ELKINS - Davis & Elkins College education students spent a few days in February teaching Elkins Middle School students what it means to be digitally responsible.
The classroom instruction was part of the D&E students’ Education Technology course, taught by Associate Professor of Education Dr. Jennifer Tesar. In the course students explore contemporary topics related to educational media and technology trends in education, and select and design technology-enhanced learning tools.
At EMS, students focused on digital citizenship by teaching the students about respect, responsibility, social etiquette and how, if misused, social media can lead to problems at school, work and with law enforcement.
“Digital citizenship is important to help students to learn, communicate and collaborate safely and responsibly,” Tesar said. “Children between the ages of 5 and 16 spend an average of six and half hours a day in front of a screen. Due to the fact students embrace technology everyday whether at school or home, there is a need to teach them digital citizenship. While cyber-bullying is part of digital citizenship, the College students wanted the EMS students to learn other important aspects of being online, which included how to create a positive online image, how to seek out authentic sources of information and how to streamline information found online.”
Tesar said the D&E students were able to relate to the EMS students in a way that is different from their classroom teachers.
“Many of the D&E students included personal stories in their lessons about situations they encountered in either middle or high school,” Tesar explained. “They were able to talk to the middle school students about compassion, respect and being kind on the Internet. They helped the middle school students understand that sometimes bad choices are made while online and the affect those choices have had on either them or a friend.”
Davis & Elkins College education majors who participated in the sessions were Marquis Allen of Providence Forge, Virginia; Lindsay Blake of Junior, West Virginia; Alyssa Buttram of Beckley, West Virginia; Benjamin Chenoweth of Elkins; Casey Elza of Harman, West Virginia; Michael Holstein of Milford, Delaware; Dalton Irvine of Marlinton, West Virginia; Daniel Jarrell of Milton, West Virginia; Jamiyah Johnson of Williamsburg, Virginia; Britteny Johnston of Leckrone, Pennsylvania; Timothy Kinney of Bridgeport, West Virginia; Hannah McCauley of Beverly, West Virginia; Krista McDaniel of Lexington, Virginia; Mya Mintschenko of Winchester, Virginia; Mariah Parsons of Elkins; Karlie Richardson of Talent, Oregon; Sydney Snyder of New Enterprise, Pennsylvania; Olivia Underwood of Beverly, West Virginia; Madison Wagner of Elkins; Ashley Warner of Volga, West Virginia; Adesa Williams of Williamstown, West Virginia; and William Young of Webster Springs, West Virginia.
The Davis & Elkins College Teacher Education Program prepares competent, caring and qualified teachers for schools in Appalachia and in national and global communities. Students seeking certification in elementary education grades K-6 undertake a major in elementary education, which leads to the awarding of a Bachelor of Arts degree. A student seeking certification in a content specialization (grades 5-9, and/or 9-adult) must declare a major outside of education with a declared minor in education.
Related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Davis & Elkins College is located in Elkins, 2 hours east of Charleston, 3 hours south of Pittsburgh and 4 hours west of Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit the College website at www.dewv.edu or call 304-637-1243.
Photo Caption: Davis & Elkins College education students, from left, Allyssa Buttram, Karlie Richardson and Ashley Warner teach Elkins Middle School students the importance of being digitally responsible.