Cyberbullying Case Studies

Joan Lange

Katie Derrick

What is Cyberbullying? The high tech way for kids to pick on each

other Cruel or demeaning notes are sent from one

child to another through e-mail, text messaging or chat rooms/social networking sites

Cyberthreats - cyberbullying that contain messages of possible violence against someone else or themselves (http://cyberbully.org/)

Target Group & Timeframe High school Juniors (ages 16-17) Approximately 74 students in a required Theology

class (Morality) 4 classes Breakdown of unit:

1st 50 min. class - students read case study, identify the primary problem, formulate

their question for research and brainstorm 3 keywords to search in TEL

2nd 50 min class – librarian presents TEL (15 min.) and students conduct search for 2

articles at computers (35 min).

Teaching Strategies

Direct teacher instruction & questioning Direct librarian instruction & questioning Student-directed research on computers Guided reading Small group discussions

Resources Used Computers with Internet access to TEL- 30 Information about search strategies gained from

initial library instruction TEL Powerpoint presentation Keyword brainstorming handout Student search worksheet

Background on topic from librarian & classroom teacher

Copy of “Ethical Decision-Making Model” Case Study handout Support Group list Computer Projector/laptop with internet connection

Tennessee Electronic Library Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL(TEL)Expanded Academic Database

How to find and Access TELHow to find and Access TEL

• Go to JPII website

• Select “database library” from website menu

• Select “Tennessee Electronic Library” from list

• When Infotrac screen comes up, password is

elvis

Now is it like Google?Now is it like Google?• Uncheck the “Select All” box at the top of the

screen

• Check the select box next to Expanded Academic Index ASAP

Yes, it’s similar to Google. You are Yes, it’s similar to Google. You are using keyword searching in both using keyword searching in both (right now)…(right now)…

• But these results are really overwhelming!• 2,947 magazine results

• 512 academic journal results

Are you going to look through Are you going to look through 3,000+ records?3,000+ records?

• Click on “advanced search” at the top of the screen

• Try an AND search to narrow results

Now we’ve only got 50 instead Now we’ve only got 50 instead of 2900+ magazines!of 2900+ magazines!

But… some are brief or do not contain the full text of the article

But this too can be overcome…But this too can be overcome…

• Click on the “Expand/Limit” link above the result number

• Choose only documents with FULL TEXT

• Click “GO”

How can you tell if these REALLY match with How can you tell if these REALLY match with what you are looking for and not a related what you are looking for and not a related topic (like sexual predators or filtering)?topic (like sexual predators or filtering)?

We can narrow it down more by going back to the Advanced Search screen

- Add another AND keyword search term- Search “bullies”

Use this article to create new Use this article to create new search terms…search terms…

Armed with new terms you can go Armed with new terms you can go back to your advanced search and try back to your advanced search and try other techniques…other techniques…

• Wildcard searching – searches different word forms

• Cyberbull* will search cyberbully, cyberbullying, cyberbullies, etc.

But no matter how brilliant you think your But no matter how brilliant you think your search is, don’t forget to evaluate your results search is, don’t forget to evaluate your results

for RELEVANCY!!!for RELEVANCY!!!

Evaluation & Assessment

Informal: Circulate among students as they brainstorm and

perform TEL search Check for Understanding (questioning technique) as

students evaluate and adapt search strategy to locate articles to fit their need

Formal: Final assessment will be student generated Powerpoint

Presentation which incorporates their research of the primary problem into their ethical decision-making model.

Follow-up Activities

Invite guest speaker from “You Have the Power” to speak to the class

Discussion of support groups for Internet Safety and to counter Cyberbullying

Lesson on MLA citation of sources Noodletools

Curriculum & Information Literacy Standards Taught

Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively. Indicators 1, 3 and 5

Standard 2: The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently. Indicators 1 and 4

Standard 3: The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively. Indicators 3 and 4

Standard 9: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information. Indicators 3 and 4

Yes, this has been attempted…

What went well:

What needs modification:

Questions???