This is an example of an branching scenario for my eLearning and Design course at PSU. In this situation, participants will help make the correct decisions in helping a mother through a cyber bullying citation.

1. Welcome to this course on Cyberbullying
prevention. I’m Pam, your guide and helper. You
have four parents who could use your guidance on
responding actively to the challenges of keeping
their children safe online.
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2. Madeline
Choose a photo
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3. Complicated
Conversations
Start
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4. Pam
Your Guide
What if your child’s friend was being
cyberbullied, and your child was a witness?
While silencing her son Matthew’s phone,
Madeline discovers a concerning message
about his friend.
Help Matthew and Madeline work through
their charged emotions and figure out what
to do when Matthew is a bystander to
cyberbullying.
In this scenario, you will learn about:
• Being an active bystander
• The importance of monitoring
• Digital citizenship
Madeline
Frustrated Mom
Scenario Introduction
Matthew
Teen Son
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5. Madeline’s Story
“Mathew, I told you to turn
off your phone while you are
studying.”
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6. What should Madeline do next?
Madeline’s Story
Should Madeline call Matthew down stairs?
Unlock Matthew’s phone and read the rest of the message?
Or just throw the phone out the window?
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7. Madeline’s Story
“Mom, I heard my
phone ring. Sorry
that I forgot to put
it on silent.”
“Hey! What are you
doing? That’s MY
phone!”
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8. What should Madeline say to
Matthew?
Madeline’s Story
I just saw something unexpected on your phone,
can we talk about it?
These texts make me think you don’t deserve a cell phone!
I think you need to delete these texts from your phone.
“Matthew, can you come
down stairs for a moment?”
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9. Madeline’s Story
“Hey, why are you
checking my
phone?”
“Your phone was buzzing like
crazy. I went to turn it off and
saw what was on the screen.
Can you tell me more about
these messages?”
“I don’t know,
Mom. I guess
some of the guys
are messing
around.”
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10. Madeline’s Story
“Your not on trial, honey. Remember when
we got your cell phone, we agreed that I
would check it every so often. What can you
tell me about this text?”
“Some of my friends
are talking about this
Emo kid who dresses
like a Goth. I don’t
write back, but I have
seen the posts.”
“Do you know this is
bullying? Let’s talk more
about this.”
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11. Madeline’s Story
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12. ThatMay Have Gone Better…
You have a right and a responsibility as a parent to check in on your child’s online interactions, but be
mindful that your child’s privacy is important as well. Matthew felt that his privacy has been violated,
and will be too upset to talk to.

13. Take That Technology!
No need to be tech-savvy to talk about cyber bullying.
Teach by example, and be a good digital citizen yourself. There are other ways to deal with this,
hang in there!

14. Good Work!
By not accusing Matthew right off from the start about the messages on his phone, you have opened
the door for Madeline to start to have an open and honest conversation about cyberbullying.
Now Madeline can find more information on Matthew’s role in the text message.
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15. Whoa!
It can be very frustrating to find messages or images on a child’s phone that seem inappropriate.
Keep in mind that online conversations are very easy to misunderstand when you don’t know the
context or understand the way teens communicate online.
I know it can be hard, but try to keep calm and give your child a chance to respond. Your child may be
just as confused as you are.

16. Wait!
I know you want to keep Matthew safe from this situation.
Nonetheless, when witnesses of bullying keep quite, the cyber-bullying can continue and even get
worse. Ignoring or doing nothing can be the worst choice to make.
Let’s keep the conversation going.

17. Wrap-Up
In this scenario, Matthew was a bystander to
a cyberbullying situation. Madeline can use
this as a talking point with Matthew to help
him understand that even if he wasn’t being a
bully himself, he was apart of the process.
A large number of young people may
involuntarily become bystanders to
cyberbullying through online social networks,
and it’s important to start the conversation
that they need to speak up and report to stop
cyberbullying.
Digital citizenship is a solution to
cyberbullying. It is a set of standards for
appropriate, responsible online behavior that
can serve as guidelines for young people, and
for the adults who are helping them to stay
safe.
Scenario Conclusion
Exit Scenario