How do you get high school students to open up about technology?
During the summer of 2021, I experienced a very intense breakup from an emotionally abusive relationship. I joined a support group, that led me to uncover just how much abusive behavior can be perpetuated online, and relationships and friendships are not free from that either. As the 9th-grade girls at Spence were starting their high school journey, I was able to host a workshop, with a lecture about what unhealthy relationships look like online, how to prevent them, and how to deal with them safely when they occur.
60 students gathered into 1 room to hear my presentation, and then split into groups of 4 to apply what they learned to some fun case stuies.
THE power of case studies
The slides first invite students to think of what qualities are in healthy relationships. We then flipped it over, and students were able to participate in naming unhealthy behavior online through PearDeck. After splitting into groups, each group analyzed an original case study based on guided questions and then regrouped with the whole grade to discuss the main takeaways. During this time, we got to see the students open up and be vulnerable about behaviors they’ve seen or experienced in the past. Students who usually are quieter were just as eager to share. The workshop concluded with the teachers in the room offering their support, and students walked away with the resource sheet shown below outlining safety plans for before, during, and after someone has experienced abusive behavior online.
Some of the most prominent student feedback include their appreciation of the visual design, as well as the detail of case studies. The case studies include a wide variety of straight but also LGBTQ+, racially diverse, and even platonic relationships. There are some fun pop culture references, and they’re just challenging enough to add complexity without confusion. The workshop was a big success!
