New #WinAtSocial Program at St. Margaret’s Promotes Positive, High-Character Approach to Social Media

With the goal of empowering students to navigate social media and technology in positive, high-character ways, St. Margaret’s introduced #WinAtSocial this week, an educational program created by The Social Institute that students grades 5-12 will use throughout the school year.

St. Margaret’s has partnered with The Social Institute to provide positive, engaging social media and technology-use education to students. The Social Institute CEO Laura Tierney visited St. Margaret’s over two days this week to launch #WinAtSocial with St. Margaret’s students and share details of the curriculum with parents.  

Ms. Tierney led two lively, interactive assemblies to Upper School and Middle School students in Hurlbut Theater introducing #WinAtSocial, a gamified student-centered educational program. Students brought their device to the assembly and logged in to the #WinAtSocial program using a unique code. Displayed on the Hurlbut Theater screen, students could anonymously answer multiple-choice questions that address ways students socialize through technology and navigate common scenarios. The students then discussed the results as they are displayed in real time.

“This program is an engaging, insightful and thought-provoking way to promote a responsible, positive approach to social media and technology,” said Angela Mackenzie, St. Margaret’s director of library and digital literacy. “The feedback was very positive, and we are looking forward to continuing this education throughout the school year.”

The #WinAtSocial program is designed as a fun way to empower students to live up to The Social Institute’s Seven Social Standards, which touch on topics like protecting privacy, striking a balance, surrounding oneself with positive influences, supporting peers online, and using social-media platforms for good.

During the parent presentation, Ms. Tierney introduced The Social Institute’s Resource Portal, which educates parents, faculty and staff through best practices, insights and trends, and reinforces key takeaways from the students’ work in the #WinAtSocial program. Directions for signing up for Resource Portal access will be included in division emails.

St. Margaret’s students grades 5-12 will engage in social media education and conversation during advisory and class meetings six times this school year, with the curriculum customized by grade.