Using Your WITS To Deal With Cyberbullying

OUTLINE

The WITS Program

What is Bullying

What is Cyberbullying

Instructional Approaches

Resources

Pam Allyn – Huffington Post

CYBERBULLYING

“Today, bullying doesn’t even end at the school bell – it can follow our children from the hallways to their cell phones to their computer screens… We have got to make sure our young people know that if they’re in trouble, there are caring adults who can help them” (U.S. President, Barack Obama)

FlamingHarassmentDenigrationImpersonationOuting and trickeryExclusionCyber stalking

Willard 2006

FORMS OF CYBERBULLYING

- Happy slapping- Sexting Kowalski et

al., 2012

“When people use technology, there is a lack of tangible feedback about the consequences of actions on others.”

Nancy Willard

[With] the Internet, you can really get away with a lot more because I don't think a lot of people would have enough confidence to walk up to someone and be like, “I hate you, you're ugly.” But over the Internet you don't really see their face or they don't see yours and you don't have to look in their eyes and see they're hurt.

Student

Young Canadians in a Wired World, Phase III: Talking to Youth and Parents about Life Online

“What makes cyber bullying so dangerous is that anyone can practice it without having to confront the victim. You don’t have to be strong or fast, simply equipped with a cell phone or computer and a willingness to terrorize” (King, 2006)

• perpetrator may be anonymous

• if anonymous targets do not know who among their peers to “watch out” for or respond to

• there is no safe “place”

Could feel more threatened than in a face to face encounter

Passive response The victim, deletes or ignores an aggressive message as an attempt to

avoid cyberbullying and hopes that it will just go away.  

Two Common Responses

Active ResponseResponds to the situation in a way that may be more

successful in leading to resolution.  

Two Common Responses

Bystanders9% became involved in the bullying behaviour32% watched but didn’t participate14% voiced their objection to the person doing the bullying21% tried to stop the bully11% left the online environment7% tried to befriend the bully, and7% reported the bully to someone who could help.[3]

In general, the longer the bullying persists, the more likely it is that the number of witnesses who are willing to join in will increase.

N. Willard, "Fostering Responsible Online Behaviour (Part 1)." For The Cybercitizen Awareness Program: Guidance Channel Ezine, June 2007.

BC Digital Literacy CompetenciesResearch and Information Literacy Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Creativity and Innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Digital Citizenship Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Communication and Collaboration Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Technology Operations and Concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.

BC Ministry of Education

Safe digital communication– RCMP

Lessons and Activities

Identify The Line A Thin Line

Where to draw the line? That’s Not Cool

WITS Website Cyberbullying Resources

There is no silver bullet

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for providing children with every aspect of online child safety. It takes a comprehensive “toolbox” from which parents, educators and other safety providers can choose tools appropriate to children’s developmental stages and life circumstances.

Any solution to online safety must be holistic in nature and multi-dimensional in breadth.

Youth Safety On The Living Internet, 2010

More information:witsprograms.cafb.me/witsprograms@witsprogramspinterest.com/witsprograms/