Approaching Digital Citizenship in the Classroom (By Standards) 

Our world is changing, and education must do the same for the sake of our students. One quote on my blog that reminds me of this states “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time”. –Rabindranath Tagore. 

Digital citizenship is not just about using technology, it’s about using it responsibly, ethically, and effectively. The Saskatchewan government outlines nine key areas of digital citizenship, each of which can be taught in age-appropriate ways to ensure students develop strong digital habits from an early age.

Teaching the Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship

Saskatchewan Government Teaching Standards:

• Digital Etiquette (Online behavior): Young students can learn about kindness in online interactions through simple role-playing games. Older students can discuss real-world examples of online conflicts and how to respond appropriately.

• Digital Law (Understanding online responsibility): Elementary students can explore rules about sharing images and content, while older students can learn about plagiarism, copyright, and cyber laws.

• Digital Access (Ensuring technology is available for all): Younger students can discuss why internet access matters, while older students can examine digital equity issues and potential solutions.

• Digital Communication (Using technology to exchange information): Primary students can practice writing polite emails, while older students can explore different modes of digital communication, including blogs and discussion boards.

• Digital Literacy (Knowing how and when to use technology): Early learners can focus on identifying reliable sources, while older students can be introduced to media bias, misinformation, and fact-checking.

• Digital Commerce (Buying and selling online): Younger students can discuss online ads and in-game purchases (this is especially important now with our students of young ages playing games like Roblox which need in-app purchases for unlocking new game aspects), while older students can analyze online shopping security and ethical consumerism.

• Digital Rights & Responsibilities (Online freedoms and expectations): Elementary students can explore the concept of responsible sharing, while middle and high school students can debate digital privacy and freedom of speech- but they should also brush up on what is appropriate to send and share online. 

• Digital Safety & Security (Protecting personal information): Young students can learn about strong passwords and online privacy, while older students can discuss cyber threats and data protection.

• Digital Health & Wellness (Balancing screen time and well-being): Early learners can discuss taking breaks from screens, while older students can analyze the mental effects of social media.

Making Digital Citizenship a Priority

Incorporating digital citizenship into classroom activities is essential. Schools need policies that reflect the specific needs of our students. Engaging students, parents, and teachers in these conversations about the digital world and digital citizenship will help us work as a team to collaborate and keep our students safe online. 

Technology has changed the way we learn and interact. Students are no longer limited to their physical classrooms; they are part of global networks. Our role as educators is to ensure that they have the skills to safely and critically navigate the digital world. By integrating digital citizenship into education, we empower students to be responsible, ethical, and informed members of the online community.

As Dr. Mike Ribble puts it, “Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool, it is a way to prepare students for a society full of technology.”