1. Cyber Bullying By: Samantha Brawley EDU 290

2. What is it? Bullying is no longer threats on the playground, it is much more Cyber bullying refers to bullying that occurs through instant messaging, e-mail, chat rooms, Web pages, video-gaming, and images or messages sent through cell phones Cyber bullying involves the intentional use of information and communication technologies to support intentional, repeated, and hostile behavior directed at an individual or a group (Belsey 2005). Source: Prasan.Naik

3. What is it? Although anyone with access to technology can be a cyber bully, most who are cyber bullies and who are cyber bullied are in middle school Technology is and has been taking over the world, and it’s no different in school bullying Instant messaging is the most common use now that phones have become so popular To minimize cyber bullying, educators need to have a better understanding of the nature of it and be aware of actions that they can do to help prevent cyber bullying in the schools

4. Cyber Bullying The internet allows people to communicate freely without anyone knowing who they are if they may choose to. Students think they can remain unknown so they say things they would never say to someone face-to-face. Even when they can be identified online, they can blame it on someone else using their screen name.

5. Children think they can hide behind the screen in which they are typing on, so they lose that fear of being caught and punished. Cyber bullies can create Web sites that mock and harass others. They can create voting booths and offer users the opportunity to create Web pages that allow students to vote online for "ugliest," "fattest," "dumbest," and so on, boy or girl at their school. It is easy to understand the devastating effect such a "contest" would have on the unfortunate student selected. Source: Wilson (Army gal)

6. Cyber Bullying According to IR Kowalski, 25% of girls and 11% of boys in middle school reported being cyber bullied at least once in a 2-month period. On playgrounds and in school, boys tend to be the primary bullies and victims, but online girls tend to be the major participants. Although girls generally mock others for their physical appearance, boys tend to make more sexually explicit comments Students who are considered overweight, small in size, learning disabled, or overly sensitive are often targeted

7. K-12 Education Cyber bullying seems to increase through the elementary school years, peak during the middle school years, and decline in high school (Migliore 2003). 74 percent of eight- to eleven-year-old students reported that bullying and teasing occurred at their schools (Nansel et al. 2001). Source: Jeff Hester

8. K-12 Education Bullying affects students of all ages in and out of school, but most start because of something going on at their school It also affects the victims emotionally, and physically sometimes if it gets too far In a survey of more than 3700 youths in grades 6 through 8, among traditional bullying victims, 23% were also victims of cyber bullying, and 9% were perpetrators of cyber bullying. In another study, close to half of the targets did not know the identity of the perpetrator.

9. Prevention In recent years, there has been a considerable emphasis on adding bullying prevention programs in public schools. Researchers and administrators have developed programs, written articles, delivered workshops, and given speeches focusing on the goal and importance of eliminating bullying behavior in schools. Source: teddy-rised

10. What Needs to Happen Internet bullying lessons should be integrated into the school's curriculum The school's acceptable use policy should be updated to specifically prohibit using the Internet for bullying. The policy should spell out what constitutes cyber bullying and specify the anticipated negative consequences Provide parents with education

11. What Needs to Happen Coordinate with other schools in the district to provide consistent cyber bullying prevention information as students move through grade levels and among schools. Conduct professional development seminars so that all faculty and staff are alerted to issues related to cyber bullying, especially detection. Establish a relationship with the local police department, perhaps inviting "cyber cops" to school to speak to parents and students on proper Internet use.

12. Conclusion Cyber bullying is emerging as one of the most challenging issues facing parents and school personnel as students embrace the Internet and other technologies Believing they are unknown, cyber bullies engage in harmful practices that embarrass and hurt their classmates without the fear of facing the consequences for their actions The effects of cyber bullying are serious and, in some instances, life-threatening

13. References Kowalski, Robin M. "Cyber bullying: recognizing and treating victim and aggressor." Psychiatric Times 25.11 (2008): 45. Academic OneFile. Web. 15 Feb. 2010. Belsey, B. 2005. Cyberbullying.ca. http://www.cyberbullying.ca (accessed September 21, 2005). Migliore, D. 2003. Bullies torment victims with technology. http://www.azprevention.org/In_The_News/Newsletters/Newsletters.htm (accessed July 20, 2004). Nansel, T. R., M. Overpeck, R. S. Pilla, J. Ruan, B. Simons-Morton, and P. Scheidt. 2001. Bullying behaviors among US youth: Prevalence and association with psychosocial adjustment Journal of the American Medical Association 285 (16): 2094-100.