Digital Drama Unplugged - Common Sense Media

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Digital Drama
Unplugged

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | GRADE 6

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How can we de-escalate digital drama so

it doesn't go too far?

Essential Question

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Learning Objectives

Reflect on how easily drama can escalate online.

Identify de-escalation strategies for dealing with
digital drama.

Reflect on how digital drama can affect not only
oneself but also those around us.

l

2

3

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1.

Respect others' viewpoints.

2.

Don't interrupt.

3.

Assume positive intent.

4.

Disagree respectfully.

Group-Discussion Norms

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When there's a fight or an argument here at school or in public, how do people usually react?

Directions:

1.

Take a moment to think silently about this question.

2.

The teacher will indicate when it's time to share out with a partner.

WARM UP: THINK, PAIR, SHARE

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One reason is that human beings are naturally attracted to drama.

What does the word "drama" mean?

Directions:

1.

Take a moment to think silently about this question.

2.

The teacher will indicate when it's time to share out with a partner.

WARM UP: THINK, PAIR, SHARE

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How does drama—emotional conflict between people—happen
online? Can you think of any examples?

Directions:

1.

Take a moment to think silently about this question.

2.

The teacher will indicate when it's time to share out with a partner.

WARM UP: THINK, PAIR, SHARE

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When people use devices, apps, or websites to start
or further a conflict between people

Digital drama

KEY VOCABULARY

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How can Digital Drama be different from In-person drama?

Directions:

1.

Take a moment to think silently about this question.

2.

The teacher will indicate when it's time to share out with a partner.

WARM UP: THINK, PAIR, SHARE

• It can reach a big audience and reach them immediately.

• It can include images or videos that get people's attention.

• It can involve people posting things anonymously.

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Discuss:

●

Why does digital drama
happen?

●

What are some ways to
deal with digital drama?

WATCH + DISCUSS

To watch this video on the Common Sense Education site, click here.

On the next slide is an example of digital drama that can start to get out of hand. But it could have turned out differently. To help us think about how, we're going to first read the situation and then take on the perspectives of the individuals involved.

Felicia and Jen are friends from school. They both audition for the lead role in the school play. The next day, the drama teacher, Mr. Adler, posts the final cast list, showing that Felicia was selected for the role. Felicia posts a photo of the list on social media with the caption "Guess who made LEAD ROLE!! ME!" Other students at her school see the post and make comments.

The comments continue to come in. People start responding with #teamjen and #teamfelicia hashtags. Later, in response to Jayden's comments, Felicia posts an embarrassing picture of Jayden and calls him out for failing Mr. Adler's class.

​

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ACTIVITY: TAKING THE LEAD

In your group, each person will take on the viewpoint of a different
person from the scenario. Write down the person you're taking the
perspective of. Then, based on that perspective, complete the
columns in the table. When you're done, each person will share out.

Roles:
1.

Felicia

2.

Jen

3.

Jayden

4.

Mr. Adler

5.

Ally

Directions

Open Ended

I am taking the viewpoint of:

Open Ended

Based on that viewpoint: I acted the way I
did because ...

Open Ended

Based on that viewpoint: One thing I could've done differently was ...

Open Ended

Based on that viewpoint: Something that might've
stopped me from doing something differently was ...

Share your responses

Talk with the other people in your group about what you said for each of your responses.

One thing that might have been helpful in this situation would be for someone to have de-escalated it.

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To lessen the intensity or anger in a conflict

De-escalate

KEY VOCABULARY

Some ways to De-escalate

• Respond with a positive comment or action.

• Ignore the post.

• Talk (offline) with the person involved to try to de-escalate the situation.

Word Cloud

Ways to De-escalate

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Middle
metronews.com

Scenario

ACTIVITY: ACT-IT-OUT

1.An online newspaper wrote
a story about the success of
the local middle school and
used photos of students.

2.A student who wasn't
pictured posted the article
on social media with a
negative comment.

Mike B. @mikeyb25 • 1d
What about the rest
of us? 🤷

Big Gains for
CS Middle
metronews.com

2

3:30 PM • 14 Jan 19

Dee @delilah40 • 3h
Teachers pets smh

Brian C. @shootsnscores1 • 1h
Always jumping in front
of the camera.
#notsayinganynames

3.Other students followed
up with similar negative
comments.

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ACTIVITY: ACT-IT-OUT

1.

Each person chooses a role to act out from the scenario
(Mike B., Dee, Brian C., and a student from the photo).

2.

Take a moment to think about your role and what that
person might be thinking and feeling based on the
scenario.

3.

Decide on what you could say next to be true to your
feelings but also to de-escalate the situation.

4.

Do a whip-around, where each person shares what they
could say.

Directions

Multiple Choice

It's always best to express how you feel online, even if it might hurt someone's feelings.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of de-escalation?

• • Responding to a mean comment by being mean.

• • Posting a kind comment on a friend's picture.

• • Leaving a supportive comment on a post making fun of someone.

• • Supporting a friend who is criticizing someone else.

Multiple Choice

You're using a headset to game with other people online. One person just made a huge mistake and cost your team the game. You feel angry and want to say something, but you remember to pause and consider the other person's point of view. Doing this makes you recognize that:

• Online comments don't really mean anything, so it's OK to make fun of people.

• 
  This person deserves to be kicked off the team.

• 
  Saying something mean will probably make the person try harder the next time you play.

• 
  Posting something mean will cause drama and hurt feelings.

Multiple Choice

Laila and Arjun are on a group chat with friends from school. A friend in the group starts to make fun of Laila's favorite sports team. Other friends in the group think this is funny and add to the comments. What could Arjun do to de-escalate the situation?

• 
  Arjun could add to the mean comments because he doesn't want to feel left out of the group.

• 
  Arjun could add a positive comment or change the topic.

• 
  Arjun could send a private message to the person being mean to support their opinion.

• 
  Arjun could share the joke with friends outside the group chat.

Poll

How confident are you in knowing how to de-escalate digital drama before it goes too far?

• 
  I feel very confident.

• 
  I feel somewhat confident.

• 
  I don't feel confident.

Watch Digital Drama

On the next slide you either need to sign in using a username you used before, or or create a new username and watch the video Connecting With Kindness: Digital Drama.

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