Top 5 Teaching Best Practices - Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship

Written By: Amber Gerrits

Biography research projects, animal adaptations research papers, interactive, research-based math activities. Research, research, research. As students progress through school, they will also continuously be researching more and more, and they will be independent in their online work. On top of that, students moving on to middle and high school will begin to cultivate their own social presence online. They will be trusted with seemingly unimportant passwords, usernames, and personal information. Students not only need to be literate in reading and math, but they also need to be aware and alert when using the internet. This is where schools come in with digital citizenship education.

What is Digital Citizenship?

Digital CItizenship mirrors traditional citizenship as it encompasses the rights and responsibilities of those living in a society. It also must encompass qualities required for citizens to use digital tools and behave in various digital environments. ISTE’s National Educational

Technology Standards (NETS) give us a starting point.The standards broadly cover social, ethical, and human issues:

1. Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology.

2. Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.

3. Students develop positive attitudes toward technology applications that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.

Basically, digital citizenship helps lay the foundation for students to interact with the internet in a positive and safe way. Students need to learn how to stay secure and use the internet as a helpful resource. One more list to help make digital citizenship and all its components clear is listed below:

1. Etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure

2. Communication: electronic exchange of information

3. Education: the process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology

4. Access: full electronic participation in society

5. Commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods

6. Responsibility: electronic responsibility for actions and deeds

7. Rights: those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world

8. Safety: physical well-being in a digital technology world

9. Security (self-protection): electronic precautions to guarantee safety

Why Prioritize Digital Citizenship?

As Mike Ribble writes in the ISTE blog, “Digital citizenship is more important than ever.” He goes on to explain that with all the changes that the pandemic has brought and that blended learning has to include, there remains importance in teaching students how to respect and protect themselves and others online. Students need to be cognisant of respecting one another when it comes to tech etiquette, understanding that some don’t have access to technology, and permission rules and the law. Students need to be aware about content and copyright restrictions. They also need to be mindful of folks that are on the other side of the screen and be empathetic.

Additionally, students need to be aware that the internet landscape is ever changing, and we need to continuously educate ourselves and others. Determining if a cite or a source is credible and understanding the bias that comes with it takes time. Knowing how to use technology to communicate needs to be explicitly taught and practiced. Finally, students must be educated about buying items online and protecting personal financial information.

Probably the most important facet of digital literacy is protecting yourself and others. This comes with understanding who you can trust online and acting/communicating responsibly. Students need to safeguard their security with the guidance and help of supervising adults. There also needs to be a balance of tech to life, outside to screen time, ect. In a fast-moving 21st century, we need to encourage our students with the tools and knowledge to keep them safe and empower them to be active citizens.

Implementation at Rockford Public Schools

At RPS, digital literacy is embedded into our media time and into regular classroom practice. Teachers that navigate Schoology, Google Docs, and countless sites spend time with students to regularly go over expectations and procedures when it comes to navigating and interacting with these sites.

One specific site that many staff utilize is called “Interland,” and it is a program that helps students learn all about digital safety and citizenship online. Modules are interactive, fun, and include the information that students need to know when they go online!