How education leaders are creating future-ready students by tackling the challenges students face in their tech-fueled world
School leaders today face a range of pressing challenges in education. From combating the spread of misinformation to addressing the growing impact of digital distractions and artificial intelligence, they are tasked with equipping students to navigate social media and technology responsibly. And the stakes are high — students need the skills to make thoughtful, high-character choices in an increasingly tech-fueled world.
The reality is that no single leader has all the answers, which is where collaboration between educators becomes invaluable. By huddling with thought leaders, peers, and students, school leaders gain new perspectives and actionable strategies to overcome these challenges. In doing so, we can create meaningful change that strengthens students’ health, happiness, and future success.
Why Learning from Others Is Game-Changing
The challenges school leaders face aren’t one-size-fits-all. In fact, every school community is different and requires specific approaches tailored to students’ evolving needs. But by learning from and collaborating with others on these topics, school leaders can create a culture where students can thrive in and out of the classroom.
Here’s how some of today’s top thought leaders in the education space are paving the way for schools to #WinAtSocial and help students make high-character decisions as they navigate technology.
Bridging the Gap: Aligning families and educators to equip students to navigate social media and tech positively
The Challenge: Families and educators often have different approaches when it comes to empowering and equipping students to navigate social media and tech – which can lead to mixed messages that confuse students and make it harder to build strong tech habits.
Who’s Leading the Way: In How Families & Educators Can Partner to Build Essential Student Skills for a Tech-Fueled World, Dr. Emily Weinstein, Co-Director of Harvard’s Center for Digital Thriving, and Dr. Jacqueline Nesi, Assistant Professor at Brown University specializing in adolescent mental health and technology, tackle this challenge head-on by providing actionable, research-based strategies. Their advice? Bring families and educators together to align on goals, strengthen communication, and present a united front in helping students navigate technology responsibly.
- Top Tips
- Establish clear goals together: As a school community, start with shared values and define success together. Whether in limiting screen time or fostering thoughtful social media use, collaboration leads to every voice being heard, creating inclusive and impactful goals.
- Use a shared language: Develop a unified approach for discussing technology and social media with families so that students receive consistent messages about responsible use at home and school.
- Huddle together: Create opportunities for families and educators to learn together, building trust and understanding around responsible tech use.
Want more tips? Learn how to align families and educators on tech use in our webinar with Dr. Weinstein and Dr. Nesi.
Equipping Students to Identify and Navigate Misinformation in an A.I.-Driven World
The Challenge: Nearly 40-50% of middle school students struggle to distinguish deepfake videos from reality. Students need critical thinking skills to separate fact from fiction, but A.I.-generated content like deepfakes and manipulated videos makes this even harder, highlighting the importance of teaching media literacy and content evaluation.
Who’s Leading the Way: In the webinar, Harnessing A.I. to Combat Misinformation, Sophie Theodorou delivers a roadmap for tackling misinformation in schools. Her approach? Empower students with the skills to evaluate content critically and equip students with the tools to navigate A.I. positively.
- Top Tips
- Introduce media literacy activities: Engage students in hands-on exercises where they analyze online content, identify potential misinformation, and practice fact-checking using credible sources.
- Demystify A.I. tools: Help students understand how A.I. generates deepfakes by breaking down the technology behind them. Educators can equip students with practical tools and techniques to detect misinformation effectively so that they feel confident online.
- Lean into the positives: Celebrate the role of technology as a tool for growth and collaboration by working together as a school community — students, educators, and families.
Want to explore more tools and strategies? Watch our webinar with Sophie Theodorou on combating misinformation with AI.
Building a School Culture That Reflects Students’ Needs and Perspectives
The Challenge: Traditional methods of monitoring and surveys often fall short in capturing the true needs and perspectives of students, leading to less effective school culture initiatives. This gap makes it difficult for schools to design initiatives that resonate with students and address their actual experiences.
Who’s Leading the Way: In the webinar, Investing in Student Well-Being: Improving School Culture by Huddling with Students, Dr. Sharon Hoover, Co-Director of the National Center for School Mental Health, emphasizes the importance of direct student engagement. She advocates for actively involving students in conversations to better understand their experiences and foster a culture of empathy, inclusion, and respect.
- Top Tips
- Regular sudent huddles: Create safe spaces for open discussions where students can share their experiences and challenges online. Use these huddles to foster a sense of belonging, support their emotional well-being, and encourage personal growth.
- Implement feedback loops: Actively listen to student input and take meaningful action to demonstrate that their voices matter. This builds trust, inclusion, and a culture of growth and mutual respect.
- Foster well-being and growth through digital literacy: Equip students with the skills to navigate technology in positive, high-character ways. By doing this, we can emphasize how thoughtful tech use can positively impact their well-being, emotional resilience, and personal development.
Empowering Student Voices and Creativity Through Project-Based Learning
The Challenge: For students, who on average get their first phone at 11 years old and their first social media account at 12, social media is how they connect, express themselves, and fuel their passions. As students increasingly engage with online platforms, there’s a need to guide them in using these tools positively and creatively, with many educators looking to project-based learning.
Who’s Leading the Way: In the webinar, A Deep Dive with Zigazoo’s Co-Founder on Project-Based Learning and Amplifying Student Voice In and Out of the Classroom, Leah Ringelstein, Co-Founder and Director of Impact at Zigazoo, discusses the role of project-based learning and mentorship in empowering students. She highlights how educators can leverage online platforms to amplify student voices, fostering creativity and positive engagement.
- Top Tips
- Implement project-based learning: Design projects that encourage students to explore real-world challenges and create solutions using online tools. For example, students can create campaigns or multimedia projects that address topics they care about, such as sustainability or mental health.
- Use technology to amplify student voice: Leverage platforms like Zigazoo to give students a safe space to share ideas, collaborate with peers, and express themselves creatively.
- Meet students where they are: Engage students by integrating discussions about their favorite apps and platforms into classroom lessons, teaching them to use these tools responsibly and positively.
TSI’s Take: Why Huddling Matters
At The Social Institute, we believe that the best solutions to challenges like navigating social media, combating misinformation, and fostering student well-being come from collaboration. When students, educators, and families unite, they can build stronger school communities, improve online literacy skills, and create a culture of empathy and inclusion. Here’s why collaboration works:
- Role Models Make a Difference: Students can’t be what they can’t see and are influenced by the people they see leading the way. By connecting students with educators and thought leaders who use their platforms for good, schools can inspire students to follow suit.
- Using Our Voices for Positive Change: As educators and school leaders, we can show students the power of using their voices to amplify positive messages and enact meaningful change.
- Empowering Students to Lead: When students are part of the conversation, they take ownership of their online habits and become role models for their peers.
By huddling up, schools create a culture where technology becomes a tool for growth and connection rather than a source of stress or harm. The challenges of integrating technology into schools are real, but so is the opportunity to lead positive change. By learning from thought leaders and collaborating with families and students, school leaders can create a healthier, stronger school culture that equips students for the future.
Interested in learning more about how The Social Institute can help your school empower students to navigate social media and tech positively? Request a demo of our peer-to-peer learning platform that uses a positive and proactive approach to empowering students to make high-character decisions as they navigate their well-being, social media, and technology.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.