Cardiff School District honored for digital citizenship

Common Sense, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of digital media and technology, has recognized Cardiff School District as a Common Sense Education Certified District for Digital Citizenship for 2016-2017. This is the second-year Cardiff School District has been recognized.

The certification is given to schools that are leading the way in approaching digital media and technology issues in innovative ways.

“We applaud the faculty and staff of Cardiff School District for embracing digital citizenship as an important part of their students’ education,” Jessica Lindl, head of Common Sense Education said in a news release. “Cardiff School District deserves high praise for giving its students the foundational skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st-century workplace and participate ethically in society at large.”

The two schools in the district, Cardiff School and Ada W. Harris Elementary School, also received the recognition, while Debbie Heyer, technology education teacher at the two schools, was honored as a Common Sense Education Certified Educator for Digital Citizenship for 2016-2017.

“Digital media and technology will be at the forefront of our student’s educational journey and into their adulthood,” Heyer said. “We believe it is essential to teach our students about the opportunities and threats that come with engaging in online activities and research at a young age so that they will be prepared and exercise the highest-level integrity and ethics when using digital media and technology. I’m proud to be recognized with our schools and district.”

For more than two years, Cardiff School District has been using Common Sense Education’s innovative and research-based digital citizenship resources, which were created in collaboration with Dr. Howard Gardner of the GoodPlay Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The resources teach students, educators and parents tangible skills related to Internet safety, protecting online reputations and personal privacy, managing online relationship, and respecting creative copyright. The free resources are currently used in more than 90,000 classrooms nationwide.

— Submitted press release