Digital Citizenship In The Classroom

Technology, more specifically the internet, is intertwined into every aspect of human life, whether we realize it or not. For this reason, I think digital citizenship should be a topic that is addressed throughout children’s education rather than subscribing to an “abstinence-only” (Jergenson, 2012) model that deprives students of information and education that is essential for functioning in the world.

When I was in elementary school, winter meant having the TV set to the local news channel or waiting for the landline phone to ring, in order to know if in fact our bus was running that day. Now, as a parent, I check Facebook to see if the administrative assistant for my kids’ school has posted about the buses. Even though she isn’t scheduled to work for another two hours, she always gives families a heads-up as soon as she can. In this mundane, real-life example, a number of the nine elements of digital citizenship are at play on both sides of the information exchange including etiquette, access, communication, literacy, health and wellness.  This connectivity to the digital world provides endless opportunities for students but also brings with it an array of challenges that can be addressed by incorporating technology into the classroom. It is our responsibility as educators to prepare students for RL by helping “students live one, integrated life, by inviting them to not only use their technology at school but also talk about it within the greater context of community and society” (Ohler, 2011). Sounds great! But how do we address these aspects of digital citizenship in the classroom?

Create a learning community that welcomes technology!

By utilizing “project-based, inquiry-oriented, and collaborative approaches” (Ohler, 2011) in the classroom, students are provided the opportunity to learn and practice digital citizenship skills as part of the learning process. For example, students have been tasked with planning a trip to a destination of their choice, within Canada. They are required to use a mixture of digital and non-digital resources when planning all aspects of their trip; travel, accommodations, food, excursions/activities, natural attractions. The students will then create a digital presentation of their trip to present to the class. Here is how the nine elements of digital citizenship come into play:

Digital Etiquette

• Polite and respectful communication with tourism offices, bloggers, influencers, etc. when asking for information or recommendations.
• Patience and understanding that even in a digital era, answers are not automatic.
• Asking creators to use their images.

Digital Access

• Discussing availability of technology and internet connectivity, and the importance of non-digital information being accessible.
• Making accommodations for students who are unable to, or need support in, working on the assignment outside of school time.

Digital Law

• Digital theft, citation, and plagiarism when it comes to utilizing photos and text in a presentation.

Digital Communication

• Discuss reviews left for accommodations, attractions, and restaurants. What are the repercussions of posts they make?
• The aspect of anonymity and how that can affect what people are willing to post online, as well as how this can lead to cyber-bullying of individuals.
• How does what you post, or your communication with people online, positively or negatively reflect you and your school?

Digital Literacy

• Finding and evaluating sources and information.
• Using online tools to share resources.
• What to do if they come across information that makes them uncomfortable.

Digital Commerce

• The benefits and risks of shopping/booking things online.
• Recognizing scams.
• Being able to recognize a secure (https) website.
• How does your search history affect the ads you see?

Digital Rights and Responsibilities

• What are the policies of the school that we must be aware of while utilizing online resources?
• What it means to be a good online citizen.

Digital Safety and Security

• How to protect themselves online when communicating with people.
• How to ask for help if they find themselves in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable or is unsafe.
• How to protect privacy online by not answering personal questions or giving out personal information.

Digital Health & Wellness

• Identifying when tech breaks are required for physical and mental health.
• Understanding the importance of a balanced lifestyle when it comes to technology. Utilizing digital and non-digital resources.

Technology isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, if anything it will only become more a part of the lives of our students. Instead of fighting the never-ending battle of trying to keep it out of the classroom, I want to embrace it and teach my students how to utilize it safely and responsibly, while positively contributing to their lives and the global online community.

 

References

Ohler, J. (2011). Character education for the digital age. ASCD.

https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/character-education-for-the-digital-age

Jurgenson, N. (2012). The IRL fetish. The New Inquiry.

https://thenewinquiry.com/the-irl-fetish/