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Digital Empathy: Repairing Harms Online

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Lesson Plan

Digital Empathy: Repairing Harms Online

Students will be able to identify one way to apply a restorative principle (e.g., considering impact) to an online interaction.

This lesson is important because it equips students with the tools to respond constructively to online conflicts and misunderstandings, fostering a more positive and respectful digital environment for everyone.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Through discussion and scenario application, students will explore restorative principles in online contexts.

Materials

Digital Citizenship Online Guide, Digital RJ Slide Deck, and Online Scenarios Discussion

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Opening Circle Prompt: What's Your Digital Footprint?

3 minutes

  • Display the 'Opening Circle Prompt' slide from the Digital RJ Slide Deck.
    - Ask students: "Think about the last time you interacted with someone online. How did your words or actions make them feel?"
    - Facilitate a brief discussion, encouraging students to share their thoughts on the impact of online communication.

Step 2

Discuss Digital vs. In-Person Community

4 minutes

  • Display the 'Digital vs. In-Person Community' slide from the Digital RJ Slide Deck.
    - Lead a discussion comparing and contrasting how community operates online versus in-person.
    - Emphasize the unique challenges and opportunities for showing empathy and repairing harm in digital spaces.
    - Introduce the concept of restorative justice principles (e.g., focusing on harm, involved parties, making things right) and how they apply online.

Step 3

Apply RJ Principles to Online Scenarios

5 minutes

  • Distribute or display the Online Scenarios Discussion.
    - Divide students into small groups or work as a whole class to discuss one or two scenarios.
    - Prompt students to consider: "How could a restorative justice principle help resolve this online situation?" and "What steps could be taken to repair any harm?"
    - Encourage creative and empathetic solutions.

Step 4

Closing Circle: Tip Share

3 minutes

  • Bring the class back together for a closing circle.
    - Display the 'Closing Circle: Tip Share' slide from the Digital RJ Slide Deck.
    - Ask each student to share one tip for applying restorative principles in their online interactions.
    - Conclude by reinforcing the importance of digital empathy and responsible online behavior.
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Slide Deck

Digital Empathy: Repairing Harms Online

Understanding and Applying Restorative Justice Online

Welcome students and introduce the topic of navigating online interactions. Set a positive tone for respectful discussion.

Opening Circle Prompt

Think about the last time you interacted with someone online. How did your words or actions make them feel?

Share your thoughts in the chat or with a partner.

Ask students to reflect on their online interactions. Encourage them to think about how their words and actions might be perceived by others. This is a warm-up to get them thinking about online impact.

Digital vs. In-Person Community

How is communicating online similar to or different from communicating in person?

  • What are the challenges?
  • What are the benefits?

Restorative Justice Key Principles:

  • Focus on the harm not just the rules broken.
  • Include all affected parties in the resolution.
  • Seek to repair the harm and rebuild relationships.

Lead a discussion comparing the dynamics of online and in-person communities. Introduce the core idea that restorative justice focuses on: 1. What was the harm? 2. Who was harmed? 3. What needs to happen to make things right? Emphasize that these questions are just as important online.

Applying Restorative Justice Online

Let's look at some real-world online situations.

Think about:

  • What was the harm?
  • Who was impacted?
  • What could be done to make things right?

Explain that students will now work through scenarios to apply these principles. Remind them that the goal is to think about solutions that address harm and build understanding.

Closing Circle: Digital Empathy Tip Share

Share one practical tip for applying restorative principles in your online interactions.

Let's build a more empathetic online community!

Conclude the lesson by asking each student to share one practical tip. This reinforces learning and empowers them to take action. Thank them for their participation.

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Discussion

Online Scenarios: Practicing Digital Empathy

Work with your group to discuss the scenarios below. For each scenario, consider the following questions:

  1. What happened? Briefly describe the situation.
  2. What was the harm? Who was impacted, and how?
  3. Who is responsible for addressing the harm?
  4. What needs to be done to make things right? (Think about actions that could repair the harm and rebuild relationships.)
  5. What restorative principle did you apply (e.g., considering impact, involving all parties, making things right)?

Scenario 1: The Meme Mishap

Sarah found a funny meme and shared it in her class group chat. She didn't realize that the meme was making fun of a specific hobby that David, a new student, was very passionate about. David saw the meme and felt really hurt and embarrassed, even though Sarah didn't know he was into that hobby. Other students in the chat started laughing at the meme too.













Scenario 2: The Gaming Gaffe

During an online multiplayer game, Alex got frustrated when a teammate, Chloe, made a mistake that cost their team the round. Alex immediately typed a harsh, critical comment in the public game chat, calling Chloe "useless" and saying she should "quit the game." Chloe saw the message and felt singled out and attacked, even though she knew it was just a game. She stopped playing and felt like she didn't want to join that group again.













Scenario 3: The Uncredited Post

Maria spent a lot of time creating a cool digital art piece for a school project. She posted it on her social media, and a few days later, saw that another student, Liam, had reposted her artwork without giving her credit, claiming it as his own. Maria felt angry and disappointed that her hard work wasn't acknowledged, and that Liam was getting praise for something she created.













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Digital Empathy: Repairing Harms Online • Lenny Learning