TESTIMONIALS
“The workshop Rob Greenfield led with the NSHS History Department on media literacy had both an immediate and lasting positive impact. Rob not only helped us understand the scope of the misinformation problem but also equipped us with concrete tools to teach students how to recognize and evaluate false or misleading information. Many teachers continue to use strategies he introduced, such as lateral reading, in their classes. Most importantly, Rob prompted us to think and talk about an essential skill we hadn’t previously addressed directly in our curriculum. Finally, he is an outstanding presenter: engaging, clear, and genuinely funny, which made the session both enjoyable and memorable.”
Jennifer Morrill, Principal of Mass. Academy of Math & Science"I'm happy to recommend Rob’s Digital Media Literacy Curriculum, developed by an educator I’ve had the pleasure of working with at conferences over the years. I've seen how Rob’s approach engages students in understanding both the opportunities and challenges of today’s digital landscape, helping them think critically about the media they consume and create. His work empowers young people to become responsible, informed, and thoughtful digital citizens—a skill set that’s never been more essential."
Ted McCarthy, Sutton Principal and Connections Conference Organizer“The mission of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC) is to foster respect and civility among member schools, athletic administrators, coaches, and student athletes by promoting awareness and acceptance. We want to help schools create inclusive school communities where all students feel respected, included, and appreciated.
Since 2016, we have annually hosted eight youth summits at the College of Holy Cross to engage our students in this vision. We usually have 300 plus student and adult chaperones from approximately sixty schools across the Commonwealth. During this time, we have had some great and outstanding presenters in the social justice arena.
The last three years we have been very fortunate to have Rob Greenfield conduct his workshop on “Social Media and Social Justice.” Each year our evaluation process has revealed that his workshop on “Social Media and Social Justice” to be our most highly rated presentation. Based on the feedback, both adults and students have been enriched by Rob’s workshop, both adults and students have been enriched by Rob’s workshop, and it continues to be a top attraction year after year.
After last year’s Summit one attendee remarked, “This workshop was very informative and going forward will definitely impact how I engage on social media in a more positive way.”
We are eternally grateful to have Rob Greenfield as a partner in our efforts to make the world a better place for our young people.”
Mike Rubin, MIAA/MSAA Assistant Director“Rob's presentation on social media use was timely and exactly what was needed to help students understand the impact social media has on their lives. He delivered the content in a way that was relatable and grounded in real examples that resonated with our students. His ability to balance research-based information with practical strategies made the presentation not only informative but also practical and useful. Students walked away with a clearer awareness of how their online behaviors shape their well-being, relationships, and future opportunities.”
Marc Banks, Dean of Students, Newton South High School“Rob visited Gann Academy in the fall of 2024 to lead a professional development presentation and discussion for our entire faculty. At the time, Gann was experimenting with strategies to limit phone use among our student body, while formulating a long-term approach. Rob partnered with the administration to plan a multifaceted session that would support our interlocking goals of inviting reflection and input from the faculty, sharing the latest thinking and research on the challenges of devices in schools and the various possible policy approaches, and guiding faculty in thinking about next steps. It's always challenging as an outside educator to come in and lead a PD session at a new institution, and especially so in this case when the goals of the session were so layered. Rob handled this role expertly, using his empathy, humor, and expertise to connect with faculty, empower them to contribute to the discussion, and support their growth as educators. Rob's skills in both the affective and cognitive realms of teacher education are considerable; I highly recommend Rob as a resource for professional development for schools.”
Dr. Marion Menzin, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning at Gann Academy“Thank you for designing and leading us in a much-needed conversation at Thrive 25 about the promises and pitfalls of Generative A.I. The workshop highlighted the need to move beyond simple policy creation and engage in deeper, critical thinking — the kind of thinking we ask for and want from our students. ( And, the kind of thinking we hope to safeguard as human beings.)
Your session brought educators together to explore the widespread impact of A.I. not only on our cognition (‘the ability to think, reason, and understand’) but also on crucial issues like privacy and the environment. You expertly guided our conversation to acknowledge A.I. as both a useful, groundbreaking tool and an area requiring careful critique. You continue to ask informed, nuanced, and productive questions that we need to address in our classes, in our schools, and across our district. Thank you for your continued leadership and a thought-provoking workshop!”
Melissa Dilworth, English Department Chair, Newton North High School“The past two years at Thrive I have taken classes by Rob Greenfield around digital literacy skills that our students need to know. In 2024 it was around the spread of disinformation via social media apps like TikTok. As someone who uses social media quite often, and considered myself to be knowledgeable about it, some of the things he showed us were very eye opening and things all consumers of digital media (especially our students) need to know. This year I attended his class on AI, which probably could have been a whole day presentation. He just scratched the surface with us around some of the ethical issues surrounding AI. It seems as we are moving towards a time when AI will have a constant effect on our lives and I believe we all should be learning more about both the positive and negative impacts of AI, especially those concerning the social emotional learning of our students. I believe it is imperative that more educators are learning and teaching students (and their parents) about digital literacy skills. It cannot just be coming from select teachers . . .
“I will sign up for anything he teaches. The information was helpful, albeit super creepy but his teaching is so engaging. I think this information will be helpful for all teachers as we think about students SEL moving forward with a future of engaging chatbots, etc. I also think it is interesting/helpful to hear about the various ethical dilemmas being brought about now from AI. After Rob’s session I think I would be somewhat more comfortable talking with middle school students (esp 8th) about some ethics around AI.”
Jamie Lightfoot, Library Teacher, Newton South High School“In my three years working closely with Rob Greenfield as a colleague at NNHS, he has been a tremendous resource about how digital media influence our critical thinking skills, our social and personal lives, and our classrooms and schools. Rob has led informative, highly engaging lessons on digital media with my sophomore and junior classes. I have also attended, and learned a great deal from, professional development sessions that Rob has led on Artificial Intelligence. He possesses deep knowledge on all of these topics and designs thoughtful, provocative, informative lessons to help staff and students alike navigate the current digital world. I deeply value Rob's contributions to my own understanding of these topics. I can't recommend him highly enough!”
Will Marinell, NNHS English“Taking the AI PD at Thrive with Rob Greenfield was by far the best use of my time that day. I have felt many different ways about AI use. I have fluctuated from being very against it to incorporating it into my professional practice to it being the bane of my existence as an English teacher. As a result of the workshop, I have a greater sense of agency and I have changed my own practice around the use of AI. This is a necessary tool for all educators to best arm their own students with practical knowledge to foster their own critical thinking and decision making in using AI.”
Pam Pistiner, Newton North English Teacher“I had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Greenfield into my Data Science class several times to discuss the intersections of my curriculum and his work with Digital Media and Literacy. Specifically, I asked Mr. Greenfield to engage my students in a conversation about Artificial Intelligence tools, and he gave an in-depth, engaging, and fruitful lesson that challenged students to think about and discuss the historical and cultural context of Artificial Intelligence. He provided many avenues for students to think about the current moment in tech and how it applies to their everyday lives, and he framed the conversation in helpful, student-friendly ways. Mr. Greenfield's expertise as both an educator and an expert in digital literacy allowed him to use a variety of engagement strategies with students - guessing games, discussion questions, turn-and-talks, etc. He provided a meaningful experience that enriched my course, and I am excited to keep working with him in the future.”
Ethan Peritz, NNHS Math“Rob spoke to my classes about the addictive nature of smart-phones. His lesson was engaging and for many students eye-opening. Rob's workshop allowed students to discuss the science around the appeal of smartphones. He started a dialogue about how to take appropriate and necessary breaks from the technology that exists, in real time, in their hands. Rob's approach is not lecture based; instead, he offers students the information and a space to explore and talk. As such, these high school students did not feel shame and they were eager to learn. After Rob left, they continued to be chatty about the workshop and even applied it to some of the Transcendental ideas/ideals.
Rob's work around educating students and adults about social media and smartphones is timely and essential. I have participated in workshops around the over-use of smartphones and examining how information can be misconstrued on social media platforms. Something that Rob has forced me as an educator and my students to do is to reflect on our consumption. His work has asked us to question what we are reading, has encouraged us to be critical of our own use of technology, and has given us the tools to be smarter users of it all.”
Anna George, NNHS English“During my 10th grade unit on The Bluest Eye last year, Rob Greenfield visited my class and led an engaging lesson about the impact of social media on teen mental health. We'd been discussing societal beauty standards and internalized comparison in the novel and Rob helped students see how these topics show up in their digital lives. Rob encouraged students to reflect on why they go on social media and how it makes them feel, and he also offered tips for building healthier habits. Students asked thoughtful questions and many commented how they had never really thought about the design of social media platforms before the session. I would highly recommend Rob's work to anyone looking to build digital literacy and support students’ mental well-being.”
Caroline Tocci, English Teacher, Newton North High School"In an effort to make my curriculum more current and relevant for my AP Language & Composition students, I invited Rob Greenfield in to lead a unit on Digital Media and the News. After the two of us discussed and planned the objectives of the mini-unit, Rob began with a thoughtful, informative, and relevant lecture that engaged students while also providing them the general background information needed for them to proceed. In groups, students chose specific, nuanced topics that interested them the most. They took the ideas from the lecture and dug further into the topic, learning how to conduct effective research, evaluate various types of sources for credibility, and synthesize information to support their own original argument. For the final product, each group created an Infographic using Canva that was then displayed in the hallway for all students to learn from. Throughout this unit, students were engaged and thoughtful in their work. Many students had their eyes opened to the role digital media plays in their lives and subsequently changed some of their behaviors as a result."
Derek Knapp, NNHS English