Common Sense Media

MLTI is excited to continue a partnership with Common Sense Media, a national non-profit organization that helps families and educators teach kids how to be safe and smart in today’s media driven world.

We know teaching Digital Citizenship is critical to youth development, improved student achievement, and to successfully growing and improving our state-wide technology initiatives. This partnership offers us an exciting opportunity to engage students to think critically and make responsible choices.

The Common Sense Schools Educators curriculum provides schools free, easy-to-use resources and straight-forward information to help them engage parents and educators in an ongoing dialogue about the importance of digital citizenship. Common Sense takes a balanced approach to media education and Internet safety, and addresses both the challenges and opportunities that digital media creates for kids.

The program consists of materials organized by grade and topic, and includes resources such as tip sheets, surveys, discussion guides, videos, and other interactive family activities focused on specific topics such as: social networking, virtual worlds, commercialism, cell phones, and cyberbullying.

Although any school can sign-up now for the education program and access the materials online for free, MLTI offers schools professional development and consultative help in developing a program in individual schools or in school districts.

Last year we had over twenty schools participating in the middle school pilot curriculum and all schools will be continuing to use some of the Common Sense materials again next year. Thanks to all teachers who participated in the research pilot programs. Common Sense Media uses this research to inform their curriculum and the student and teacher input was invaluable. We selected three "model" middle schools based on the integrated program developed, vision and leadership at those schools.

Maine Common Sense Digital Citizenship Model Middle Schools:

Mt. Ararat Middle School - Lisa Hogan, lead teacher
Skowhegan Area Middle School - Laura Richter, lead teacher
Warsaw Middle School - Donna Chale and Lori Paterson, lead teachers

2011-2012 Program
Common Sense Media Curriculum is now K-12. Although we are only selecting two elementary and two high schools for demonstration (research) schools, we are available to help any school implement this program.

If you are interested in learning more about the curriculum please contact Teri Caouette for more information.