cyber bullying: what does it look like today? what can be done? presented by: kathy lockard, olweus...

Cyber Bullying:Cyber Bullying:What does it look like today?

What can be done?Presented by:

Kathy Lockard, Olweus Trainer AEA 14

Jaymie Randel, Olweus Trainer AEA 267

Penny Bisignano, Iowa Olweus Coordinator

Today’s agenda:Today’s agenda:What is Cyber Bullying and why

should schools address it?

How does Cyber Bullying affect students and their ability to learn?

Carol Greta - legal responsibilities

Today’s agenda:Today’s agenda:What AEA resources are available to

assist in bullying prevention?

What can be done to prevent or intervene in Cyber Bullying?◦Resources that are available to assist with

Cyber Bullying prevention and intervention?

The The majormajor resource for today’s resource for today’s presentation is…presentation is…

Cyber Bullying: A Prevention Curriculum for Grades 6-12

By Susan P. Limber, Ph.D., Robin M. Kowalski, Ph.D., and Patricia W. Agatston, Ph.D.

Resources at your fingertips:Resources at your fingertips:

"Cyber Bullying: A Prevention Curriculum for Grades 3-5.“Susan P. Limber, Ph.D., Robin M. Kowalski, Ph.D., and Patricia W. Agatston, Ph.D.

Cyber-bullying Cyber-threats: Responding to the Challenge of On-line Social Aggression, Threats, & Distress Nancy Willard

Resources at your fingertips:Resources at your fingertips:Stop Bullying Nowhttp://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adult/indexAdult.asp?Area=cyberbullying

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program http://www.clemson.edu

Cyber Smarthttp://cybersmartcurriculum.org/Cyber Bullying/nsba/features

That's Not Coolhttp://www.thatsnotcool.com

Webinars re: Cyber BullyingWebinars re: Cyber BullyingThe Stop Bullying Now Campaign will host a Web

cast focusing on cyber bullying on April 22, 2009 from 3:00-4:30 PM EST.

www.StopBullyingNow.hrsa.govhttp://www.StopBullyingNow.hrsa.gov

For up-to-date details related to this Web cast or if you would like a blurb about the Web cast for a newsletter or Web posting, please email: Nicolle Grayson at [email protected].

Bullying Prevention ResourcesBullying Prevention ResourcesWork to create a school environment in which respect and responsibility are promoted and bullying is not.

Each AEA has trained personnel for assisting LEAs in implementing a school-wide approach to bullying prevention.

Think about traditional bullying Think about traditional bullying and Cyber Bullying.and Cyber Bullying.

On a piece of paper, write the following headings:

Traditional bullying is…..Cyber Bullying is…….

Take 5 minutes to fill in characteristics of each.

What is bullying?What is bullying?

Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.

Olweus et al. 2007

What is Cyber Bullying?What is Cyber Bullying?

Cyber Bullying is bullying through email, instant messaging (IMing), chat room exchanges, Web site posts, or digital messages or images sent to a cellular phone or personal digital assistant (PDA).

Kowalski et al. 2008

Cyber Cyber Bullying is Bullying is Bullying on Bullying on Steroids!Steroids!

Cyber Bullying can involve:Cyber Bullying can involve:sending mean or offensive messages repeatedly through emails, IM, texting, phone messages, chat room posts, or social-networking postings

Cyber Bullying can involve:Cyber Bullying can involve:

playing an online game and ruining the game for others on purpose

Cyber Bullying can involve:Cyber Bullying can involve:humiliating people by posting information that is not true, altering photos in an offensive way, or making fun of someone through statements, photos, or songs


sending mean or offensive messages as though they are from someone else so that the receiver thinks the targeted student sent them


creating Web sites designed to humiliate or embarrass others, such as “slam books” (Web sites that list students’ names for other students to make mean comments about)


sharing personal, often embarrassing, information about someone that they would not want shared by forwarding an email or a photo to others


hitting or hurting someone while photographing or videotaping the person, usually with a cell phone, and then sending the photos or videos to others for amusement


tricking someone into sharing personal information and then telling others about it through emails or text messaging


leaving someone out of a group by taking the person off buddy lists or leaving the person out of password-protected sites


sending threats intending to harm someone or encouraging the person to commit suicide

Let’s see if you are able to Let’s see if you are able to identify what kinds of situations identify what kinds of situations and online communications could and online communications could be considered Cyber Bullying.be considered Cyber Bullying.

Read each of the following situations and identify if it “is” or “is not” an instance of Cyber Bullying.

““Is” or “Is Not” Cyber Bullying?Is” or “Is Not” Cyber Bullying?

Alicia sends a text message to Tina telling her that she has a crush on a boy in her math class but not to tell anyone. Tina shows the message to the boy and sends it to everyone else in the class.

It It isis Cyber Bullying. Cyber Bullying.

Reason 1: Tina shares personal information that Alicia sends to her and does not want shared.

Reason 2: It is embarrassing and, even though the message is sent one time, it really happens over and over every time someone else receives and reads the message.


Mike sends links to inappropriate adult Web sites to Sophie through email several times over a few months, even though she keeps asking him to stop.

It It isis Cyber Bullying. Cyber Bullying.Reason 1: Mike is using

technology to harass her.

Reason 2: Mike continues to do it even though Sophie has asked him to stop.

Note: Sophie should tell an adult immediately! Sexual harassment is against the law!


Daniel is IMing with his girlfriend. She is angry with him and says some pretty nasty things to him online.

It It is is not not Cyber Bullying.Cyber Bullying.

Reason 1: The messages are not repeated.

Reason 2: The messages are not sent to anyone else.

Let’s summarize….Let’s summarize….

Both traditional bullying and Cyber Bullying are very harmful.

Cyber Bullying can reach and involve many people very quickly.


People who might not bully someone face to face might cyber bully someone because they can’t be seen and think they are anonymous.


Traditional bullying involves an imbalance of power.

Because those who cyber bully think they can be anonymous, they might not really be more physically or socially powerful.


Traditional forms of bullying can cause physical harm and psychological harm.

In most cases, Cyber Bullying causes psychological harm.


Traditional bullying is usually limited to the people in the immediate area where the bullying is taking place.

Cyber Bullying can reach many people immediately – and often the student who is targeted doesn’t know who is doing it.


Traditional bullying usually has a time and place, such as during lunch on school grounds.

Cyber Bullying can happen anytime and anyplace.


It is usually apparent who is doing traditional bullying.

It is often difficult to find out who is Cyber Bullying.

What are the warning What are the warning signs of Cyber Bullying?signs of Cyber Bullying?A child may be

experiencing Cyber Bullying if he or she…

appears upset after using the computer or being online.

appears upset after viewing a text message.

What are the warning What are the warning signs of Cyber Bullying?signs of Cyber Bullying?A child may be experiencing Cyber

Bullying or bullying at school if he or she…

1)…appears sad, moody, or anxious.2)…avoids school.3)…withdraws from or shows a lack of interest in social activities.

4)…experiences a drop in grades or decline in academic performance.

Students may cyber Students may cyber bully because…..bully because…..They think people won’t know who they

are; they can be anonymous.They can’t be seen.They don’t have to see the other

person’s reactions.They think everybody does it, so it’s no a

big deal.They like making someone else feel bad.

How does Cyber Bullying How does Cyber Bullying affect students, schools, and affect students, schools, and communities?communities?Current research suggests that

students involved in Cyber Bullying, are more likely to….◦be anxious◦be depressed◦have low self-esteem◦have lower grades◦have higher absenteeism rates

◦Kowalski et al. 2008

How does Cyber Bullying How does Cyber Bullying affect students, schools, and affect students, schools, and communities?communities?Cyber Bullying affects everyone.

You may be a part of Cyber Bullying even if you don’t know it. For example, if you’ve forwarded an email that makes fun of someone to one or more friends, that is considered Cyber Bullying.

How does Cyber Bullying How does Cyber Bullying affect students, schools, and affect students, schools, and communities?communities?Cyber Bullying can also affect other

people in the Bullying Circle.

Those students who bully and are allowed to continue their behavior are also affected.

Everyone has the right to live his or her life without being

bullied or harassed by someone else. It is important

to understand that even if someone cyber bullies

another person as a joke, it may not be a joke to the

person who is being bullied.

What should educators do if What should educators do if they know or suspect Cyber they know or suspect Cyber Bullying is occurring?Bullying is occurring?

Educate all students about how to report all forms of bullying.

Advise the student to save any evidence of the Cyber Bullying and report it.

Help students know what to Help students know what to

DO FIRST.DO FIRST.

Do not retaliate.

Off your buddy list.

Help students know what to Help students know what to DO FIRST.DO FIRST.Figure out who it is.Ignore it.Respond after you think about it

carefully.Save the evidenceTell an adult.

Carol GretaCarol Greta Attorney IDEAttorney IDE

State laws, litigation, and guidelines for teachers and administrators about legal issues and Cyber Bullying.

[email protected] http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php515-281-8661

Resources at your fingertips:Resources at your fingertips:Stop Bullying Nowhttp://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adult/indexAdult.asp?Area=cyberbullying

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program http://www.clemson.edu

Cyber Smarthttp://cybersmartcurriculum.org/Cyber Bullying/nsba/features

That's Not Coolhttp://www.thatsnotcool.com

Contacts…Contacts…Penny Bisignano, [email protected]

Kathy Lockard, [email protected]

Jaymie Randel, [email protected]

Local AEA Olweus Bullying Prevention Trainers

cyber bullying: what does it look like today? what can be done? presented by: kathy lockard, olweus...

Documents