Cyberbullying

Jodie Cottage Kathryn Green Elyse Conigliaro =Cyber Bullying =



Cyber bullying can be defined as – “//the use of e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, pagers, cell phones, or other forms of information technology to deliberately harass, threaten, or intimidate someone.”(// [] ) Cyber bullying is often done by children, who have increasing access to these technologies. However, it is by no means confined to children. The problem is compounded by the fact that a bully can hide behind an electronic veil, disguising his or her identity. This makes it difficult to trace the source, and encourages bullies to behave more aggressively than they might face-to-face. Cyber bullies have effected people across the world, ranging anywhere from elementary school, universities, or even the corporate work place. Cyberbullying can include such acts as making threats, sending provocative insults or racial or ethnic slurs, gay bashing, attempting to infect the victim's computer with a virus, and flooding an e-mail inbox with nonsense messages. If you are a victim, you can deal with cyberbullying to some extent by limiting computer connection time (not being always on), not responding to threatening or defamatory messages, and never opening e-mail messages from sources you do not recognize. More active measures include the blacklisting or whitelisting of e-mail accounts, changing e-mail addresses, changing ISPs, changing cell phone accounts, and attempting to trace the source. In some cases, it may be advisable to inform the local police department or consult an attorney. It is not recommended that you retaliate in kind because such behavior can lead to civil actions or criminal charges against you. In cases relating to younger children, a student should always tell an adult. If you don’t feel comfortable confining in a teacher or parent, your schools guidance counselor or a counseling center can always help you. One thing a victim should also never do is retaliate by telling a friend, or joining forces with others in order to fight back.
 * Description:**


 * What is the impact of this issue on K-12 schools, educators, and students?**

Cyber bullying has a negative impact on school. Many schools try to get involved with cyber bullying that takes place outstide of school. Many times the schools will be sued and loose as it is not within the school.

As educators it is important to integrate bullying in to the ciriculum to see how it is harmful to other students. If a teacher notcies that they believe to be cyber bullying the should respond immediately. Lastly a teacher should take cyber bullying and any type of bullying very seriously in the classroom and at the school. What can teachers do to prevent cyber bullying?? Here is a website with some helpful hints.. []

Cyber bullying is a topic that could be very hard to integrate into daily instruction. However it is very important for the students to see how cyber bullying effects others. One way to integrate it could be by doing a case study where the students can see how people can be effected and see how it can make people feel. Also by using cyber bullying as a topic in different lessons the students can learn about ways to prevent, and ways to stop cyber bullying.
 * Integrating this topic into Daily Instruction:**

Here is a website that provides different lesson plans based on integrating cyber bullying in the classroom. []

Grades 5-8 are when students will most likely have their first encounters with CYBER bullying. Regular bullies can be introduced into a child's life at a young age, but since cyber bullying is via technology, students encounter it later in life because of educational boundaries. Cyber bullying prevention programs should be in place within the curriculum at least by 5th grade. An introduction to the topic followed by worksheets, role playing, and assemblies to teach students who can be considered a cyber bully, and what to do if your being cyber bullied. Some objectives that the teacher should work towards are to discuss the uncomfortable feelings that can result from certain online experiences, recognize the definition of what cyber bullying is by creating examples, and identifying strategies for responsibly dealing with cyber bullies. Below contains a link that includes multiple lesson plans and student activity work sheets.
 * Describe how you would integrate this topic into grades 5-8 instruction**

http://cybersmartcurriculum.org/cyberbullying/ncsa/lessons/

Another important way to intergrate this topic into a cirriculum that makes it interesting and intruiging for the students is to have assemblies. There are many groups around the country that work specificially to target cyber bullies and their victims. Groups such as "Stand up - Speak out" and others travel across the country to inform students in a fun way about cyber bullies.
 * Describe how you would integrate this topic into grades 7-9 instruction**

http://jaybanks.com/assemblies-programs/anti-bullying-assembly/?gclid=CLyqxe3I2qQCFQY65QodxROyJg

This link is an example of a cyber bullying prevention group. Its extremely important that cyber bullying is taking very seriously within these grades. Here are some statistics based on grades 5-12 from the internet program, iSafe:

**Only 15% of parents polled knew what cyberbullying was! **
 * 22% of students know someone who has been bullied online.
 * 19% of students admit to saying something hurtful to others online.
 * 12% of students have personally become upset by strangers online.
 * 90% of middle school students have had their feelings hurt online.
 * 75% have visited a web site bashing another student
 * 40% have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully

A way to integrate cyber bulling into the curriculum in grades 9-12 would to give the students all the information on how to prevent cyber bullying from happening to them. The students should know there are multiple support groups to help victims of cyber bullying. At this age students are more likely to be a part of cyber bullying. There are many stories and examples of different cases online. Students can look up different stories and write papers of how cyber bullying has effected the person and ways that it could of been prevented. Having people come into the classrooms and talk about ways to prevent, or have victims come in and talk to the students could be a way to get the students to understand about cyber bullying as well.
 * Describe how you would integrate this topic into grades 9-12 instruction**

-The following links directly connect to the issue of cyber bullying, some offer teaching techniques, while others are helpful sites for all ages to address the issue and generate discussion and possible situations that one might find themselves in. [] http://cybersmartcurriculum.org/cyberbullying/ncsa/lessons/
 * Additional Links:**

http://support.twitter.com/entries/115246-safety-privacy-cyberbullying-and-cyberharassment

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=h#!/group.php?gid=161995630478946&v=wall&ref=ts Tyler Clementi was a freshman at Rutgers University, many people described him as a “fine young man and a distinguished musician.” Tyler posted a goodbye message on his facebook page before jumping to his death off the George Washington bridge. His roommate secretly filmed him during a sexual encounter in his dorm and posted live on the internet. Suicide is often a consequence of cyber bulling. Many teens are unable to deal with the the harassment and believe suicide is the only way to escape the torture. http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/cyberbullying-and-teen-suicide/  -In regaruds to the increse of teen suicide due to cyber bullying, unfourtantely Tyler Clementi is one of many who chose to end his life. Hundreds of stories are broadcasted across the news to inform students, parents, and teachers about this terrible situation, and how to enforce and address the issue correctly.

References: http://www.makeadifferenceforkids.org/cyberbullying.html http://jaybanks.com/assemblies-programs/anti-bullying-assembly/?gclid=CLyqxe3I2qQCFQY65QodxROyJg  http://cybersmartcurriculum.org/cyberbullying/ncsa/lessons/   []   www.facebook.com