For more role-playing situations, use the following link:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cycp-cpcj/bull-inti/pres/cyberbull-cyberintimidoh1-9-10-eng.htm
("Cyberbullying- Conflict, Appropriate behaviour, Support [9-10]", 2012)
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cycp-cpcj/bull-inti/pres/cyberbull-cyberintimidoh1-9-10-eng.htm
("Cyberbullying- Conflict, Appropriate behaviour, Support [9-10]", 2012)
This is a set of role-playing activities to do with your students regarding cyberbullying. In Waging Peace, Robert Blair states that during conflicts, the emotions of all parties involved are heightened and can lead to impulsive decisions that make matters worse. Therefore, this may not be the best time to teach students about conflict resolution skills. Instead, as students regularly practice conflict-resolution skills through simulations, such as role-playing, they equip themselves with skills they can use when a real dispute arises, (Blair, 2010). This resource can help students develop empathy as well. For example, during the role-play games, if a victim plays the role of a bully and vice versa, the bully and the victim are given the opportunity to look at the conflict from another point of view and understand each other’s feelings. This exercise is especially important in the context of cyberbullying, because there is a possibility of forgetting that virtual interactions have real-life impact as bullies are unable to physically see their victim’s hurt response. One question you might want to add in your class discussions is once technology has been used to spread a rumour or post a picture, could the social consequences be reversed? If so, how? This will help to consolidate the idea that actions online are permanent and that individuals need to think twice before posting harmful material online. Depending on classroom dynamics, it may also be helpful to do these activities as writing exercises instead of role-plays. This alternative may help to accommodate students who are not comfortable or shy about performing the roles or voicing opinions to their classmates. It may be helpful to allow them to write their responses and for you to read and discuss their responses with the class without revealing their names.