The Hebrew Academy shul transformed into a hub of interactive learning as Dr. Eli Shapiro, Ed.D, LCSW, the creator and director of The Digital Citizenship Project, posed a seemingly simple task to our upper school students through a live Zoom connection—fold one piece of paper neatly and intentionally and take another and crumple it.
As the two contrasting papers lay before them, Dr. Shapiro spoke about the importance of digital behavior and how impulsivity and disinhibition can negatively affect our digital interactions. Dr. Shapiro had the students read about the Harvard acceptance that was rescinded to at least ten prospective members of the Class of 2021 after the students traded inappropriate memes and messages that targeted minority groups in a private Facebook group chat.
Dr. Shapiro challenged the Hebrew Academy Upper School students through a lively discussion to consider different stances regarding Harvard’s decision, fostering a dialogue illuminating the weight of their digital footprints. The conversation was more than understanding the consequences of online actions; it was a broader contemplation on the interplay between momentary lapses in judgment and their long-lasting impact.
Concluding the session, Dr. Shapiro invited the students to unfold the crumpled papers alongside the intentionally folded ones. The stark contrast between them visually underscored the day’s message: our digital acts are enduring, much like the folds and creases on paper.
This engaging session with Dr. Shapiro emphasized the Hebrew Academy's commitment to providing education beyond textbooks, equipping students with the wisdom to act judiciously in both the virtual and real world. Here, we are committed to shaping individuals with the moral fortitude to lead with kindness, empathy, and responsibility.