On. Dec. 9, the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District hosted a work session for students from across Suffolk County who are involved in the Digital Generation class. 
Now entering its fifth year, the program uses a blended learning model to incorporate students from five high schools including Northport, Riverhead, Sayville, Westhampton Beach, Half Hollow Hills East and West. 
The students are split up into groups and, from September through January, work together using Google’s digital platforms to communicate and create a public service announcement, infographic and website debating opposing sides of an ethical dilemma. Topics include consumer privacy, ethics in college acceptance, public health threats and cyberbullying.
Following the workshop, Charles Parker, the public relations director for the Half Hollow Hills School District, offered the students several tips and tricks for strategic communication. First, he advised the students to create a plan, starting with a mission, followed by three goals that will help raise awareness of that mission. “If you’re doing something that doesn’t point back to your mission, you’re doing it wrong,” he said. 
The next step is to develop strategies for raising that awareness and the final step is tactics or action.
Additionally, he spoke about using social media to develop a personal brand and understanding digital footprints.  
The students will present their work at Stony Brook University on January 13 for a chance to win a trip to Google headquarters in New York City. 
The business elective is supported by Stony Brook University as well as Eastern Suffolk BOCES. Students who complete the course can earn a total of three college level credits towards a degree at Stony Brook University.