This Q&A features a conversation between two Digital Citizenship Initiative partners, Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education, and Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer at Verizon and President of Verizon Foundation.
Q: What roles do schools, families, and technology partners play in reinforcing positive digital habits beyond the classroom?
A: At Verizon, we’re committed to putting technology into the hands of those who otherwise might not have access to it. But we know access to technology alone is not enough. At heart we are connectors – our networks connect people every day and we want to connect people with the resources and experts necessary to help them engage with technology in a healthy way, and to help them to develop the judgment they need to navigate their digital lives wisely. Because we provide connectivity, we feel that we have a responsibility to ensure people have the skills and knowledge they need to have a healthy and balanced relationship with technology.
And one way we do that is through our free Digital Wellness programming and resources. This work meets people where they are at—whether it’s kids just starting out online, parents seeking guidance, or older adults looking to stay connected safely.
For many of our new initiatives, we’ve partnered with leading experts and organizations to curate our resources for different age groups.
For example, for kids and schools, we’ve teamed up with Discovery Education to offer a free, standards-aligned digital wellness curriculum for K-12 schools.
We also have other programs for parents and caregivers, and for older adults, partnering with other nonprofits, experts, and leaders.
Q: What measurable changes or outcomes have you seen — or hope to see — as a result of equipping students with tools to navigate the online world safely and respectfully?
A: We are launching our pilot this summer, so we don’t have measurable changes and outcomes just yet, but measurement and outcomes are extremely important to us and for all of our programs.
We will have quantifiable metrics to assess the success of the programs, and we will constantly benchmark and refine. In fact, as part of our efforts, we are conducting a study with Sesame Workshop’s Joan Ganz Cooney Center focused on the digital well-being of children during key developmental ages of 8 to 12. The findings will address challenges that families face with technology use and guide the creation of future digital wellness programs.
Some of our outcomes will include the total number of participants we reach; the number of K-12 educators and students who have access to free digital wellness content; quantifiable information on parents, caregivers, and older adults who are more confident when promoting digital wellness content; parents and caregivers who have tools and strategies to support children in developing a more balanced, healthy relationship with technology, and much more.
Q: How can partnerships between private companies and educators drive scalable, sustainable change in promoting digital well-being and responsibility among youth?
A: Verizon has been working with schools for over 12 years now through our award-winning initiative Verizon Innovative Learning. Through this program, we have worked with over 650 schools nationwide to build sustainable approaches to technology-infused instruction and have impacted over 8.5M youth. We believe strongly in partnering with K-12 schools and are committed to helping educators thrive.
Verizon’s work with Discovery Education is a perfect example of how partnering between companies and educators can drive scalable, sustainable change.
It was a good match for us because Discovery Education has a global platform reaching 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories with standards-aligned multimedia content and classroom tools.
For their Digital Citizenship initiative, they aim to reach 1 million students by creating access to Digital Citizenship content for schools across the country with a focus on under-resourced communities. Their measurable impact on student achievement is why Verizon chose to partner with them five years ago – bringing their content to our Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, and creating a free suite of immersive content on Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.
While it’s important to us to reach as many students as possible, it is even more important to do so with high quality, rigorously curated content, and Discovery is the right partner to deliver on both fronts.
Discovery Education’s digital citizenship initiative is a fully virtual resource for classroom teachers to implement digital wellness curriculum in the classroom. All materials are aligned with International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards, and are developmentally appropriate for middle and high school students to develop healthy relationships with technology.
All instructional resources provided by Verizon are aligned with learning standards. This is a critical differentiator that builds trust and validity with K-12 schools.
The Digital Citizenship Initiative is focused on four critical areas:
- The Scientific Impact on the Brain – Exploring how the brain learns and how habits are formed. (Launched in February)
- Media Literacy – Exploring how to navigate information and developing critical thinking skills around internet-based sources
- Digital Safety -Learning about the ways your personal information is tracked online and how you can keep your information safe and private.
- Digital Footprint – Exploring the impact of your internet activity and how to build a positive online identity.
Discovery Education is collecting user testimonials and data, survey results, and other research to measure the impact of the digital citizenship initiative.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, K-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
About Digital Citizenship Initiative
The Digital Citizenship Initiative is a dynamic partnership that provides educators and students with free tools, resources, and the skills needed to thrive in today’s digital world. Discovery Education defines digital citizenship as a set of strategies and behaviors designed to promote a safer online experience for everyone.
The Digital Citizenship Initiative partners include Impact Leader Verizon and Fortinet. Each partner has helped contribute expert insights to develop standards-aligned digital resources. Resources include ready-to-use materials, digital lessons, DEMystified series videos, and instructional materials spanning disciplines such as science, health, social studies, and English language arts. Educators can expect quarterly content releases covering a range of topics that address digital citizenship.
To access the Digital Citizenship Initiative resources, please visit digitalcitizenship.discoveryeducation.com. Educators with access to Discovery Education Experience can find these resources on the Digital Citizenship channel.
