Introduction
As educators, one of our primary goals is to help our students develop healthy communication habits. In today’s digital age, this includes teaching them how to communicate safely and effectively online. This blog post will discuss the importance of Cyber Skills for Online Messaging, especially for elementary students. These skills will help students navigate the world of online communication, and ensure they have positive experiences while interacting with their friends.
No-Prep Activity: The Cyber Skills Role-Play
One great way to teach Cyber Skills for Online Messaging is through a role-play activity. This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator and can be done in a classroom setting or virtually.
- Divide the students into pairs.
- Ask one student to be the “texter” and the other to be the “receiver.”
- Have the “texter” initiate a conversation with the “receiver” about a predetermined topic, such as a school event or a favorite hobby.
- During the conversation, the “texter” should practice using their Cyber Skills for Online Messaging, such as thinking before they speak, waiting for a response, and sharing the conversation equally.
- After a few minutes, have the students switch roles and repeat the activity.
After completing the role-play, discuss as a class the different strategies the students used to practice their Cyber Skills for Online Messaging and how it affected their conversations.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to think before you send a message online? How can this help prevent misunderstandings?
- What are some reasons why someone might not respond to a message right away? How can you practice patience when waiting for a response?
- How can you ensure that your online conversations are shared equally between both participants? Why is this important?
- What are some potential consequences of not using your Cyber Skills for Online Messaging?
- How can you apply the communication skills you use in real life to your online conversations?
Related Skills
In addition to Cyber Skills for Online Messaging, there are other essential skills that students should develop to ensure they have positive online experiences. These include:
- Digital Citizenship: Understanding the rights and responsibilities of being a digital citizen, such as respecting others’ privacy and being aware of online safety.
- Online Etiquette: Practicing good manners and respectful behavior when communicating online.
- Conflict Resolution: Learning how to address and resolve conflicts that may arise during online interactions.
- Media Literacy: Developing the ability to critically analyze and evaluate the information and media they encounter online.
Next Steps
Teaching Cyber Skills for Online Messaging is an essential part of preparing students for a digital world. By incorporating these skills into your curriculum, you can help your students develop healthy communication habits that will serve them well throughout their lives.
To access free sample materials for teaching Cyber Skills and other related skills, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials page. These resources can help you create engaging and effective lessons to support your students’ social-emotional learning journey.
