D47, D155 Students Embrace Digital Citizenship Program

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL – District 47 and District 155 students will be taking steps to promote a kinder, safer school year through the Project B3, which stands for Be Smart, Be Safe, Be Kind, digital citizenship program. The student-led program will take place the first week of December, from Dec. 3 to Dec. 7, at all D47 middle schools.

District 47 was one of the first school districts in the area to adopt the B3 program and this year marks its third year of implementation. The student-led program is based on student input and delivery, according to the news release.

For the past two years, eighth grade student leaders rotated among middle school classrooms to present to peers on the topic of internet safety and digital citizenship. Last year, the B3 student leaders also created videos and traveled to D47 elementary schools to facilitate discussions with 3rd through 5th grade students, according to the news release.

This year, District 155 jumped on board. Students from Cary-Grove High School, Prairie Ridge High School and Crystal Lake South High School are creating a series of videos that will cover the topics of online safety, a digital footprint, and cyberbullying, and will address the program’s three Bs (Be Safe, Be Smart, and Be Kind) of digital citizenship, according to the news release.

The videos will be shown to all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students on Dec. 3 and 4. After viewing the videos, 6th and 7th graders will engage in discussions with Project B3 8th grade student leaders later in the week.

Rather than participate in group discussions with peers as they’ve done in the past, 8th graders will engage in a new activity this year where they create a future social media profile -- one that will enhance their college/career prospects. Afterward, select social media profiles will be displayed in the school to serve as a model for younger students, according to the news release.

“Project B3 helps District 47 fulfill its mission of empowering all students by allowing us to provide each student with an electronic device along with a set of guidelines and standards to go with it,” said Dave Jenkins, assistant superintendent of technology for District 47. Jenkins has been instrumental in helping to shape the Project B3 curriculum and format for delivery. This year he is also serving on the Project B3 board of directors.

Jenkins said the district plans to send the 8th grade Project B3 student leaders to D47 elementary schools later in the school year to also lead digital citizenship discussions with 3rd-5th graders. Jenkins feels the student-led format is an effective way to relay the digital citizenship lessons as it allows students to hear it from the experts (kids!) who are also digital natives. “Since students are getting phones and other electronic devices at younger ages, it’s critical they, too, are equipped with the knowledge to safely and responsibly navigate this technology.”

B3 student leaders will receive training in facilitating group discussions the last week of November.

Classroom discussions with 6th and 7th graders will follow according to the schedule below:

Wednesday, Dec. 5
Bernotas 8th graders visit 6th and 7th grade classrooms

• 11:45am-12:20pm - 7th grade
• 1:39pm-2:14pm - 6th grade

Thursday, Dec. 6
Lundahl 8th graders visit 6th and 7th grade classrooms

• 11:45am-12:20pm - 7th grade
• 1:39pm-2:14pm - 6th grade

Friday, Dec. 7
Hannah Beardsley 8th graders visit 6th and 7th grade classrooms

• 11:45am-12:20pm - 7th grade
• 1:39pm-2:14pm - 6th grade

To keep the digital conversation going, Project B3 has expanded its offerings to include follow-up lessons, which will be provided by teachers periodically throughout the school year.

Photo via Shutterstock