Cyberbullying

Source: Richard Patterson, Creative Commons

Overview of the Module

This module focuses on the dangers of cyberbullying and the statistics associated with cyberbullying. Students will have an opportunity to look at cyberbullying data from their own class, as well as brainstorm ways to decrease its prevalence among their peers.

What exactly will teachers find in this module?

Teachers will find videos, checklists, and scenarios related to cyberbullying.

Why is this module important?

This module is important because it highlights a bullying tactic that is most relatable to students and the new wave of technology. Students need to become aware of what cyberbullying is and why it is an easy way to target other people. They need to understand how cyberbullying affects individuals and the detrimental effects it can have on a person. Students need to become aware of signs that indicate cyberbullying is occurring and the individual signs someone may show if they are victims of cyberbullying. Students need to learn the importance of empathy and how it can positively affect those being cyberbullied.  

How does this module connect to bullying?

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that takes place through social media outlets. In today’s society popularity is often contingent on your social status behind the computer. “Trolls” leave hateful comments and harass others in the cyber world, but those actions often have a huge impact in the real-world as well.

Content

Additional Resources for Teachers

Lesson Topics

Has it Happened to You?
Source: r.nial bradshaw, Creative Commons

Lesson Goal: This lesson will help students to define cyberbullying and identify statistics for their class.

Materials/Resources for Lesson:

Lesson Structure:

  • Open
    • Turn and Talk: Do you use social media? Which platforms?
    • What are the good and bad parts of social media?
      • good: connect with friends,
      • bad: online predators
  • Body
    • Watch a video about cyberbullying: https://www.brainpop.com/technology/communications/cyberbullying/
    • Complete the Cyberbullying Checklist (Adapted from: https://nobullying.com/the-cyber-bullying-checklist/): 
      • Circle yes or no for each statement. Do NOT put your name on the paper.
        • Have you received mean, hateful, threatening text messages, IMs, emails, Facebook messages and any other form of social media communication?
          • Yes
          • No
        • Has someone posted mean or hurtful things about you online? Have others commented and passed on these things?
          • Yes
          • No
        • Has someone forwarded your texts, IMs or emails to another person without their permission?
          • Yes
          • No
        • Has someone used your pictures in a hateful, derogatory, or simply mean manner and posted it online for others to see?
          • Yes
          • No
        • Has someone stolen your personal account passwords and started sending messages or posting and sharing things pretending to be you?
          • Yes
          • No
        • Is someone excluding you from an online group, say for schoolwork or activity work, and spreading mean rumors about you?
          • Yes
          • No
        • Has someone started an offensive blog or Facebook page or maybe a bad Twitter Hashtag to spread rumors or say bad things about you?
          • Yes
          • No
      • Use the snowball active teaching strategy to organize and compile class data about cyberbullying.
        • Ask students to crumble up their paper, close their eyes, and toss it in the center of the room. Again, make sure students do NOT put their names on the paper.
        • Go to the center of the room and pick up a snowball and open it.  
        • The teacher will read each statement. Ask students to stand on the left side if yes is circled for the statement. Ask students to stand on the right side of the room if no is circled for the statement.
        • Count the number of yes and no responses for each statement.
        • Ask students to organize the data into a graph or chart.
  • Close
    • Ask:
      • What did we learn about our class and cyberbullying?
      • How can we use our class data to raise awareness about the dangers of cyberbullying?
    • Explore:
What Would You Do?

Lesson Goals: This lesson is meant to encourage students to see that harmless teasing can be harassment to someone else. It will encourage students to self-reflect on content they post and share online.

Source: Thomas Galvez, Creative Commons

Materials/Resources for Lesson:

Lesson structure:

  • Open
  • Body
    • Role Play: Write different cyberbullying scenarios an index card and place them in a bowl. Put students in small groups. Have each group choose one scenario. Give them 5 minutes to figure out how they will present the scenario to the class.
      • #1: Your best friend posts a picture of you on Instagram with drool all over your face. She thought it was funny and refuses to take it down but you did not find it funny.
      • #2: A friend in class is sending you threatening text messages because you would not let him copy your homework.
      • #3: You and your best friend had a huge fight which results in him stealing your password and posting mean things about your classmates to twitter.
      • #4: You can only invite 5 friends to your birthday party but one friend gets mad because he isn’t chosen. He sends the other people who are invited mean and embarrassing emails about you which results in them not attending your part.
      • #5: You text one of your friends something embarrassing that just happened to you and you ask her to keep it a secret. That friend thinks it’s funny and forwards the message to a bunch of other people in the class.
      • #6: You are called to the principal’s office because you have been posting inappropriate comments and pictures on Instagram. Someone opened a fake account in your name but you are punished for it.
      • #7: Your best friend sends a picture to you with a mean comment, making fun of someone’s weight.
      • #8: You play games online where you chat with other players. You start to get messages saying that you’re an awful player and you should quit.
  • Close:
    • After each group has acted out their scenario, we will discuss as a class the following discussion points:
      • At what point does teasing cross the line to harassing?
      • Is cyberbullying as serious as other kinds of bullying? Explain.
      • Why do you think Cyberbullying is such a big problem with kids?
      • Are there issues of cyberbullying in our school?
      • How can we reduce cyberbullying in our school?

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