With so much information communicated and shared widely on digital platforms, empowering students with skills to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly and with a critical eye has become an element of modern classroom instruction.

Accordingly, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is kicking off the new school year with a new initiative called “Keeping It REAL,” according to a press release announcing the initiative.

“REAL” stands for Research, Evaluate, Analyze, Lead with Respect. In their online engagements, students will be encouraged to:

*Research Thoroughly – ensure the information being presented in print, broadcast and social media, on the internet and/or through Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs is accurate and reliable.

*Evaluate Sources – evaluate the credibility of the information’s source to determine what it’s trying to achieve.

*Analyze Content Critically – consider what the content’s intention may be and whether the evidence provided supports the claims being made.

*Lead with Respect – avoid engaging in or promoting cyberbullying and be mindful to engage respectfully online.

“SUSD embraces the potential of AI as an educational tool,” said the district’s Director of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Kim Dodds Keran, who describes helping students develop safe media literacy skills as important work in the press release.

“Online safety is a priority for educators and families today,” Dodds Keran said. “Equipping our students with skills to discern whether something they see or read is based in fact – what we’re calling ‘REAL’ – or whether it’s an effort to mislead them is yet another way we are preparing them for the future.”
Parents will also play a role in the SUSD initiative. “Keeping It REAL” will encourage parents to engage with and guide their children’s online activities, most of which take place outside of school, and to set appropriate boundaries.

For their part, students will be encouraged to take responsibility for their online actions and to strive to apply critical thinking and ethical considerations in their digital interactions, the release continued.

The final piece of “Keeping It REAL” falls to teachers, who will be tasked with integrating digital media literacy into the curriculum, where appropriate, and providing students with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
“Helping students become technologically literate, informed digital citizens requires the deep thinking that will serve them well throughout their lives, regardless of the path they choose,” Dodds Keran added.

“Keeping It REAL” signage will be on display in SUSD classrooms. For more information, go to susd.org/academics/curriculum/keeping-it-real.