Play Your Part, Be Cyber Smart Campaign

Digital citizenship is an important topic to teach our students. Students learn how to be responsible, respectful, and safe when using computers, the internet, and digital devices. Key topics include internet safety, privacy & security, cyberbullying, safe device use, digital footprint, media literacy, ethics, and intellectual property.

It is critical that district and school leaders encourage and model responsible technology use for students and staff. This includes device care to minimize loss and breakage and practicing safe and responsible online habits such as password security. 

The following turnkey resources are available for BPS schools as part of the Play Your Part, Be Cyber Smart campaign:

1. Lessons (Google Slides format, launching September and October): Lessons for K-2, 3-6, and 7-12 are aligned with the MA Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards, the national ISTE Standards for Students, and the BPS Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). Each lesson will feature: (1) teacher instructions, (2) mini-lesson, and (3) extension activities and take 20-45 minutes depending on the lesson. Lessons can be shared in a teacher’s Google Classroom or copied from the district Nearpod library. We recommend that teachers be given time to teach these lessons in September and October. Lessons on privacy, passwords, and the BPS AUP should be taught in September. Lessons in media balance, cyberbullying, social media, and digital footprint can be taught during Digital Citizenship Week in October.

• • K-6: Classroom or specialist teachers (Health Education, Library Services, Technology, Computer Science, STEM) teach these lessons within the first two weeks of school to build community and classroom norms. Students/classrooms could receive their BPS Chromebook and optional Digital Responsibility Certificate when lesson activities are completed. 

  • 7-12: Homeroom teachers or teachers designated by the school leader, such as specialist teachers, teach the password and AUP lessons within the first two weeks of school after students receive their assigned Chromebook. These lessons can be implemented using a flipped classroom model and/or completed asynchronously and integrated into other subjects or taught standalone.

2. Scenario Videos: These captioned videos introduce an online safety or responsibility scenario in an engaging way for students in different grade bands and include discussion questions. 

3. Acceptable Use Policy Video Playlist: These videos, available in all major BPS languages, are included in select Digital Responsibilities lessons and could be used as a standalone resource or shared with families.

4. Acceptable Use Policy Posters: This poster is available in English and Spanish and can be printed in 11x17 format or letter-size and posted in schools.

5. A4A@Home Chromebook Use One-Pagers for Families: These one-pagers are available in all major BPS languages and provided to schools to share with families in digital or print format when handing out 1:1 devices or as part of school-based digital citizenship nights.

What kind of support or training will schools receive?

The Digital Learning Team will provide on-demand webinars and resources. We will host synchronous online sessions to demonstrate how to implement these lessons with fidelity. Upon request, we will visit schools to support in-person implementation through coaching.