 PM what levels do you teach? Amy Englund 7:14 PM I teach 6-8 grade ESL. Kate Karlonas 3 7:14 PM grade 5 math/social studies/literacy 7:14 PM Caroline Olen 1 7:15 PM oh alright so were all around the same, I'm 5-6 ELA, but still in an elementary setting (K-6 school) Kate Karlonas 3 7:15 PM I'm in a middle school setting 5-8 Amy Englund 7:15 PM I'm also at the middle school level Caroline Olen 1 7:15 PM Yeah, we definitely should be but Worcester hasn't caught up with that yet Kate Karlonas 3 7:15 PM I agree that that online tip off program might be better for older kids Amy Englund 7:15 PM

But I agree I see the mentality with my 6th graders who have no issue of tattling Kate Karlonas 3 7:16 PM until they are the source of the bully as consequence Caroline Olen 1 7:16 PM how much technology do you find your students have access to? do they all have cellphones? Amy Englund 7:16 PM It does help. It really helps with the older kids who might not normally come forward. We have a BYOD policy of bring your own device 7:16 PM Kate Karlonas 3 7:17 PM Cell phones-yes, but in lockers/bags all day. Computer class set cart is shared by 3 homerooms Amy Englund 7:17 PM Our school district has the mindset of teaching responsibility vs. restriction. It's really helped Kate Karlonas 3 7:17 PM They usually use their phones to call home at the end of day-pretty innocent so far... Amy Englund 7:17 PM Our students use them through-out the day for class work Kate Karlonas 3 7:17 PM Do you use Lanschool? Amy Englund 7:18 PM What is Lanschool? Kate Karlonas 3 7:18 PM It's a program that monitors all laptop screens but not sure about monitoring cell phone usage Amy Englund 7:18 PM Oh we have a program like that I'm not sure if it is Lanschool ours does not monitor cell phones 7:18 PM Caroline Olen 1 7:19 PM My students aren't allowed to have any tech out during the day either, but most of them do have phones at least at home, I have noticed that our bullying program (which is covered in health) for some reason doesn't cover cyberbullying, which is a huge oversight Kate Karlonas 3 7:19 PM responsibility vs. restriction; tell us more about that... that is a huge oversight... we have tech integrators that also cover it when issues arise 7:19 PM Amy Englund 7:20 PM The idea is if we teach our students and model it ourselves of what using your cell phone in class looks like they will be more likely to use it responsibly. For example I model looking up words, or translating I might demonstrate research on my ipod or ipad. 7:20 PM Kate Karlonas 3 7:20 PM love that idea- educate them and not punish or give them no structure to misuse

Amy Englund 7:20 PM Also if I get a text message during direct teach I don't answer it. The goal is and I've seen it help. I don't have students trying to covertly Caroline Olen 1 7:21 PM how long has your school been taking this approach? Amy Englund 7:21 PM text or play with their phones during teaching time. This is our first year at the middle school level high school has had if for a while. Our teachers really pushed for it. 7:21 PM It took a while because they wanted to strengthen our wi-fi networks for the increased traffic. 7:21 PM Kate Karlonas 3 7:22 PM very open minded and changing with the times... I suppose like all kids it could be abused at first but then modeled and policed enough it would work positively Caroline Olen 1 7:22 PM I would imagine it is somewhat necessary in high school, I have to say I can't see my students having the maturity to have access and use it responsibly Amy Englund 7:22 PM True. I still have some who regularly check facebook or text and when that happens their phone sits on my desk Kate Karlonas 3 7:22 PM what about the have nots who don't have phone access? Caroline Olen 1 7:23 PM good question, I have lots of have nots... Amy Englund 7:23 PM Because we label it as a BYOD (I too have many have nots) it typically is not an issue. Caroline Olen 1 7:23 PM meaning its ok that they dont have anything to bring? Amy Englund 7:23 PM sometimes if I'm asking them to directly look something up I'll have them pair up but mostly I utilize as another too exactly 7:23 PM the expectation is not that everyone will have one but if they do they are allowed to use it. 7:24 PM Caroline Olen 1 7:24 PM have you had any problems with theft? Amy Englund 7:25 PM No not that I have heard about. Caroline Olen 1 7:25 PM wow thats great! we have had that happen in our school, I suppose when they are allowed to have access they can keep a better eye on it, they're not trying to hide it

Amy Englund 7:25 PM They know that it is at your own risk. They signed an agreement as did their parents about the risk at the beginning of the year. It was in their take home packet Exactly 7:25 PM Caroline Olen 1 7:26 PM definitely sounds like the way of the future Amy Englund 7:26 PM It has been a cool thing to witness. Kate Karlonas 3 7:26 PM One of my students ironically lost his cell phone last week but thinks he dropped it and not stolen Caroline Olen 1 7:27 PM so one of the things that stood out to me in the videos was the mention of suicide...the students being shocked that it really happens, I think my students would have had the same reaction, they don't connect a lot of what they say to real consequences, what did you guys think of that? Amy Englund 7:27 PM That's good. Most of my kids jump to the someone stole my phone, pencil, book, and ect. before realizing they've misplaced it I agree many of the students are always shocked it's that nothing bad can happen to me mentality 7:27 PM

Kate Karlonas 3 7:28 PM suicide is quite widely recognized. Our community watched The Race to Nowhere about the stress of high achievers not bullying 7:28 PM more like competition and fear of failure 7:28 PM Amy Englund 7:29 PM We watched a video as a campus last year about bullying and the consequences. and our C2 (read c squared) club really works on talking about bullying and anti bullying. Caroline Olen 1 7:30 PM thats great though to talk about it in any context, it's not something that has ever been talked about to my knowledge with my students in regard to bullying, it seems their approach to the subject with the students is still fairly innocent, but if you listen to the things they say to eachother even in school most of them are far beyond innocent by 5th and 6th grade, they need realistic conversation from teachers Kate Karlonas 3 7:30 PM That sounds like a good program, ours could use variety and suggestions Amy Englund 7:31 PM This is a link to a news article (local) about the program http://www.kvue.com/news/Leander-ISD-hosts-anti-bullying-forum-146346215.html 7:31 PM it is used all over our district. This is about the HS club that initially started it. 7:31 PM Kate Karlonas 3 7:32 PM

Thanks for the link, Amy! Caroline Olen 1 7:32 PM thanks! Amy Englund 7:32 PM No problem Caroline Olen 1 7:33 PM what were your thoughts on the topic of cyberbullying and its connection to schools, given that it happens usually outside of school, but schools cannot ignore the issue, how do your schools deal with that? Kate Karlonas 3 7:35 PM I see all schools struggle with the lack of control on bus etc... ongoing grey area I think communication is key and likely the best way to intervene and support... harder for older kids I 7:35 bet PM Caroline Olen 1 7:37 PM its not really a focus in my school now, because as I said it's K-6 so cyberbullying isn't a problem in 5 of the 7 grades in the school, but I remember my high school stressing that everything we said and did outside of school still reflected on the school community, like an adult is accountable for everything based on their job, we were accountable for everything based on our school...not sure how convincing an argument that was but they were trying! definitely a grey area Amy Englund 7:37 PM I agree.. it's definitely a huge grey area. The schools are really trying to work with prevention through C2 and the No Place For Hate club... all of which talk about it We also try to convince them their behavior outside of school still reflects back to school. They 7:38 can be punished for it. For example some of our 8th graders haven been caught with nude photos PM on their phones Kate Karlonas 3 7:38 PM An issue we could discuss long into the night! I'm away with my parents celebrating my son's birthday at an indoor water park, so I will have to depart shortly. Amy Englund 7:38 PM and texting inappropriate pics They were held responsible at school and given ISS. 7:39 PM Caroline Olen 1 7:39 PM oh wow in 8th grade! how awful Kate Karlonas 3 7:39 PM hope parents were notified and gave consequence s 7:39 PM Amy Englund 7:39 PM I know it's insane. Yes they were. and I agree this is an issue that can be discussed forever Kate Karlonas 3 7:39 PM

does seem too young for that Caroline Olen 1 7:40 PM definitely, anything else to mention before we wrap up> ? 7:40 PM Amy Englund 7:40 PM I don't think so. Kate Karlonas 3 7:40 PM What they find humorous is quite appalling to adults... Caroline Olen 1 7:40 PM that's for sure Kate Karlonas 3 7:40 PM Thanks for chatting, ladies! Amy Englund 7:40 PM Kate happy birthday to your son! I hope you have a wonderful evening Ladies Thanks for the Chat 7:40 PM Caroline Olen 1 7:40 PM I will copy and paste this to the discussion, she asked for only one I think right? Kate Karlonas 3 7:40 PM Have a good night! I will copy and paste in email to Dr. WB Caroline Olen 1 7:41 PM Kate go have fun I will take care of it! Amy Englund 7:41 PM You too! I'll save a copy just in case there is an issue! 7:41 PM Kate Karlonas 3 7:41 PM she did... thank u Caroline! I will save mine then. Good luck with rest of course! 7:41 PM Caroline Olen 1 7:41 PM great, same to you both! Amy Englund You too! 7:41 PM Night Ladies