DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

Ollie Senneck, Teacher of Creative Media, Sherborne School

For children of the digital age, being gifted their first phone or given a significant upgrade on their previous devices feels like the inevitable next stage of their digital lives, and their first foray into controlling their digital consumption. This poses inevitable challenges for parents, teachers and society as we grapple with the existential questions that these addictive gadgets pose, and so dominate our existence.

The pandemic brought the digital world into sharper focus, with the benefits and frailties of life on screen coming to the fore. At Sherborne, we quickly embraced the technology availed to us so that the boys’ education wasn’t disrupted. Suddenly, a new vernacular became commonplace. Overnight, we were in Teams meetings, connecting via Zoom, and then muting ourselves, or being muted, and forgetting to hit mute(!) and sharing screens, marking online and teaching the boys remotely. For the art department, this presented a genuine challenge. Teaching the art of drawing and painting remotely, without the boys accessing the beautiful facilities of the art department, presented a few obstacles. Not every home is furnished with an abundance of art materials and teaching art, by its nature, is very handson, requiring bespoke feedback. However, we prevailed, and the boys’ learning continued unabated.

With my subject, Creative Media Production, the boys could present a large part of their work digitally. However, making television and film coursework, whilst stuck in a bedroom was a real challenge. But this then became the source of the boys’ creative work, once back at school, giving them material to create digital content, through music videos, short films and documentary production. The power and speed of the digital revolution enabled the boys to continue their learning, as well as provided them with new digital skills, ready for the challenges of university and employment in the post-pandemic age.

For parents and teachers, it is a difficult and sometimes bewildering landscape to navigate, such is the scale and scope of the internet, new apps and new platforms. Opinions, good and bad, can quickly be disseminated and media influencers can soon have the following they crave. At Sherborne, through our well-being lessons, we teach the boys the potential perils and threats of the online world. We promote positive digital citizenship so they can be as positive in their digital lives, as they are in their everyday, personal interactions. Our mobile device policy is also robust and progressive, covering all areas of the school, from lessons to the boarding houses to crossing the road and general courtesies. We are concerned to ensure that they use mobile devices and associated social media in a way that is healthy and supportive of their education, social development, and wellbeing. We must promote positive digital citizenship, making our young people active citizens, participants and creators, rather than passive scrollers. sherborne.org

Areal crowd-pleaser and one for the whole family to enjoy. This recipe gives a little extra pop of flavour and goodness using ham and cheese but another favourite is sweetcorn or grated carrots.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10–15 minutes (depending on what pasta you use)

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 portion of Cheat’s White Sauce (250g ricotta, loosened with 70ml milk to desired thickness)

Salt, pepper and nutmeg for seasoning

(omit if cooking for a baby)

4 handfuls of peas

4 slices of ham

200g pasta

100g cheese of your choice (we like to use a mix of grated cheddar, mozzarella and Parmesan)

A splash of milk

At The Table

Michela Chiappa