Creating a Digital Citizenship Culture

Introduction

It seems that stories about technology in schools are starting to focus on misuse and abuse, rather than the benefits that come from effective use. We know that students are not prepared for the technology they use, but questions are now arising as to where the responsibility lies to create digital citizens. The education system was created in our society to produce productive citizens, in the digital world this mission has not changed, and it has simply added an additional layer of complexity with a digital society.

Citizenship is based on the idea that we share a set of values and beliefs on which our rights and responsibilities rest. Before you tackle the issue of digital citizenship it may be worth some time to explore these values and beliefs:

• Digital Access – participation in society

• Digital Commerce – buy and sell online

• Digital Communication – exchange information

• Digital Literacy – when and how to use digital technology

• Digital Etiquette – standards of conduct

• Digital Law – legal rights and restrictions

• Digital Rights and Responsibilities – privileges and freedoms, and expectations

• Digital Health and Wellness – physical and psychological

• Digital Security – precautions for personal safety and network security

The option to be a member in the digital society is quickly eroding for students. We are moving from an industrial to a knowledge economy, ICT Technology is embedded in society, education and training are in constant demand, and we are competing and collaborating on a global level. A student without digital citizenship skills is at a disadvantage as an active, participating member of society and is at a competitive disadvantage in the workforce.

Digital citizenship skills can be embedded in the existing curriculum and the new ICT outcomes for grades P-6 will have a digital citizenship category that highlights were students should be at each grade level. Our collective morals and beliefs have not changed and will adapt to a shifting digital world, it is just a matter of using them in context of digital tools in our curriculum.

Module Activity

Choose one of the nine elements of digital citizenship and create an animated video using a tool to promote awareness in your classroom. This production can use a familiar real-world situation or simply highlight the essential message of the digital citizenship element you chose.

... or Project Extension

Create a series of lessons that integrate with your project and promote digital citizenship. The key is not to make more work, as many of the lessons in digital citizenship are common to the citizenship concepts we cover already - but find these elements in your project and use them as teachable moments. This is an opportunity to do some planning for next year in your subject areas, and integrate some technology concepts.