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246.Project Cybermanagers: adolescents introducing their peers in the responsible use of ICT

With the increasing use of new technologies, especially those involving internet, it becomes necessary to train children and adolescents to use ICT appropriately. In Spain, during the last years, education on use of the internet in schools has mainly consisted in instruction from a legal perspective by a police officer in single sessions, focusing on the negative consequences of an inappropriate use. In the Project Cybermanagers we intend to change the educational focus to a more positive one. From a service-learning perspective and continuing the work of Acero (2009), Project Cybermanagers aims at encouraging adolescents to train their younger peers in a correct use of ICT, especially in terms of privacy, relationships (cyberbullying) and a healthy use of the internet. From this perspective, older students’ knowledge of a more positive use of ICT is strengthened, while the younger students benefit from being trained by their older and more ICT experienced peers, who are more aware of the needs young people face on the internet.
This project was carried out in three schools in the metropolitan area of Madrid. Data on internet use and cyberbullying were collected and used to optimize the first phase of the intervention with the older students. The research team taught 4th grade students (15-16 years old) of one secondary school on three topics (privacy, upright use and health). Then, volunteering students of this group trained their 1st grade peers (12-13 years old) and children from a neighbouring elementary school (10-12 years old). In a different secondary school, both 4th grade students and some volunteers from 3rd and 2nd grade tutored their younger peers on the appropriate use of the internet as part of the academic curriculum within the subject of Ethics.
Results of the project show positive evaluations from the cybermanagers and their younger fellow students, as well as their teachers, which demonstrates the importance of involving students in this kind of school activities fulfilling their right to participation. The service-learning approach has proved itself as a useful way to close and take advantage of generational gaps and to benefit both the student-trainers and their peers. Beyond that, it illustrates once more the efficiency of students as agents supporting the needs of their peers and the possibilities to involve students in both academic and social-relational engagement.

Key words: service-learning, ICT, cyberbullying, adolescents, peer-support

Author(s):

Borja Solovera    
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Spain

Lidia Casado    
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Spain

Mara Nieto    
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Spain

Cristina Del Barrio    
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Spain

Kevin Van der Meulen    
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Spain