Log in

ONLINE EDUCATION

SUSD offers online training for students

Posted 8/27/24

Scottsdale Unified School District is going beyond “the three Rs” of reading, writing and arithmetic this school year.

The district is adding a fourth “R” - for REAL, as …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
ONLINE EDUCATION

SUSD offers online training for students

Posted

Scottsdale Unified School District is going beyond “the three Rs” of reading, writing and arithmetic this school year.

The district is adding a fourth “R” - for REAL, as in “Keeping it REAL.”

The initiative is about helping students with skills to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and with a critical eye.

REAL stands for:

• R - Research thoroughly – ensure the information being presented in print, broadcast and social media, on the internet and/or through artificial intelligence programs is accurate and reliable;
• E - Evaluate sources – evaluate the credibility of the information’s source to determine what it’s trying to achieve;
• A - Analyze content critically – consider what the content’s intention may be and whether the evidence provided supports the claims being made;
• L - Lead with Respect – avoid engaging in or promoting cyberbullying and be mindful to engage respectfully online

The district embraces the potential of AI as an educational tool, director of teaching and learning, Dr. Kim Dodds Keran said in a press release. She describes helping students develop safe media literacy skills as important work.

“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 play a major role in the district’s initiative, according to the release. “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.

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 said.

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, the release said.

“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 said.

“Keeping It REAL” signage will be on display in SUSD classrooms. For information on this district initiative for the 2024-25 school year, go to https://www.susd.org/academics/curriculum/keeping-it-real.