Seniors at Coral Glades establish digital defenders to encourage internet safety in local schools

Coral Springs, Florida – A nonprofit organization called Digital Defenders was established by three Coral Glades High School seniors with the goal of teaching elementary school pupils the fundamentals of online safety and digital literacy.

According to Coral Springs Talk, the three founders of Digital Defenders, sisters Madisyn and Morgan Baker and Teshauni Thompson, who have lived in Coral Springs for a long time, were motivated to start the organization by their upbringing in a technologically advanced society. On October 21, they launched Digital Defenders at Westchester Elementary School.

Co-founder Madisyn Baker told Coral Springs Talk, “We were inspired to start Digital Defenders because we saw how essential digital literacy and internet safety are for kids, especially as they spend more time online.” They also said that their mission is to support other students in overcoming similar obstacles. “We felt we could make a difference by teaching these skills in an accessible way after witnessing some of the difficulties and dangers young students face on the internet.”

The curriculum of the program, which is designed for pupils in grades 3 through 5, emphasizes online privacy, recognizing cyberbullying, identifying reliable sources, and fundamental cybersecurity techniques.

According to the three, Digital Defenders employs Google’s “Be Internet Awesome” curriculum to provide kids the skills they need to use the internet safely and in an engaging way.

Madisyn stated, “We use games, role-playing scenarios, and real-life examples that connect with students’ daily experiences to make sure lessons are interactive and relatable.”

According to Madisyn, some Digital Defenders lessons put students in real-world situations to assist them make snap decisions.

“A’spot the scam’ challenge is one of our favorite things to do because it’s entertaining and promotes critical thinking.”

Digital Defenders works with educators to incorporate teachings into their regular curriculum in addition to their pre-planned lessons.

“We give parents advice on how to encourage safe online conduct at home,” Madisyn said. “Students are guaranteed to receive consistent messaging regarding online safety thanks to this collaborative approach.”

The program’s creators told Coral Springs Talk that while their aim is broad, it will be implemented gradually with the goal of eventually spreading to other nearby schools, such as Heron Heights, Country Hills, Coral Springs Elementary, Eagle Ridge, and Parkside Elementary.

“I envision Digital Defenders growing into aftercare programs in elementary schools throughout Broward County in the near future,” Madisyn said. “In the long run, I see us holding digital safety assemblies for the entire Broward County school system.”

According to the founders themselves, each has ambitious aspirations beyond Digital Defenders’ future. Madisyn Baker intends to study nursing at the University of Miami, Teshauni Thompson wants to major in marketing at the University of Central Florida, and Morgan Baker wants to study computer science at Duke University.

Follow the founders on Instagram at @digitaldefenderss and get in touch with them to get your school engaged with the Digital Defenders program.