Diana Graber, M.A., is the author of "Raising Humans in a Digital World: Helping Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology" (HarperCollins Leadership). In addition to founding Cyber Civics, she is the founder of CyberWise (No Grownup Left Behind!), a leading online safety organization for parents. 

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Graber has an extensive background as a media producer, was Adjunct Professor of Media Psychology at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP), and her published paper: New Media Literacy Education: A Developmental Approach (JMLE, 2012) provides the foundational research for the Cyber Civics program. She is the recipient of the 2017 Media Literacy Teacher award from the National Association of Media Literacy in Education (NAMLE) and is a regular contributor to a number of publications. A long-time Waldorf parent, she developed and still teaches Cyber Civics™ at Journey School. Graber has a B.A. in Communication Studies from UCLA and an M.A. in Media Psychology and Social Change from Fielding Graduate University. She travels widely speaking to schools and community groups. 

For more info: www.dianagraber.com

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Photo by Nirzhar Business Portraits.

About Level 1

 

This level of Cyber Civics is packed with peer-to-peer learning activities that call on critical thinking skills, ethical discussion and decision making through hands-on projects, problem solving activities, and role-playing games, all surrounding the topic of "digital citizenship" (the norms of appropriate, responsible, behavior with regard to technology use). It grew out of published, academic research and has been tested and refined in classrooms across the U.S. for nearly a decade. This level can be taught without technology (experts widely agree that the most important new media skills are social and behavioral skills). It scaffolds important digital citizenship topics so they make sense to young people.

 

Many parents ask for their students to receive these lessons before they receive their first mobile device.

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About This Program

 

Launched in a public Waldorf-inspired public charter school (Journey School) in 2010, Cyber Civics™ is now taught in all types of schools, after-school programs, and by home-schoolers across 43 US states and internationally. It has received national media attention, been honored as an "Innovation in Education" award finalist by Project Tomorrow and the O.C. Tech Alliance, and its founder was awarded the "2017 Media Literacy Teacher Award" from the National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE). A book—"Raising Humans in a Digital World: Helping Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology" (HarperCollins Leadership) tells the Cyber Civics story.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

• Subscription cost is determined by size of school.

• Subscribing schools/organizations receive a school-wide license with full support.

• Any teacher at that school or organization can open a private account and get access to lessons (downloadable PDF's), videos, teacher guides, and parent letters.

• Resources are always current and kept updated.

• Teachers receive a monthly newsletter announcing new lessons and resources.

• Multiple school/district discounts available.

• Low home school cost and a family program.

• For online demonstrations or onsite presentations, contact us.

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Plus!

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• SEE LEVEL 2 (INFORMATION LITERACY)

• SEE LEVEL 3 (MEDIA LITERACY FOR POSITIVE PARTICIPATION)

 

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Testimonials

 

“Since the Cyber Civics™ classes started at our school, there have been only three reported incidences of poor digital behavior; none in the last two years. This is unheard of in this day and age. What has been a small investment has paid off tenfold. Plus it allows us to put our energy on what matters most, learning and teaching in a happy, safe, and healthy community.”

 

-Shaheer Faltas, Journey School Administrator

 

"After seeing Journey School's Cyber Civics program presentation and learning more about it, I am pleased to endorse it on behalf of Charters OC as a solution to helping young people learn how to use digital media competently and thoughtfully."

 

-Susan Mas, Executive Director, Charters OC- an initiative of Innovators OC and the California Charter Schools Association

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“Over the course of three years working with Diana Graber and watching her develop the curriculum, I recognize that it is based on the the same cognitive developmental skills that are foundational to Waldorf teaching in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. While this curriculum has found a rich home in Waldorf schools that foster ethical development, it is a curriculum that can fit in all educational settings.”

 

- Bonnie River, Chair of Hybrid Program, Rudolf Steiner College

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"The thoughtfulness and breadth of the program is an asset to our school, and the parents are very happy to have "tech-driver's-ed" in our curriculum."

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-Soni Albright, City of Lakes Waldorf School

 

"We know that digital-citizenship education works. The Journey School in Aliso Viejo, a small Southern California city, is an example of a digital-citizenship success story. Since instituting a three-year middle school series on digital citizenship, information literacy on evaluation of online sources, and media-literacy courses to teach critical-thinking skills around media texts of all kinds—music videos, film, print advertising—the school has nearly eliminated bullying and behavioral issues and significantly boosted standardized-test scores."

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-Education Week, July 2016

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"Cyber Civics is the best digital media literacy curriculum I've seen yet as it is developmentally based and creative."

 

-Sheila Reilly, Administrator, Woodland Star Charter School

 

"Since cyber-life is imperative to a child's future, isn't it about time to demand that schools implement Cyber Civics classes?"

 

-Online Safety Expert Sue Scheff, in "Digital Citizenship Is a Important as Potty Training: Let's Start Cyber Civics In All Schools" 

 

“If a Cyber Civics or digital literacy class is offered in your school or community, sign the kids up."

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Kelly Wallace, CNN, in "5 Things To Think About Before Buying Your Child a Cell Phone"

 

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About the Founder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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For a free online demo, contact us)

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Level 1 Webinar

 

What is Digital Citizenship?

 

Why Teach Cyber Civics?

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Cyber Civics on America Tonight

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Cyber Civics on the Today Show

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See a Course Video

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Level 1 Syllabus

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(Subscriber-Only Resources Below)

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CURRICULUM

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TEACHER PREP

• Getting Started

• What is Cyber Civics? Parent Letter

• Foundational Research

• Student Pre- and Post- Assessments

 

UNIT 1: BECOMING A    DE-TECH-TIVE*

Students consider the impact that technology has had on society throughout history, before investigating the digital tools of today.

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• Teacher Guide

• Parent Letter w/Home Activities

• Lesson 1: De-Tech-Tive Work

• Lesson 2: Investigating Today's Tech

• Lesson 3: How Much Do You Know About the Internet?

 

UNIT 2: CITIZENSHIP

Becoming a “digital citizen” starts with an understanding of “citizenship.” Students learn the basic principles of citizenship as they explore what it means to be a citizen in the digital age.

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• Teacher Guide

• Parent Letter w/Home Activities

• Lesson 1: Principles of Citizenship

• Lesson 2: How To Be a Good Citizen Online

• Lesson 3: Designing a Positive Online Community

 

UNIT 3: YOUR DIGITAL REPUTATION

Students learn everything they post online—and everything others post about them—contributes to their “digital reputations.” Through role-play and hands-on activities, they discover why and how to take a proactive role in managing what others learn about them online

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• Teacher Guide

• Parent Letter w/Home Activities

• Lesson 1: Digital Background Check

• Lesson 2: To Share or Not To Share?

• Lesson 3: Your Digital Billboard

 

UNIT 4: ETHICAL THINKING

Nearly every online activity asks digital citizens to make an ethical decision—Should I upload an unflattering photo of a friend? Should I post information that might hurt the feelings of another? This unit helps students think through the ethical implications of their online actions.

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• Teacher Guide

• Parent Letter w/Home Activities

• Lesson 1: Ethical Thinking Online

• Lesson 2: Creating a Code of Conduct

• Lesson 3: How to Communicate Online

 

UNIT 5: CYBERBULLYING & DIGITAL DRAMA 

This important unit helps students identify cyberbullying and digital drama, and most importantly, empowers them with strategies to deal with and/or report online cruelty of any kind.

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• Teacher Guide

• Parent Letter w/Home Activities

• Lesson 1: Hiding Behind a Screen

• Lesson 2: Real People, Real Feelings

• Lesson 3: What is Cyberbullying? Digital Drama?

• Lesson 4: How To Be Upstanding

• Lesson 5: Cyberbullying Strategies

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UNIT 6: IDENTITY & PRIVACY

"Who am I? is an important question of the preteen and teenage years, and today many young people are turning to the digital world to find the answer. While the Internet can be a good place to explore different ideas or personal characteristics, there can be a dangerous side to sharing too much personal information online, which is explored in the lessons in this unit.

This unit includes new lessons on hate speech.

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• Teacher Guide

• Parent Letter w/Activities

• Lesson 1: Who Am I Online?

• Lesson 2: You Are The Words You Use

• Lesson 3: My Self, My Selfie

• Lesson 4: You, In Six Words

• Lesson 5: A-Okay or No Way

 

FINAL ACTIVITY

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*The term "De-Tech-Tive" from "Digital Community, Digital Citizen" by Jason Ohler.