TELUS Wise Cyberbullying Real Life Instructions

: June 1, 2024
: Telus

TELUS Wise Cyberbullying Real Life

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Bring digital literacy into your classroom.

Cyberbullying in real life

Dark Cloud: The High Cost of Cyberbullying

Discussion guide Grades 7-9

Learning outcomes: Students will watch the TELUS originals documentary, Dark Cloud, The High Cost of Cyberbullying, to hear candid accounts of cyberbullying and its impact, as well as how youth are rising above cyberbullying. Following the classroom discussion, youth will have a broader awareness of cyberbullying, it’s impacts and how best to intervene if they witness it happening.

Materials:

Visit telus.com/DarkCloud to screen the documentary (49 mins)

Notes: Film is rated PG 13 and available in English only; however, French captions are available.

About the film

Dark Cloud examines a growing epidemic deeply affecting the mental, emotional and physical well-being of today’s youth. The 45-minute documentary is told through the eyes of Carol Todd, TELUS Wise partner and the mother of Amanda Todd, the B.C. teen whose death by suicide after two years of bullying, exacerbated by a cyberstalker, became a flashpoint for global action around cyberbullying.
Dark Cloud introduces us to families who have endured similar experiences, as well as some of the most important anti-cyberbullying experts in Canada, including TELUS Wise partners Wendy Craig, Professor at Queen’s University and Scientific Director of PREVNet, and Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts. Weaving their expertise and experience together, Dark Cloud illuminates the statistics, clarifies the long consequences of cyberbullying and shares insights into both cyberbullying’s causes and its prevention.

Film facts

Statistics Canada estimates that 41% of young internet users who experienced cyberbullying reported an emotional, psychological or mental health condition.
60% of Canadian youth report seeing cyberbullying or online abusive behaviour within the last four weeks.
49% of LGBTQ+ students have experienced cyberbullying.

Discussion questions

1. Think about a time when you witnessed cyberbullying. How did you respond? How do you wish you had responded? What stopped you from responding that way?

2. Dr. Shaheen Shariff, Ph.D, and James McGill University Professor, states that the “key forms of traditional bullying are spilling back and forth from online and traditional.” In what ways are traditional bullying and cyberbullying similar? In what ways are they different?

3. Matthew Johnson, Director of Education with MediaSmarts, notes that because we can’t see facial expressions or body language online it’s harder for us to feel empathy. Do you believe this to be true?Why or why not?

4. Do you believe that instances of bullying have increased and are worsened by the advent of digital media?

5. Dr. Wendy Craig of Queen’s University says that one of the central challenges for addressing cyberbullying is that it’s a 24-hour problem. For those victimized by cyberbullying, it’s common to fixate on a cyberbullying issue and review the episode over and over again. Have you ever fixated on something online, whether it was negative or positive? If yes, how did digital media facilitate your fixation? Consider how the ability to see and relive an issue of cyberbullying would increase
or decrease the negative feelings attributed to the issue.

6. Dr. Wendy Craig discusses a study in which a playground of preschool-aged children was monitored for instances of bullying. The study found that bullying was a significant problem and that peers stepped in to help more than adults did. Generally, when peers did intervene, they were effective in diffusing the situation.

How important do you think it is to have peers step in when bullying occurs?

Do you think that peers have more impact when diffusing a bullying situation?

Why or why not?

If you witnessed cyberbullying, would you intervene? Why or why not?

7. Brooke Boutilier and her mother raise the issue of Brooke’s cyberbullying with the principal at her school, but the bullying continued. Do you think that it was a good decision to address Brooke’s cyberbullying with school administrators?

Why or why not?

What do you think schools and communities can do to raise awareness about cyberbullying?

8. Was Dark Cloud effective in raising awareness about cyberbullying and its effects on youth?

Why or why not? Did the documentary change your perspective on cyberbullying? How?

Specifications:

Product Name: Dark Cloud: The High Cost of Cyberbullying
Grade Level: 7-9
Duration: 45 minutes
Language: English (French captions available)
Rating: PG 13

Product Usage Instructions:

About the Film:

Dark Cloud is a documentary that explores the impact of cyberbullying on today’s youth, narrated through the perspective of Carol Todd, a TELUS Wise partner and mother of Amanda Todd. The film aims to raise awareness about cyberbullying and its effects.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will watch the documentary to understand the impact of cyberbullying and learn how to intervene if they witness it happening. The film provides candid accounts of cyberbullying experiences and showcases how youth can rise above such challenges.

Materials Needed:

Visit telus.com/DarkCloud to screen the documentary. Ensure you have 49 minutes available for viewing. Note that the film is rated PG 13 and is available only in English, with French captions as an option.

Discussion Questions:

Reflect on a personal experience of witnessing cyberbullying and discuss how you responded. Consider how you could have reacted differently and what barriers prevented you from doing so.
Compare and contrast traditional bullying with cyberbullying based on the insights provided by Dr. Shaheen Shariff. Discuss similarities and differences between the two forms of bullying.
Explore the impact of online communication on empathy, as highlighted by Matthew Johnson. Share your thoughts on whether the lack of facial expressions and body language affects our ability to empathize online.
Analyze the role of digital media in the prevalence and severity of bullying incidents. Discuss whether you believe bullying has escalated due to digital platforms.
Consider the effectiveness of addressing cyberbullying with school authorities, as seen in Brooke Boutilier’s case. Discuss the role of schools and communities in raising awareness about cyberbullying.
Evaluate the impact of the Dark Cloud documentary on increasing awareness about cyberbullying. Reflect on whether the film changed your perspective on cyberbullying and its consequences.

FAQ:

Q: Is the Dark Cloud documentary suitable for all age groups?

A: The film is rated PG 13, making it suitable for viewers aged 13 years and above. Viewer discretion is advised.

Q: Can the documentary be accessed in languages other than English with

captions?

A: While the primary language of the documentary is English, French captions are available for viewers who prefer to watch with subtitles.

Q: How can educators incorporate Dark Cloud into their classroom

curriculum?

A: Educators can utilize the film as a discussion guide for students in grades 7-9 to raise awareness about cyberbullying, its impacts, and effective intervention strategies.