Slide 1

Parenting, Adolescence, and Digital OpportunitiesAnd Digital ChallengesPresented to Grade 6 ParentsWednesday, Feb 20 2013Geoff SmithSecondary School PrincipalLincoln Community SchoolTHE FIVE BsTasks of Adolescent DevelopmentWhat you have to look forward to!BRAINAm I Getting Smarter?

Abstract thinkingPerspective takingDecision-makingProblem-solvingConflict management

CHALLENGE: Argumentative, Advice-giving

POSITIVES: Livelier discussions, Independence

BRAIN

Prefrontal CortexCEO of the brain; last part to mature; Responsible for decision making; rationalthoughtsAmygdalaEmotional center; teens rely more heavily on this area;Can explain why adolescents react more impulsivelyBELONGINGDo Kids Like Me?

Peer acceptanceSocial skillsComplex emotions

CHALLENGE: Negative peer pressure

POSITIVES: Peer approval for academics, athletics, arts

BECOMINGWho Is That In The Mirror?

Personal IdentityPositive view of selfMoral standards/valuesBelief systems

CHALLENGE: Experimenting

POSITIVES: Growing realism of strengths/weaknesses

The 21st Century Learnerpresented by Kim Cofinopresentation resources: http://the21stcenturylearner.wikispaces.com/professional blog: http://mscofino.edublogs.org

always on

lifeoutsidethe classroom

social

increasingly digital

constantlyconnected

instant access

communicators & creatorseffectiveConsiderKids want belongingKids are becomingKids are Always onKids are Increasingly digitalKids are SocialKids are ConnectedKids expect Instant accessKids brains are developing (immaturely)

What are your thoughts at this moment?

What does this say to you?

Social MediaChallengesOpportunitiesWhat do I do?What decisions are best?Individual choices & Family decisionsWheres balance?Trust and MistakesCommunication

What do kids say?A 10th graderAnother 10th graderWhat did 8th graders say?What did 6th graders say?What did 11th and 12th graders say?Resourceswww.lcsprincipal.edublogs.orgCyberBullyingWHY BULLY IN CYBER SPACE?Some common MYTHS:Its a virtual place to hideNo witnessesNo scene of the crime

REALITY:It is much easier to say something mean to someone when you are not saying it face to face

TYPES OF ON-LINE BULLIESThe Power Hungry

The Vengeful Angel

The Mean Girls

The Computer Savvy

The Inadvertent Cyber Bully

The Power Hungry

Like the traditional school yard bullyWants to show their powerNeeds an audienceOften brags about what they have done

The Vengeful Angel

Usually the target of earlier bullying incidentThey don't see themselves as a bullyFeels that they are righting a wrongSees themselves as the protector of others

The Mean GirlsUsually the bullying is planned by a group of girls to be done to another girlIt is a form of entertainment for themBullying gets more intense as more people know about it and praise the original groupMany people are silent about it because they do not want to become the new target for the group

The Computer Savvy

Often the victim of off-line bullying (physical or verbal abuse)May be physically smaller than their peersMay often be picked on for not being popular enoughThey have greater technical skills and use them to get back at their tormentors

The Inadvertent Cyber BullyDont see themselves as cyber bulliesDo it Because I canCommunicating on-line makes them feel tougher, more in controlDont think before pressing SEND

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?FLAMMING: Fight through text and e-mail with angry wordsHARASSMENT: repeatedly sending offensive, rude, insulting messagesCYBERSTALKING: repeatedly sending messages that threaten to harm or humiliateDENIGRATION: Insulting and/or humiliating someone on-lineIMPERSONATION: posing as another personOUTING & TRICKERY: sharing secretsEXCLUSION: excluding someone from an online buddy list or from your social networking site