PSA Challenge

The Digital Citizenship PSA Challenge is always open!

Students are warmly invited to share their ideas for promoting positive digital citizenship by creating a short (90 seconds or less) PSA, using any type of visual digital storytelling tools and techniques (e.g., movie-making programs, Minecraft, stop-motion animation, claymation, etc.). We will be proud to feature any student-created PSA video that meets our guidelines. For full guidance, view this Rules and Guidelines documentbefore you start creating your video.

Important reminders before submitting video entries:

• Please avoid any graphic scenes of cutting or suicide attempts out of respect for the mixed audience (from elementary school children to parents to school board members etc) who visit Digital ID from all over the world.
• The “30-second rule” of using copyrighted music is not a legally valid justification to use music that is not licensed for reuse. Students can either go through the process of presenting a case for fair use for copyrighted music (refer to our Boundaries page for resources) or - easier yet - select music that is licensed for reuse through Creative Commons (see our Music section).

PSA Guidelines

(Up to) 90-Second Video Contribution

Tell us/show us, as a (digital) citizen, how you exercise your rights and act responsibly by submitting a Public Service Announcement (PSA).

Teachers may submit up to 3 student-generated entries, plus 1 teacher/student collaborative entry. The rules are simple:

• PSA must address authentic issues relevant to digital citizenship (cyberbullying, intellectual property, digital footprint, protecting privacy)
• PSA must be appropriate for a mixed audience (from grade level to school board)
• PSA must follow appropriate copyright guidelines - including creating an argument for fair use, if appropriate
• PSA must stay within 90-second limit (not including credits)
• Credits must follow naming protocol: elementary = first name only; middle school = first name + last initial; high school = option of first name + last name

To help you in planning an award-winning PSA, check out our PSA General Guidelines and Forms . This document includes the following:

• Teacher Guidelines (for online submission of student PSAs)
• Student Checklist for Submitting the PSA (this should be both the first and the final step in creating a PSA that meets the Digital ID requirements).
• Sources and Citations
• Scoring Guidelines (Judge’s Rubric)
• Release Form for All Video Participants (no video can be accepted without the sponsoring teacher having these forms on file)

Important reminders before submitting video entries:

• Please avoid any graphic scenes of cutting or suicide attempts out of respect for the mixed audience (from elementary school children to parents to school board members etc) who visit Digital ID from all over the world.
• The “30-second rule” of using copyrighted music is not a legally valid justification to use music that is not licensed for reuse. Students can either go through the process of presenting a case for fair use for copyrighted music (refer to our Boundaries page for resources) or - easier yet - select music that is licensed for reuse through Creative Commons (see our Music section - or even better - create their own music).

PSA Challenge Toolkit

• Student Templates for Building Copyright Compliant PSAs
  • Video Production Tools - Super useful templates from Jim Bentley. Be sure to check out the Storyboard templateShot List FormFilm Log3rd Party Images Inventory
  • Keeping Track of Your Sources-From Dana La Chapelle
  • Credits Must Contain... - From Dana La Chapelle, for adding credits to your video projects. Also check out the Sample Credits
  • Fair Use Reasoning Form - PDF - From Kristen Hokanson
  • Fair Use Reasoning Form - Google Doc - Also from Kristen Hokanson

• Free (mostly) Video Programs
  • MovieMaker2 - For PCs. Checkout a few tutorials: Movie Maker Tutorial(YouTube) and Tips for UsingWindows Movie Maker(short but complete intro - PDF)
  • MovieMaker Live - For Windows 7
  • Getting Started with iMovie - From Apple Support for iMovie 8
  • WeVideo - Cloud-based program that allows for collaborations
  • Instagram or Vine - Free apps with lots of possibilities for PSA creations
  • 14 Video Editing Apps for Smartphones - Not free, but very reasonably priced
  • iPhoneography Tips - Nicole Dalesio looks at the art of taking pictures on your phone

• Animation Programs
  • GoAnimate - Allows you to create videos quickly, easily, and without any video equipment.
  • PhotoStory3 - Combine student-created images, narration, and copyright-free music. Files can be uploaded to YouTube or other video hosting sites. Windows only.
  • Prezi - Build a PSA with images, text, and/or video - and even add narration. Free and works on PCs, Chromebooks, or Macs.
  • PowToon - Very cool graphics, lots of animation options, easy upload into YouTube - all available with free version.

• Music
  • UJam- Web-based free application for creating your own voice-activated music (for PCs and Macs) - Here's a great video tutorial to give you an idea of the amazing music anyone can create using UJam.
  • Moby Gratis- If you're a Moby fan, you'll appreciate having permission to use some of his lesser known tunes.
  • Kevin Macleod - Great movie music that’s easily searchable by mood and style.
  • Archive.org - Search for music that's in the public domain.
  • ccMixter - Be sure to check for 'Free for Commercial Use' licensing option from the drop down menu in the top right hand corner.
  • SoundCloud - This link takes you to SoundCloud's selection of music licensed through Creative Commons.
  • YouTube Audio Library - YouTube actually has a great selection of music that is free and licensed for reuse. Be sure to cite in your credits that you've selected music from YouTube free collection.

• Images
  • Search Creative Commons - Great search engine for finding Creative Commons licensed images and more.
  • Google - Be sure to search for Creative Commons licensed images. Google has simplified the process.
  • Flickr - Just like Google, Flickr has simplified the process for finding Creative Commons licensed images. Add your search term to the query box and a second toolbar will open with a License drop-down menu to select from.
  • FlickrStorm - FlickrStorm is a third-party Flickr search tool that provides some new ways to search and collect photographs from Flickr. The Add to Tray option allows you easy access to your photos, including the Creative Commons licensing.
  • Compfight - Another great site for Creative Commons images.
  • MorgueFile- No need to ask permission for using photos from this site.
  • Pics4Learning - Huge selection!
  • Joyce Valenza - From high school librarian extraordinaire.
  • Wikimedia Commons - a database of 21,555,145 freely usable media files to which anyone can contribute
  • Photos for Class - Citing Creative Commons licensed images from Flickr's collection just got even easier. Selected images come in complete with Creative Commons licensing.

• Citation Resources
  • BibMe - BibMe is an automated citation creator and bibliography generator that can save you loads of time building and formatting your references. Here's a 90-second video introduction to show you how simple BibMe makes it to cite your sources.
  • Easybib - Online site that provides automatic works cited and bibliography formatting for MLA, APA and Chicago/Turabian citation styles.
  • You Quote It, You Note It - Interactive slideshow on how to avoid plagiarism.
  • A Quick Guide to Plagiarism:

A note about copyright: although we always encourage our students to create their own graphics and music when possible, or to draw from work that is licensed for Creative Commons reuse, we also have learned not to underestimate the power of asking original creators permission to use their work. Recently, a team of students from Salinas created a PSA and found music on YouTube that was just "perfect" for their message. However, the music was posted under a Standard Youtube License, not a Creative Commons one, so they wrote to the composer asking for permission and received a very gracious "yes" from him within 3 hours. That's a great lesson in honoring intellectual property rights!

We also recognize the importance of allowing students to flex their fair use muscles. We therefore now allow students to present a case for fair use if that perfect image, video clip, or music is copyrighted and they have not been able to obtain permission from the copyright holder. (For more information on fair use, visit our Boundaries page.)

PSA Challenge Red Carpet Archives

2016 PSA Challenge Winners

Congratulations to our 2016 PSA Challenge Winners and Honorable Mentions! What a privilege to receive and review the wonderful range of student-created PSAs! After you check out this year's Winners and Honorable Mentions, be sure to scroll down and check out our Creative Commons + EdPuzzle Challenge!

Elementary School

Winners:

• Copyright & Creative Commons - Focus 3: Respecting Intellectual Property - Jim Bentley and his entire class of amazing 5th graders. Foulks Ranch Elementary School, Elk Grove, California, USA. Note: The judges felt this submission merited a new category in our annual PSA Challenge: Teacher-Student Collaborations (without 90-second time restriction).

Honorable Mentions:

• THINK Before You Post - Focus 2: Maintaining a Positive Digital Footprint - Ecem and Marisca, American School of The Hague, Netherlands, EU. A cheerleader approach to putting digital citizenship skills into practice.

Middle School

Winners:

• Log Out - Focus 4: Protecting Online Privacy - Zach M. - Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, Palo Alto, California, USA. An important reminder to all ages!

High School

Winners:

• Digital Citizenship & Safety - Focus 2: Maintaining a Positive Digital Footprint - Danielle Walpole and Emma Schulze, Westlake High School, Thornburg, New York, USA. School news broadcast on importance of protecting your privacy while building and maintaining a positive online reputation/digital footprint.
• Geotagging Safety - Focus 4: Protecting Online Privacy - Westlake High School, Thornburg, New York, USA. This school news broadcast includes demo on how to turn geotagging feature off on your cell phone.

Honorable Mentions:

• Intellectual Property - Focus 3: Respecting Intellectual Property - Nicholas Colabatistto and Spencer Knowles, Westlake High School, Thornburg, New York, USA. Newscast offers a quick guide to protecting your creations, including restrictions on copying trademarks.

Thank you to all who submitted to our 2016 PSA Challenge. We hope to see you back for the 2017 Challenge.

2015 PSA Winners Red Carpet

Congratulations to our 2015 PSA Winners and Honorable Mentions!

Thank you to all who submitted student entries.

Elementary School

Coming soon! A teacher - class collaborative video to help students (and their teachers) better navigate intellectual property boundaries (Focus 3)

Middle School

Winners:

• The Hack - Focus 4: Protecting Online Privacy - Kiran K. JL Stanford Middle School, Palo Alto, CA, USA

High School

Winners:

• Cyberbullying (animation) - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Fei Ping Zhao. Boston Latin Academy, Boston, MA, USA
• Harsh Words - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Luis Marquez, Melissa Rios, Danny Montenegro, Armando Enriquez. Alisal High School, Salinas, CA, USA
• Bullying - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Spencer Harris, Destiny Waddy, & Ashley Jarvis. Gaston Early College High School, Dallas, NC, USA

Honorable Mention:

• Why Can’t We Be Friends? - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Elijah Farrington, Brianna Goodson, & Julia Vasquez. Gaston Early College High School, Dallas, NC, USA

2014 PSA Winners Red Carpet

Congratulations to our 2014 PSA Winners and Honorable Mentions!

Thank you to all who submitted student entries. A special thanks to our judging panel, including students at Alisal High School in Salinas, California.

Elementary School

• The Internet Was Created for Good - Focus 2: Building a Positive Digital Footprint - Dryden Fugleflick Filmmakers combine great effects with an important message. Dryden Elementary School, Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA
• It Can Wait - Parent Focus - Kristiana's potentially life-saving message is for students to share with parents and older siblings. Cosumnes River Elementary School, Sloughhouse, California, USA
• Paper Bully - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Matthew and Gore use a paper metaphor to address bullying, face-to-face or online. Elitha Donner Elementary School, Elk Grove, California, USA

Middle School

Winners:

• Your Negative Digital Footprint Could Close Doors - Focus 2: Building a Positive Digital Footprint - Kayla M. Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
• It Only Makes It Worse - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Olivia H. Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
• It Hurts - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Alex C. Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

Honorable Mention:

• Bullying Is Not Good - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Chelsea Adams and Kyra Blake. Hawkesdale P12 College, Hawkesdale, Victoria, Australia

High School

Winners:

• Don't Click the Ad - Focus 4: Protecting Online Privacy - Ellie Haugen. IFP Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
• Computer and Online Privacy - Focus 4: Protecting Online Privacy - Ruby Fuss, Kaylee Beard, Elektra Scholtz Talbot. Hawkesdale P12 College, Hawkesdale, Victoria, Australia
• Build You Up - Focus 1: Stepping Up - Paiton Demps, Elena Caraveo, Anthony Canady, Elk Grove High School, Elk Grove, California, USA

Honorable Mention:

• They See Everything - Focus 2: Building a Positive Online Footprint - Joe Pasqual, Justin Phanthavong, Jovan Sandoval. Elk Grove High School, Elk Grove, California, USA

2013 PSA Winners Red Carpet

CONGRATULATIONS! Here are the winners of our 2013 PSA Challenge:

• Elementary School
  • Don't Be Phish Bait!- Focus 4 (Protecting Online Privacy) - By Haley, Erica, Emily, Dylan, Cody, Lisa, Spencer Smith, Anisah, Ethan & Kimmera
  • Watch Your Digital Step- Focus 2 (Building Identities) - Jared, Christian, Danville, Zerin, Drew, Maile, Emma, Walter, Eliyas, Tyler & Brian
  • Know Your Boundaries- Focus 3 (Boundaries) - By Saul, Ben, Joe, Ian, Billy & Drew
• Middle School
  • How to Be an Upstander- Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Shelby & Evelyne
  • Don't Be Mean Behind the Screen - Focus 1 (Stepping Up - By Jorge R. & team (Stephanie R, Rosa C, Haide G)
  • Upstander Debate - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Vince & David
• High School
  • Take Your Internet Privacy Seriously- Focus 4 (Online Privacy) - By Spencer Kallsen
  • Think B4 U Type- Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Jimmy Morrissey
  • That's What Bullying Feels Like - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Mariel Mercado

CONGRATULATIONS! Here are the winners of our 1st annual competition:

• Elementary School
  • The Art Thief? - Focus 3 (Respecting Boundaries) - By Shelby & team - Special recognition for teacher~student collaboration
  • Wanted - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Antone & team
  • Cyberbullying - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Alyson & team
  • Caught - Focus 3 (Respecting Boundaries) - By Alexis & team
• Middle School
  • Bullying Stops with You! - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Orlando & team
  • Don't Walk Away - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Ray & team
  • Step on Bullying - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Jarely & team
• High School
  • Never Alone - Focus 4 (Protecting Online Privacy) - By Jeremy Columbel & Jared Landerman
  • Cyberbullying: Think Before You Type - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Meg Hamrick & Tyler Church
  • Cyberbullying: Unseen Consequences - Focus 1 (Stepping Up) - By Colin Medina and Kimberly Xiong

Don't be a YouTube Troll Focus 1 (Stepping Up) + Focus 2 (Building Identities) is a teacher/student collaboration PSA designed to help students "think before they post."

Teacher Notes

The Using PSA Creation as an Accountability and Reconciliation Tool handout provides a way to use PSAs to help students (grades 4-12) learn the consequences of their inappropriate use of technology that goes beyond punitively taking away their access.

Lessons Learned PSA features 6 student actors telling about real events in which students used technology inappropriately, but learned from the experience. Sharing these stories provides a way to help students (Gr 4-12) recognize the consequences of their poor choices in an empowering, not punitive way. It is our hope that viewers can benefit from listening to their "Lessons Learned."

Celebrate your students’ creativity and developing digital identities by hosting a school-wide Film Festival / Family Night. Here's our How To Launch Your School's First Annual Film Festival Guide.

, along with a variety of resources to use to launch your "First Annual" showcase for your students PSAs. Double the impact by involving parents to join in this important conversation in an evening of information and celebration.

Students teaching students is a powerful tool. Harness it for your school!

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact us at digital.ido@gmail.com