Shady Side Academy partners with The Social Institute to push positive tech use
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Shady Side Academy is transitioning its curriculum to arm students with tools to improve how they use technology and social media, as devices play an increasing role in children’s lives.
A partnership with The Social Institute will see the #WinAtSocial curriculum implemented in January for students in grades five to 12.
“Parents and educators have largely defaulted to scare tactics and restrictions when it comes to social media guidance for kids, and the reality is they need more,” Shady Side Academy President Bart Griffith Jr. said.
“Whether adults like it or not, the theater of adolescence is playing out on devices, and rather than just yell ‘Turn it off!’ we can empower and equip young people to find positive ways to use the world’s most visible representation of their character in 2020.”
Topics of the new courses will range from the science behind screen time and overcoming the fear of missing out on texts.
Students will experience gamified lessons integrated into homeroom, health and wellness classes, among others.
Parents will have the chance to see what the students are learning and receive ongoing tech tools, guidelines and advice to help their children navigate social media, video games and devices, communications specialist Jen Roupe said.
The curriculum aligns with the Academy’s Equity and Inclusion Action Plan, as it is intended to reinforce empathy, integrity and teamwork. It aims to promote emotional health and help students to make positive social media choices, Roupe said.
Specifically, the curriculum aims to foster positive peer interactions, strengthen adults’ understanding of children’s experiences on social media and generate conversations about tech-related emotional challenges.
According to the Institute’s website, courses will focus on positivity, empowerment and student-led issues.
Since 2016, the Institute has implemented its program at 80 schools nationwide, reaching more than 50,000 students.
“At a time when students spend many hours a day on digital devices, and cyberbullying and reputation-damaging posts run rampant, TSI offers a comprehensive curriculum that supports students, teachers and families,” she said.
Shady Side Academy and The Social Institute will host orientation webinars this fall.