Colonial School District students will spend the week of Oct. 19 learning about screen time, digital footprints and online safety through daily themed lessons at every school building.
The district announced Digital Citizenship Week, running Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 23, with age-appropriate activities woven into morning meetings and announcements across its seven schools. The 5,713-student district serves families in Plymouth Meeting, Conshohocken and Lafayette Hill.
Maria Wileczek, K-12 curriculum supervisor, said in a district announcement that while digital citizenship is part of the curriculum at every grade level, the district wants to set aside a week to reflect on how students create and consume online content. She added that staff look forward to "sharing different lessons each day to keep students thinking about how they can practice safe and responsible behavior in our ever-evolving digital world."
Each day carries a different focus:
- Monday: Managing device distractions, limiting screen time and choosing appropriate content
- Tuesday: Understanding digital footprints and how to protect them
- Wednesday: Making healthy and safe connections online
- Thursday: Exploring the internet with curiosity while staying safe
- Friday: Finding ways to be creative online
The lessons build on year-round instruction already in place. Elementary students learn digital citizenship through library and technology classes, according to the district's digital citizenship page. All middle school students take a required Computer Science Foundations course that includes a digital citizenship component.
Students will also be asked to take a digital citizenship pledge, promising to be responsible, stay safe, think before posting, stay balanced, and speak up and be kind online.
The district asked parents to continue the conversation at home. A printable version of the pledge is available on the district's website, along with tips such as reviewing social media follower lists with children, enabling parental supervision on Instagram and limiting group chats to close friends.
Families can find the full set of resources on the district's digital citizenship page.
