Yogyakarta, November 15, 2024 – The rapid advancement of the digital era presents various challenges for younger generations, particularly in navigating the vast amount of information circulating online. To address these challenges, the Directorate of Research and Community Service of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) organized an Online Resilience Strengthening program for selected representatives of 10th- to 12th-grade students of SMA Negeri 10 Yogyakarta. Held in the auditorium of SMA Negeri 10 Yogyakarta, the program aimed to equip students with a deeper understanding of digital security, information literacy, and effective strategies for navigating digital challenges with resilience and responsibility.

The program featured Prof. Dr. Siti Irene Astuti Dwiningrum, M.Si., as the main speaker, accompanied by university students, who provided insights into the importance of resilience in the digital environment. She explained that online resilience involves not only the ability to withstand challenges but also the skills to evaluate information critically, think analytically, and make appropriate decisions in various digital situations. Misinformation, cyberbullying, and personal data breaches were highlighted as key issues that students must be prepared to address to avoid the negative impacts of the digital world.

As part of the interactive approach, the program incorporated engaging learning methods to help students better understand the material. One of the methods used was Edugame, a digital educational game designed to train students to evaluate information accurately, understand internet ethics, and build awareness of cybersecurity in an engaging way. This method enabled students to actively participate in the learning process by applying concepts through digital simulations rather than only receiving theoretical explanations.

In addition to edugames, the program introduced the Play Card method, a role-playing activity that placed students in various digital challenge scenarios. Through role-playing, students were encouraged to think critically, communicate effectively, and make informed decisions when facing situations such as misinformation, cyberbullying, and online privacy threats.

Students demonstrated strong enthusiasm throughout the program by actively participating in discussions, exchanging ideas, and sharing their experiences in navigating digital challenges in their daily lives. Through this initiative, students are expected to gain a better understanding of digital risks and develop the skills needed to address them with greater confidence.

This Online Resilience Strengthening program not only served as a valuable learning opportunity for students but also provided insights for educators and academics to continue developing innovative approaches to strengthening digital literacy among students. As digital challenges continue to evolve, such educational initiatives are expected to play an important role in fostering a generation that is more informed, critical, and responsible in using digital technologies.