Last week Yeshivat Noam launched Internet Kindness and Safety day. As we are all aware, the challenge of raising children in a digital world is hard. We are all striving to find the right balance of keeping our children safe, healthy and active while also providing them with the knowledge to properly engage with powerful technological tools that are at our fingertips. In order to equip ourselves and our students with the right strategies, we need ongoing education and increased awareness of the benefits and challenges in engaging in technology.
In early childhood, each class spent part of the day discussing how technology is integrated into our lives and how we can replace some of our technology time at home with other activities. Children brainstormed ideas for different activities they can do instead of being on devices. Kindergarteners were engaged in a more in depth conversation about how we are technology free on Shabbat and ways to extend that into the week. Each child then wrote about what they like to do when they are not on technology.
In the elementary school, each class in grades one through five spent part of the day learning how to use the Internet kindly and safely. First and second graders focused on the importance of having a good balance between technology and other device free activities, emphasizing the benefits of digital free moments. The upper elementary students focused on stopping and thinking before posting in online spaces, the power of hurtful words on emails, texts and chats and brainstormed ways to deescalate digital drama.
Students in the elementary school were given the opportunity to engage in various tech-free hobbies, giving students the ability to balance the use of their free time with tech-free choices. Students had a chance to learn new games, new crafts, practice yoga and some even created new oven-free snacks.
The middle school students took a brief survey to reflect on their technology use. They then met to review the data and learn more about how to interact with technology in a healthy and appropriate way.
Sixth through eighth grade students watched teachers enact scenarios about encounters over technology that many students have experienced. The scenarios explored both the negative impacts of technology, of students feeling left out and students texting hurtful comments too quickly, as well as the positive impacts of ways that technology can connect students to each other. The skits were followed by break-out group discussions.
Each middle school grade had the opportunity to hear from different speakers including a representative from Project SARAH who went through basic safety and awareness of technology; Dr. Rebecca Eliason, a psychologist, who delved into student relationships with technology; and Ariel Waintraub, cyber evangelist at CYGNVS and founder of Waintraub Cyber Solutions LLC, who spoke about cybersecurity and how to be safe online.
In an effort to partner with the parents about this important topic, the PSP ran a parent educational evening about how to help our children learn to use technology in a safe and responsible way that is aligned with our values.
The positive energy and excitement by both students and teachers was palpable throughout the course of the day. With the success of the day behind us, Yeshivat Noam is already busy planning how to carry the momentum forward.
Caryn Nat is the assistant principal of the Elementary School.
