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SUSD “Keeping It REAL” for Students

SUSD “Keeping It REAL” for Students

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (August 2, 2024) – With so much information today communicated and shared widely on digital platforms, empowering students with skills to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and with a critical eye has become an essential element of classroom instruction.

Accordingly, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) will kick off the new school year next week with a new initiative, called “Keeping It REAL.”

“REAL” stands for Research, Evaluate, Analyze, Lead with Respect.  In their online engagements, students will be encouraged to:

  • R:  Research Thoroughly – ensure the information being presented in print, broadcast and social media, on the internet and/or through Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs is accurate and reliable
  • E:  Evaluate Sources  evaluate the credibility of the information’s source to determine what it’s trying to achieve
  • A:  Analyze Content Critically – consider what the content’s intention may be and whether the evidence provided supports the claims being made
  • L:  Lead with Respect – avoid engaging in or promoting cyberbullying and be mindful to engage respectfully online

SUSD embraces the potential of AI as an educational tool, says the district’s Director of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Kim Dodds Keran, who describes helping students develop safe media literacy skills as important work.

“Online safety is a priority for educators and families today,” explains Dodds Keran.  “Equipping our students with skills to discern whether something they see or read is based in fact – what we’re calling ‘REAL’ – or whether it’s an effort to mislead them is yet another way we are preparing them for the future.”

Parents will play a major role in the SUSD initiative.  “Keeping It REAL” will encourage parents to engage with and guide their children’s online activities, most of which take place outside of school, and to set appropriate boundaries.

For their part, students will be encouraged to take responsibility for their online actions and to strive to apply critical thinking and ethical considerations in their digital interactions.

The final piece of “Keeping It REAL” falls to teachers, who will be tasked with integrating digital media literacy into the curriculum, where appropriate, and providing students with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

“Helping students become technologically literate, informed digital citizens requires the deep thinking that will serve them well throughout their lives, regardless of the path they choose,” Dodds Keran adds.

“Keeping It REAL” signage will be on display in SUSD classrooms.  For more on this SUSD initiative for the 2024-2025 school year, go to https://www.susd.org/academics/curriculum/keeping-it-real.

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About the Scottsdale Unified School District
With more than 21,000 students in 30 schools, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) has been a premier choice for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public education for 126 years. Located northeast of metropolitan Phoenix, the District serves the educational needs of students and families in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe and Scottsdale. A highly experienced, professionally certified teaching staff fosters a diverse and rigorous educational environment that engages all students in world-class, future-focused learning. Offering gifted learning, special education, career and technical education, and a variety of athletics, arts and enrichment programs and clubs, SUSD provides the rich environment today’s students need to explore their interests, develop important social skills and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, visit www.susd.org and follow along on social media: Facebook: @ScottsdaleUSD, X: @ScottsdaleUSD, Instagram: @ScottsdaleUnifiedSD, LinkedIn and YouTube.