Tech-Connected Tweens/Teens Assembly - Part motivational speech, part ‘net literacy education, part Q&A, all awesome! This is our highly successful pilot program which will enlighten, inform and inspire your child to take ownership of their online activities and “digital footprint.” This 40 minute presentation is age-appropriate and tailored to the grade level of the students we present to. Digital Shepherds has run our pilot program with children from elementary through high school and while the presentation varies, the unifying concepts are the same… education, literacy, ownership.With the elementary students, our presentation, Tech-Connected Kids, focuses on internet safety and awareness more directly than the junior/senior high assemblies. The focus on early education is more intentional because elementary students haven’t matured to a place yet where they often feel that they already know more than any adult who is trying to teach them about computers. As a result of this, we’re able to come in and teach core concepts like: stranger danger awareness, social networking safety, mobile communications device safety and anti-bullying behaviors, among others. During the presentation (and after, time permitting) we take questions from the students, ask questions of the students ensuring that they are as informed and literate as possible when we leave. We follow up all of our presentations by providing the school with a handout which outlines the core concepts taught in the assembly as well as the “best practices” outlined in our powerpoint to ensure the material is reinforced.
The middle and high school students’ presentation takes on a different form. Again, the concepts are similar but the packaging is more palatable for an older audience. Often, children at this age believe they already know more than any adult trying to teach them about computers (which is often the case) so taking the direct approach is met with resistance as they feel they are being talked “down” to. So we approach middle and high schoolers by using examples of their peers in the media and how they’ve made an impact on the world around them for better or for worse. We provide some information on how the internet has been used to prey on them and their peers and follow that up with tips on how they can protect themselves and enjoy the power of technology without making themselves victims in the process – you can actually hear gasps in the room as they often aren’t aware of how the tools they think they know so well are often used against them.
The assembly is highly interactive, challenging them to take ownership of technology and how they use it, while exploring “best practices” that will help them safely navigate cyberspace. For high school students, we spend a portion of the assembly focusing on their digital footprint and motivating them to make responsible choices which will help facilitate a positive experience, unhindered by irresponsbile social media use when applying for/aspiring to: college entrance, professional athletics, and law enforcement careers.
For more information, or to book a Tech-Connected Kids assembly for your school, church or event, please contact us at:
