"Our Division is committed to assisting students to become ethical, informed digital citizens."
~EPSB Student Rights and Responsibilities template
Click for related information on the following pages:
Getting Started
Our Digital Citizenship YouTube Playlist has videos to inspire you with tips and best practices, planning support and new resources, and suggestions for getting started.
You can subscribe to the channel to get the latests additions. And be sure to check the monthly EdTech newsletter for the DigCit Connections sections.
Learning the Framework
"Digital Citizenship shouldn’t be a list of don’ts, but a list of do's." ~ISTE CEO Richard Culatta
In the rapidly evolving digital world, we can rethink how we support students to develop the five competencies of digital citizenship. Go beyond online safety to help students get involved in online communities and be active in the ever changing digital world. Start today by creating opportunities to be:
Inclusive. I am open to hearing and respectfully recognizing multiple viewpoints, and I engage with others online with respect and empathy.
Informed. I evaluate the accuracy, perspective, and validity of digital media and social posts.
Engaged. I use technology and digital channels for civic engagement, to solve problems and be a force for good in both physical and virtual communities.
Balanced. I make informed decisions about how to prioritize my time and activities online and off.
Alert. I am aware of my online actions, and know how to be safe and create safe spaces for others online.
Plan and Prioritize
Review the Responsible Use of Technology Agreement documents with students regularly to:
develop common understanding of student expectations with technology.
discuss the vocabulary and the importance of each action statement.
choose a focus area for each classroom lesson involving student use of technology.
Select Resources
Start with Learning
Internet Driver Training: Planning for digital citizenship development across K-12: Pre-DLM slides with suggestions for planning, implementing and reflecting on proactive, year-round support for teacher, students and families. Includes scenarios for staff discussion and prioritization of next steps.
NEW Cyber Safety and Digital Citizenship Resources and Checklist: suggestions for action items and linked resources to help prioritize first steps
(HyperDoc Lesson Plan) Digital Citizenship: guide to getting started: this document includes a series of activities for staff to learn and reflect on next steps for digital citizenship development
Digital Citizenship in Action: ideas for implementation: this document provides some getting started activities to do as a staff
NEW DigCit in EPSB Staff Orientation: use this document for personal learning with QR codes for information and questions for consideration.
NEW DigCit Family Open House Activity: make a copy of this document, add details about your school including your customized RUTA, print the posters and post around the school, then hand out the answer sheet and encourage families to learn together.
This presentation is ready to use in a Grade 4, 5, or 6 classroom to start learning about the five competencies. The activities are discussion based to encourage sharing of experience and current understanding. Linked resources provide further opportunties to develop skills together. Click this link to create a copy and edit to suit the needs of your students.
Consider sharing messaging with parents at the same time so students can reflect with parents at home on the same topics.
Engage Families
Parents and families are an important part of the holistic support for our students. This presentation was prepared as an outline for the steps to plan, implement and evaluate family engagement with digital citizenship. There are several resources linked within including pre and post surveys and activities for engagment.
This presentation was prepared for the Board of Trustees Parent Appreciation Night in May of 2023. It has been prepared as a template for you to use in sharing positive messages about how to support our students to be engaged digital citizens for good.
Click this link to create a copy for your school.
Add your school name and logo to personalize the presentation.
Add key messages about the expectations of students at your school and specific information about supports available throughout the year.
NOTE: When considering using an external organization to provide student, staff or parent sessions and messaging please consider the following:
Each organization has values and messages they champion. These values, in part or in whole, may or may not represent the values of your school or the Division.
Many canned presentations include topics that are not related to teaching and learning and may or may not be appropriate for an educational context.
Development of school culture requires time and relationship; messages on the topic of digital citizenship could be more impactful when received from school staff who can provide personalized follow up and repeated messaging throughout the school year.
Sharing and Celebrating
Share with your communities often and at predictable times throughout the school year.
Be responsive to the topics of concern and continue to consult the frameworks and the data for next steps.
Connect with your TIPS Team consultant for planning support, professional development sessions, lesson plans, and vetted or created resources. We want to support your work in developing digital citizenship skills for all students in our Division.