The objective of a new course developed by River Forest School District 90 is empowering Roosevelt Middle School students to navigate increasingly complicated face-to-face and online interactions.
Digital Civics is a 10-week exploratory course that runs for 37 minutes daily and is mandatory for all students in fifth through eighth grades.
Course goals include developing social and emotional skills focusing on assertiveness, responsibility, self-control and empathy in face-to-face interactions. It also helps apply social, emotional and communication skills so students can be ethical, safe and productive in the online environment.
“It’s very timely and relevant, from a curriculum standpoint,” said Christine Trendel, District 90 director of curriculum and instruction, who was a co-presenter about the course at the Aug. 19 board of education meeting. “It covers our Internet safety mandates from the Illinois State Board of Education that used to be taught in other classes, but it’s embedded in this course.
“This class is really personal and intentional and timely with relevant topics for pre-teens and teens, how they conduct themselves in a physical and digital world.”
Roosevelt principal Tina Steketee said middle school students are growing up in an increasingly digital world, which can be challenging. Applying in-person skills like self-control, empathy and assertiveness online supports students in operating safely as productive digital citizens.
“Beyond the advisory program, we’re looking for ways to integrate these practices throughout the school day, so students can apply them in real and meaningful ways,” she said.
The course is made up of two primary resources, Trendel said. Fly Five, from Responsive Classroom, features interactive learning structures and dedicated time for discussion and reflection.
Cyber Civics is a middle school digital literacy program from CyberWise, which features interactive lessons that promote conversation, critical thinking and collaboration.
“We’re using Fly Five as foundational work, and the second half of the course is Cyber Civics,” Trendel said. It delves into safety, respectful online communications, understanding privacy and the impact of one’s digital footprint and understanding the dangers of negative communications long term.
Each fifth- through eighth-grader must complete a final project for their Digital Civics course. For example, fifth graders must create a public service announcement presentation that shows how students can use technology in ways that are safe, respectful and responsible in order to make a positive impact online.
Conversely, eighth graders’ final project should show how their relationship with media changed as a result of the class, in a format of their choice. It is separate from a capstone project that all eighth graders complete at the conclusion of their four years at Roosevelt.
“In District 90, we approach everything from the standpoint of ongoing learning,” Trendel said, and the course will be updated based on student feedback at the end of each quarter. “I see this course as a work in progress because the digital world is changing.”
Of course, Digital Civics can’t replace key conversations that parents should proactively have with their students about online behavior.
“It’s a really important question,” “Trendel said. “As a parent myself, talk about what they are doing online, make sure you know the spaces they are participating in and keep the conversation as open and judgment-free as possible.”
