What is Digital Citizenship?

Multiple Definitions

There are actually several definitions out there. But which is the easiest one to understand and present to both students and teachers?

In “The Definition Of Digital Citizenship,” Terry Heick states that “a decent definition of digital citizenship...might be ‘Self-monitored participation that reflects conscious interdependence with all (visible and less visible) community members.’”

But then Heick makes a point that the above definition “leaves out the idea of content itself, which leads us to a pretty good definition for educators: [which says] ‘The quality of habits, actions, and consumption patterns that impact the ecology of digital content and communities.’”

Heick finally makes the point that not all definitions are good for students by saying that “maybe a shorter version for students–with some moral imperatives and implied advice–could be: ‘the self-monitored habits that sustain and improve the digital communities you enjoy or depend on.’”

I have to say that I agree with Heick that when it comes to teaching digital citizenship to students, simplicity in wording is important so that the words are kid-friendly and easy to understand; otherwise, if the words go over kids heads, then what is the point in teaching them this valuable lesson. Digital citizenship is so important because the ethics and morals that used to be taught at the dinner table or in everyday human interaction many times no longer happens because everyone is on their devices. So it is important to make a time and point to teach it in a way that students can comprehend so that they are prepared for using technology in a responsible ways out in the real world.

My favorite definitions comes from the 3rd edition of a book called Digital Citizenship in Schools: Nine Elements All Students Should Know. Ribble uses DigitalCitizenship.net from which is “Digital Citizenship is the norms of appropriate, responsible tech use.” I think this definition is easy and short enough for students to get.

My Definition

After evaluating all four definitions, my own definition of what it means to be a digital citizen is “The responsible self-monitored actions while communicating, interacting, sharing, and consuming from online and digital communities.”

Six Steps and Tech Tools to Introduce Digital Citizenship to Others

1. I would explain this idea to colleagues or students by breaking the ideas in my definition up to explain what I mean by communicating, interacting, sharing, and consuming means.

2. First of all, I would start with having them think about what each of these four words means to them. When learning the definition of digital citizenship, I would use five specific resources to help them understand and share the definition. First, to start them thinking I would have them use a resource called Instagrok which allows them to research specific words and associations to the words. It even gives pictures and videos.

3. Second, I would have them use a Word Cloud Generator resource to make a cloud with the definition words and synonyms. This would be a fun way to get them started really focusing in on the words themselves and what they mean.

4. Third, I would have them play around with the wording and phrasing of my definition by using a resource such as Rewordify which would allow them to simplify the definition so they could really start to own the idea.

5. After working through the definition verbs, I would then have them focus on the word “actions” and have them come up with specific scenarios using a fourth resource called StoryboardThat to create at least three examples of “self-monitored” actions that take place either by “communicating, interacting, sharing, and consuming” while “online.

6. Once they really apply the definition through thinking of how they and others relate in various scenarios, I would have them reflect on how they will use and teach this in their classrooms on their blogs which they could do using a fifth resource called Blogger.

With these steps, educators and students could really think about, utilize, reflect upon, and then finally share my or their own definitions of digital citizenship.

References

Heick, T. (2013). The definition of digital citizenship. Retrieved from http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/the-definition-of-digital-citzenship/.

Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know (3rd ed.). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.