Hide Transcript Show Transcript

NBC5'S LIZ STRZEPA HAS THAT STORY NEW TONIGHT AT 5. AT THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN WALDORF SCHOOL IN SHELBURNE... <04:22:04:03 IN THIS AGE OF LIGHT SPEED COMMUNICATIO LET US LEARN TO USE OUR INNER VOICES> TEACHER REBEKAH HOPKINSON STARTS EACH CLASS -- WITH THIS POEM <04:22:16:03 LET US LEARN HOW TO USE THE INCREDIBLE POWERS WITHIN> <04:50:31:23 I FIND THAT IT HELPS ORIENT THE STUDENTS TO WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHICH IS HUMAN CONNECTION> THIS IS HER SECOND YEAR TEACHING CYBER CIVICS -- A THREE-YEAR CURRICULUM... FOCUSING ON HOW TO COMMUNICATE -- ONLINE... <04:27:41:14 DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT 'APP' STANDS FOR?> <04:46:42:11 STUDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR DIGITA MENTORS WHO CAN HELP GUIDE THEM TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY IN RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL AND SAFE WAYS> MIDDLE SCHOOLERS LEARN HOW TO REACT WHEN THEY SEE INSTANCES OF CYBER BULLYING ONLINE -- AND HOW TO SPOT WHAT MIGHT BE 'FAKE NEWS' ON SOCIAL MEDIA... <04:48:56:01 HOW DO YOU TELL IF AN IMAGE HAS BEEN PHOTOSHOPPED? I THINK THIS IS A MAIN CONCERN FOR PARENTS THESE DAYS IS THE INFORMATION THAT IS COMING IS HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IT'S REAL? > THE SCHOOL WANTS STUDENTS LEARN THESE SKILLS - BEFORE THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME OF THESE INTERACTIONS ONLINE... <04:57:47:13 WE'RE BRINGING IT TO THEM WHILE IT'S STILL FRESH AND THEY'RE CURIOUS> AND STUDENTS LOVE IT <05:00:45:11 I JUST WANT TO BE THE BEST DIGITAL CITIZEN I CAN BE> <05:02:53:23 YOUR IMAGE ONLINE IS REALLY -- IT STARTING TO BE WHO YOU ARE SO WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO ACT ONLINE> <05:06:28:11 HOW TO USE IT SAFELY, HOW TO USE IT IN GENERAL, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO LEARN> LEARNING HOW TO HAVE REAL -- RESPECTFUL, INTERACTIONS... IN AN AGE -- WHERE SPOTTING WHAT'S REAL -- IS SOMETIMES EASEIER SAID THAN DONE. IN SHELBUR

Advertisement Vermont school teaches students how to be digitally literate, including spotting fake news online It's a three-year curriculum at Lake Champlain Waldorf School Share Shares Copy Link Copy

At the Lake Champlain Waldorf School in Shelburne, teacher Rebekah Hopkinson starts each class with this poem:"In this virtual age, let us sink our hands into what is real.In this age of lightspeed communication, let us learn how to use our inner voices. In this age of increasingly powerful machines, let us learn how to use the incredible powers within.”"I find that it helps orient the students to what we're really talking about, which is human connection," said Hopkinson.This is her second year teaching Cyber Civics, a three-year curriculum starting in sixth grade that focuses on how to communicate online."Does anyone know what 'app' stands for?" Hopkinson asked her class of sixth graders. "Students are looking for digital mentors who can help guide them to use this technology in responsible and ethical and safe ways."Middle school students learn how to react if and when they see instances of cyber bullying online and how to spot what might be "fake news" on social media."How do you tell if an image has been photoshopped? I think this is a main concern for parents these days is the information that is coming is how do we know that it's real?" said Hopkinson.The school wants students to learn these skills before they might have some of these interactions online."We're bringing it to them while it's still fresh and they're curious," said head of school Jasmine Darland. Students said they love the class."I just want to be the best digital citizen I can be," said sixth grader Oliver Hughes."Your image online is starting to be who you are, so we really need to know how to act online," said seventh grader Lily Kate Keech."How to use (the internet) safely, how to use it in general, I think that's a really important thing to learn," said seventh grader Mateo Baker-Djele.They're learning how to have real, respectful interactions in an age where spotting what's real is sometimes easier said than done. Any community member interested in learning more about the Cyber Civics curriculum is invited to a conversation about raising children in a digital world hosted by the Lake Champlain Waldorf School on Oct. 9 from 7-8:30 p.m.Click here for more information.