Series Common Sense Media: Overexposed: Sexting and Relationships

Overexposed: Sexting and Relationships

Lesson Objective: Use digital technology responsibly in romantic relationships
Grades 9-12 / ELA / Digital Literacy
7 MIN

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Discussion and Supporting Materials

Thought starters

  1. How does Ms. Pentland approach teaching a sensitive topic?
  2. Why is it helpful for students to put vocabulary words in their own terms?
  3. How does the use of iPads affect participation?

8 Comments

  • Private message to Maria Moreno
Congrats!! I think as a whole this is a very well thought lesson that seems to be really helpful and practical for students. I also liked a lot how you use different media and exercises during the whole lesson in order to keep it dynamic. Regarding some of the comments of the people that think this activity may be boring for the students, I think it would be great to hear their suggestions or what specific ideas they would include in this lesson in order to make it more active or whatever they think is missing?
Recommended (0)
  • Private message to Liza Duncan
Really well-thought out and well-taught - that being said, it bothers me that this lesson focuses only on the girl's actions, while completely glossing over the boy's (equally important) choices. It's important for girls to protect themselves, but it's also important for boys not to put pressure on girls or exploit their privacy. If this lesson is to be relevant to the boys, it's important that they understand they have a role in this process - that it's not only the girl who is responsible. It seems like a wasted opportunity to challenge rather than reinforce gender norms. No offense, Courtney, if you're reading this. You've incorporated the Common Core, technology, and topics relevant to students' lives, while working with a group of students you don't see every day. Well done.
Recommended (1)
  • Private message to Courtney Pentland
As the school librarian, I didn't teach this class every day, but instead worked with them off an on in collaboration with their classroom teachers. The class I worked with is a rotating quarter class that works on study and technology skills and career exploration at the freshman level. As such, I worked with every one of our 600+ freshman with this lesson (and one on cyberbullying, copyright, and career exploration)--which leads to quite a few classes over the two year time period I have taught the lesson.
Recommended (0)
  • Private message to Peter Simon
Hello, Courtney, thanks, this is how it becomes a full experience for us. But Jeez! You've been having 4-5 NEW groups every year! How many hours do they have with you a week? The discussion of such topic takes some time getting used to you. Congrats!
Recommended (0)
  • Private message to Courtney Pentland
Hello All! The lesson itself actually uses more interactive discussion than is featured in this video. Students are given jumping off points, but we generally have pretty open discussion about what sexting is, how it can affect their personal and social lives, and the legal ramifications. I would say it is about 40% teacher led and 60% discussion. The lesson is broken up into chunks with a focus on what is sexting, a video from MTV, discussion of consequences, and an opportunity to finish a conversation between a boy and girlfriend where the boy is asking her to send him pictures. I hope that gives a little bit more about the lesson itself. I've taught his lesson about 25 times, and every time I have students who learn something from some part of our discussion--I can generally tell by the look of surprise on their faces. While not a whiz bang supershow, this lesson covers a lot of really important information our students need to know--especially at the beginning of their high school careers.
Recommended (2)

Transcripts

  • SEXTING TRANSCRIPT

    Segment #1 CSM - Overexposed: Sexting And Relationships - Courtney Pentland

    Courtney Pentland:
    The lesson that we're doing today has

    SEXTING TRANSCRIPT

    Segment #1 CSM - Overexposed: Sexting And Relationships - Courtney Pentland

    Courtney Pentland:
    The lesson that we're doing today has to do more with our digital life than our school life. So we're talking about some things that go on maybe outside of school in your personal life, in your relationships with other people.

    Pentland (Interview):
    My name is Courtney Pentland. I am the School Librarian at Burke High School and I work with students in 9th through 12th grade.

    Pentland:
    And the topic that we are discussing, as I told you earlier, is a little bit sensitive so I do need you to use your maturity and your leadership skills as we look at this. Just make sure that we're keeping everything school appropriate, okay?

    Pentland (Interview):
    Today's lesson focuses on sexting which is a very important topic for our teenagers where they're kind of coming to make some of those decisions and getting exposed to some of that at this age range.

    Pentland:
    You are going to be using a few apps today on your i-Pad. You are going to be using ScreenChomp to answer some questions that we'll be doing group discussions with. You are going to write down on your i-Pad one way that digital communication can benefit relationships. What do you like about texting?

    Student 1:
    It's easy.

    Pentland:
    Easy to do?

    Student 1:
    Yeah.

    Pentland:
    What are some things that maybe aren't so great? Okay, write those down.

    Pentland (Interview):
    I've found that it works really well to allow students to write their answers down and share them either on a white board or, in this case, we used an i-Pad where they can write their answers down and hold them up. And they don't have to say anything out loud. It's a really good way for giving everyone a chance to communicate on a topic that maybe they wouldn't feel comfortable doing, so.

    Pentland:
    Sometimes people aren't entirely sure what sexting is. It is sending out photos or videos of a sexual nature.

    Pentland (Interview):
    Even though this lesson is not taught in an English classroom, it is something that does cover English Language Arts Standards. What we ask for them to do is to jot down the information that they find relevant to put vocabulary words into their own terms so that they're able to take that information that they have just learned and put it into something that they understand that they'll be able to recall. And by putting it in their own words, it helps them process that information a little bit better which helps synthesize the information.

    Pentland:
    We're going to watch a video about a young lady who made a choice to send a photo to an ex-boyfriend. And we are going to find out what happened as a result of that.

    Ally:
    It was the biggest mistake of my life.

    Kim Stolz:
    19 year old Ally is talking about sexting, and it's something you've probably been hearing a lot about lately.

    Female #1:
    Sexting.

    Male #1:
    Sexting.

    Kim Stolz:
    Sexting isn't flirty talk or even dirty talk.

    Pentland (Interview):
    We start with that video to kind of spur our next part of our discussion which is the consequences. We look really at personal and social consequences which I think a lot of teenagers are aware of, that humiliation factor, what if my parents see this? How would my school life be changed? So they kind of understand that personal part of it.

    Pentland:
    Besides it being spread around to everybody, what are some other consequences? What could happen negatively as a result? And we're doing this on ScreenChomp so that I can see it.

    Pentland (Interview):
    The nice thing about this lesson is that students get to hear and discuss a variety of viewpoints. So they get to see their perspectives not only of Ally in the video but of their classmates. And they hear answers that maybe they wouldn't have thought of on their own.

    Pentland:
    We're going to talk about how do we deal with this situation if it comes up for us. We are going to look at how to handle this situation in the context of a relationship that's going on between Jake and Shaila. 16 year old Shaila and her boyfriend, Jake, have been dating for a month. They're doing pretty well. Things are going good. They've been flirting a lot online and through texts. Well one night they stay up late texting each other and this is the conversation that starts. Jake says, "So what are you wearing?" And Shaila says, "Wouldn't you like to know?" A little flirty talk back and forth again. Like they said in the video this is not sexting. Jake hopefully messing, "Why don't you show me?" And Shaila says, "Um." So he is very specifically asking her to send him a naked picture. What I want you to do is to come up with what Shaila should or would say back to him. Is there a way to handle this so that Jake and Shaila are still talking or do you care? If somebody asked you a question like that, would you drop them in a hot minute?

    Student #2:
    I was like, "It's crazy." Like some people do that and then they just basically just ruin their lives.

    Student #3:
    It'll make me think more like when I'm sending, before I press send.

    Student #4:
    I know people who have done it and just, for the most part, they don't know the full extent of the consequences, but also because they are asked to and they just say yes.

    Pentland:
    If you're done writing, hold up your i-Pad so I can see it. What do you have? We have only been dating a month, so I'll wait. I don't think I should but I still want to talk to you. Good. If you loved me you wouldn't make me. If you cared, you wouldn't want that. Okay.

    Student #5:
    I have to go to bed.

    Pentland:
    I have to go to bed. Sorry, good night.
    Student #6:
    That is frowned upon by the law.

    Pentland:
    That is frowned upon by the law. No, thanks, sorry. Not sorry. Yeah, sorry but not sorry. Oh, you'd act like your mom. I don't know if I want to know what that means.

    Student #7:
    No, like, like you.

    Pentland:
    Oh, got you.

    Student #7:
    Like this is her mother.

    Pentland:
    Okay, you would pretend you were your mom and be like, "Uh, I don't think so. Stay away from my daughter."

    Pentland (Interview):
    They were really trying to think of well how would I say that? What would be something that would be a benefit or a drawback? They were very willing to share and talk about what we were discussing today with a great amount of maturity.

    Pentland:
    So you have no control. Once that picture is sent from you to somebody else, the power is now in their hands. Once it's sent from you, it's out of your hands.

School Details

Burke High School
12200 Burke Boulevard
Omaha NE 68154
Population: 2073

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Teachers

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Courtney Pentland