Building a high school violence prevention app to educate and protect students

Abstract

The hostile learning environment and academic disruptions that result from high school violence underscore the need for prevention education. Technology can facilitate the dissemination of educational content, prevention tools, and resources to students. We describe the three-phase iterative process that engaged high school students, administrators and staff, and parents to develop and refine the school safety mobile application (app), uSafeHS^TM. During the three-phase development process focus groups and surveys were administered with students, school administrators and staff, and guardians at 13 high schools. Pilot data was collected from seven New England public and private high schools. Optimizing mobile app technology is a promising method of reaching high school students and delivering student support resources that are customizable by each school and safety tools not currently available for this population.

Keywords:

• School violence
• high school
• prevention
• mobile technology

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF PFI-TT 1919063).

Notes on contributors

Sharyn J. Potter

Sharyn J. Potter, PhD, MPH, is a Professor in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies and the Co-founder and Executive Director of the University of New Hampshire Prevention Innovations Research Center. Dr. Potter’s work focuses on engaging community members to reduce sexual and relationship violence, sexual harassment, and stalking in high schools, colleges, the United States Military, and other workplaces.

Elizabeth A. Moschella-Smith

Elizabeth A. Moschella-Smith, PhD, MA, is a Research Scientist at the University of New Hampshire Prevention Innovations Research Center. Dr. Moschella-Smith’s research focuses on outcomes of bystander intervention and factors that promote resiliency in the aftermath of trauma.

Michelle Lynch

Michelle Lynch, BS, is the Director of Technology, Product Development, and Marketing at the University of New Hampshire Prevention Innovations Research Center. Ms. Lynch’s work focuses on the definition and development of the uSafeUS and uSafeHS safety apps, as well as client communications with colleges and high schools.