Module 3
Being a Good Digital Citizen
Technology is everywhere, and as you know just from taking this course, we live in a digital society. Learning what digital citizenship means, and how technology can connect you with other people and ideas is important, but we need to know how to use technology responsibly.
So, what is digital citizenship?
You probably have heard that it is important to be a good citizen. So what would it meant to be a good digital citizen? Let's look at these words more closely.
The word digital refers to any type of technology that you use. Quick! Look around your room and count the digital items you have. It's probably quite a few, right?
If you are a citizen, this means you belong to a group of people. So, you could be a citizen of your classroom or your neighborhood.
Being a digital citizen means you are a part of the group of people that use technology to communicate. There are rules that you need to follow when you are a digital citizen, to protect yourself and to protect others. Let's find out how you can be a good digital citizen.
One of the great things about technology is that it can connect you with people all over the globe! You can be sitting in your living room and talking to someone in a completely different country. With tablets and laptops, you have a big world of people and information at your fingertips.
While this is a great benefit of technology, it is important to follow rules of digital citizenship to stay safe.
The Rules of Digital Citizenship
Let's dig a little deeper into what digital citizenship is all about. Have a look at the following images. When learning about digital citizenship, it is best to think about it as the 9 P's. There's a lot to think about when it comes to being a good digital citizen, and how the online habits we have now can impact our personal and professional decision making in the future.
Do you agree that these are elements of digital citizenship?
In this module, you will look deeper into the concept of a digital footprint and the implications a positive or negative footprint can have on your future. But, before we delve into our footprint let's have a funny reminder of appropriate use of technology!
"Get off the phone!"
Watch this video, "Get Off The Phone" by Rhett & Link and consider the following questions:
How does having a cell phone benefit us?
How could having a cell phone negatively impact your life or the life of another?
How does Rhett and Link use humour to get their point of view across to the viewer?
How does the video influence your opinion on the appropriate use of cell phones?
Your Digital Footprint
Your digital footprint is all the stuff you leave behind as you use the Internet.
Comments on social media, Skype calls, app use and email records- it’s part of your online history and can potentially be seen by other people or tracked in a database.
All of those retweets, Instagram stories, and online comments leave a record (EVEN PRIVATE ONES!) Make sure you know what the default privacy settings are on your social media accounts, make sure ALL location services are turned off, and keep an eye on them to make sure they stay that way. Sites will often introduce new policies and settings that increase the visibility of your data, which you just click “agree or OK” to, without really reading it!
Mobile phones, Tablets & Laptops
Some websites will build a list of different devices you have used to visit those sites. While this can often be used as a way to secure your account, it is important to understand the information being collected about your habits.
Websites & Online Shopping
Retailers and product review sites often leave cookies on your system that can track your movement from site to site, allowing for targeted advertisements that can show you products you’ve been recently searching for online.
SUBMIT
Submit your completed assignment in your Flex Block Google Classroom.
Due - March 27th