Teacher Experiences From Professional Development and Facilitating a Summer Camp on Digital Safety

• In Event: Friday Roundtable Session 4:55 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Empowering Educators (Table 34)

Abstract

Digital safety involves protecting online presence and mitigating the risks that are inherently associated with using digital technologies. This study employed a mixed-method design to explore elementary teacher experiences from attending a professional development on digital safety and facilitating a digital safety immersion summer camp. Data was collected through pre and posttest assessments, surveys, and interviews. Results indicate no significant difference in pre and posttest assessment. However, teachers displayed high motivation, valuing the critical need for ongoing digital safety education and opportunities for collaboration and self-reflection. Challenges included teaching students from different backgrounds with varied expectations, engaging the learners. This study provides a model for teacher professional development and has implications for designing teacher professional development on digital safety.

Authors

• Florence Martin, North Carolina State University

• Doreen Mushi, North Carolina State University

• Siyu Long, North Carolina State University

• Julie A. Bacak, Temple University

• Andrew B. Polly, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Weichao Wang, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Lynn A. Ahlgrim-Delzell, University of North Carolina - Charlotte