I enrolled for this course (EC&I 832) with some experience in technology, but I had never considered how my use of technology relates to fostering digital citizenship and literacy among students. Learning in this course has been an incredible experience, starting with insightful presentations by various guest speakers and engaging discussions with colleagues. While some guest presentations were challenging to grasp initially, just because I could not figure my head around the discussion, I was able to focus on the concepts that resonated with me.

I really enjoyed the dynamic interaction, collaborative discussions, and moments of conceptual clarity. The interaction around the actual meaning of literacy was something I had to think over and over to help me contextualize the word.

Anyway, all that was discussed in this course made me realize that we live in a world where technology shapes every aspect of our lives, yet many people remain unaware of how it works (looking at issues around deep fakes, our digital footprint, and how we lead with the use of technology). This highlights the urgent need for education that empowers individuals, including our students, to become informed citizens who are aware of their rights and responsibilities not just in society but also in the digital space. For students to navigate this evolving landscape of technology, the role of educators becomes very essential in fostering responsible digital citizenship (one of my takeaways is how to achieve this using Ribble’s elements of digital citizenship). Exploring how schools and other education stakeholders can adapt to these changes could unveil fascinating insights into preparing students for the future. Here is a summary of my learning.

This has been an incredible journey, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to Dean Shareski for sharing his knowledge, time, and network with us.