by Maureen Kennedy, EdTech Coach, Grade 4-6, Lakeside -

Providing students with leadership opportunities is a critical component of the daily Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) programme. To meet this challenge, Gemma Dean’s Grade 6 class has completed a series of interactive lessons through Common Sense Media’s interactive game, Digital Compass.

In the game, students put themselves in the shoes of a series of characters who make decisions about digital dilemmas they encounter. These situations are relevant to what students come across in their own lives such as copying content online, misinterpreting written and leaving a permanent digital footprint. The characters move through story sequences based on the good, and not so good, choices they have made. The game allow students to experiment with decision making and they get to experience the results of their choices within a safe, simulated environment. Mrs. Dean and her students really enjoyed the programme and what they learnt about the digital world they inhabit.

This is what some students had to say:

Uma Kewlani: “I was surprised to find out that some students plagiarised on purpose or sometimes without even knowing it. I used to copy and paste information when I was younger and Digital Compass has told me what to do differently. I also didn’t know people could find me on social media and get information without me even realising it and now I know how to stop it. I feel like I am more aware of what is going on around the world and am not just in my own little world. I also found out that Singapore is pretty safe.”

Kio Norris: “I learnt that every single decision you make has a consequence. It is hard when think you are making the right decision and then later regret it. Digital Compass has shown me how to go back and fix my mistakes and start again. It is was a fun way to learn. It was good to see what other people are feeling because you are in the characters’ shoes. It makes you understand the situation from their perspective much better.”

Krishel Devata: “It was a fun way to learn about how to respect people online and what to do and what not to do. It explains well how decisions you make affect other people through the characters in the game.”

Maliha Khan, Jessica Sawtell, Hiya Trivedi - “We liked that they used real life problems that we might face and the fact that characters represented different aspects of the things we do online. It was interesting to see that different choices we made led to different story endings. It was fun to learn this way.”

Ms. Dean’s students were engaged, empowered and enlightened while they participated in meaningful decision making, facing the characters’ dilemmas. Based on this positive experience, the class has decided they would like to share what they have learnt with a wider audience. What a wonderful leadership opportunity!

Through her work with her students, Gemma Dean has also become a member of our growing CIS faculty, who have become Common Sense Media Certified Educators. Keep an eye out in the near future as this class presents their learning to the greater CIS community.

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