Digital Citizenship

While online (in school, or out of school), it is important that our students are responsible digital citizens. Digital citizenship is the self-monitored habits that improve one’s digital communities (Heick, 2018). Students need to not only be able to understand the possible dangers that are online but also be aware of the repercussions that their actions may have. Many students do not realize that everything that they post adds to their digital footprint online. Even if it is deleted it will remain online forever (Roush, T, personal communication, September 27, 2018).

I created a visual to help students think about being a good digital citizen using PiktoChart.

Ensuring that students are safe online is only a small portion of what it is to be an effective online citizen. Students need to be aware of their online actions, and how to effectively communicate with others. Students also need to be aware of how to distinguish if online material is reputable and how their digital footprint could affect their futures, like getting into a college or finding a job. It is important to for educators to model good digital citizenship skills in the classroom, and out in the world.

Suggestion for classroom implementation:
One problem at my school with students and their own personal technology is that students do not realize that once they post something online, it is there forever. One example to help give students an idea of how their posts are online, even after they are deleted, is to have your students firmly write their name on a sheet of paper and erase it. Have your students look to see if there is any trace of their name still on the paper (indentations, marks, etc.). Explain to students that this is like their digital footprint. Explain what a digital footprint is and guide the students through a discussion to see why they should be careful of what they post online.

Other resources:
For other great ideas and lessons on how to keep your students aware of their actions online visit Common Sense Media’s (n.d.) webpage. They offer different activities and lessons for each grade level to help students become better digital citizens. These lessons are designed to help students become critical thinkers and help students engage online communities better.

You can find another great resource about digital citizenship here, created by Google (n,d,).

References:

Common Sense Media. (n.d.). Common sense education on E-rate and CIPA: Toolkit for teachers. Retrieved from: https://www.commonsense.org/education/erate-teachers

Google. (n.d.) Be internet awesome!. Retrieved from: https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en

Heick, T. (2018). The definition of digital citizenship. Retrieved from: https://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/the-definition-of-digital-citzenship/