3A. Discussion
Cyberbullying. Plagiarism. Inappropriate sharing online. You likely have experienced one or more of these challenges with students. With the average 8-18 year old spending 7.5 hours per day with media--not including time spent texting or talking on a cell phone--digital citizenship is an important 21st Century Skill (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010; Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2011). Kids search, analyze, socialize, communicate, create, participate in online spaces. To them, media is like the air they breathe. An important part of being a Digital Educator is to help students avoid the pitfalls, and harness the possibilities, of digital media in their lives. It's about teaching students to create a culture of civility, respect, collaboration, and responsible participation in online spaces. In this module, you'll learn about how to teach students digital citizenship.
What is digital citizenship?
Let's see how several pioneers in the field have defined the term:
ISTE includes Digital Citizenship as a component of their ISTE-S (see #5) and ISTE-T (see #4). For students, the ISTE-S describe digital citizenship as the following:
For the sake of this course, the concept of digital literacy falls under the umbrella of digital citizenship. Although the lines are blurred in defining these two terms, digital literacy has more to do with information literacy skills around the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create messages with digital media. Media scholar Renee Hobbs refers to four areas of digital literacy: 1) Computer Skills and Access Issues; 2) Issues of Authorship; 3) Issues of Reputation; and 4) Online Social Responsibility. Being an informed media consumer and creator--essentially, being digitally literate--is an important aspect of digital citizenship.
Most schools are including digital citizenship (often framed as "Internet safety") as part of their Acceptable Use Policy, as part of the agreement in using technology at school.
Watch the two videos below, which provide an introduction to digital citizenship and some of the topics that fall under it.
- Digital citizenship refers to "the ability to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world. These 21st century skills are essential for students to harness the full potential of technology for learning." - Common Sense Media
- "Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers, technology leaders and parents to understand what students/young people/technology users should know to use technology appropriately. Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students/technology users for a society full of technology. Too often we are seeing students as well as adults misusing and abusing technology but not sure what to do. The issue is more than what the users do not know but what is considered appropriate technology usage." - Mike Ribble, DigitalCitizenship.org
- "Critical thinking and ethical choices about the content and impact on oneself, others, and one's community of what one sees, says, and produces." - Anne Collier, Connectsafely.org
ISTE includes Digital Citizenship as a component of their ISTE-S (see #5) and ISTE-T (see #4). For students, the ISTE-S describe digital citizenship as the following:
- "Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students: a) advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology; b) exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity; c) demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning; d) exhibit leadership for digital citizenship."
For the sake of this course, the concept of digital literacy falls under the umbrella of digital citizenship. Although the lines are blurred in defining these two terms, digital literacy has more to do with information literacy skills around the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create messages with digital media. Media scholar Renee Hobbs refers to four areas of digital literacy: 1) Computer Skills and Access Issues; 2) Issues of Authorship; 3) Issues of Reputation; and 4) Online Social Responsibility. Being an informed media consumer and creator--essentially, being digitally literate--is an important aspect of digital citizenship.
Most schools are including digital citizenship (often framed as "Internet safety") as part of their Acceptable Use Policy, as part of the agreement in using technology at school.
Watch the two videos below, which provide an introduction to digital citizenship and some of the topics that fall under it.
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Discussion Question
Describe the challenges you have faced regarding behavioral issues or student misconduct with technology. What areas do you feel confident dealing with? In which areas would you like to know more?