Promoting digital literacy for all: A school-based webinar initiative

This brief study describes a school-based digital literacy intervention designed to strengthen collaboration between families and educators during a structured digital transition. Grounded in the Common Sense Digital Citizenship Curriculum and informed by the Council of Europe’s Digital Citizenship Education Handbook (2022), the initiative consisted of a five-part webinar series addressing early digital exposure, first mobile phone use, social media habits, online gaming, and parental digital anxiety. The sessions, delivered by pediatricians with expertise in child development, combined evidence-based guidance with practical strategies and were accessible both live and asynchronously. An anonymous survey of the school community (n = 241) revealed that 11.2% of respondents attended at least one webinar, with high ratings for overall relevance (mean = 4.56/5) and applicability to family contexts (mean = 4.15/5). The highest impact was reported for sessions on online games, first mobile phone, and parental digital anxiety, reflecting priority concerns identified in previous research. Participation barriers, such as limited availability and a lack of awareness, mirrored patterns described in the literature on parental engagement. The results highlight the potential of concise, targeted, and accessible interventions to promote school–family partnerships in navigating children’s digital lives. This study provides design insights for scaling similar initiatives across various contexts, highlighting the value of thematic focus, hybrid delivery, and alignment with international digital competence frameworks.