Digital literacy is crucial in the context of blended learning because it equips students with the essential skills and values needed to navigate the digital world responsibly and effectively. In a blended learning environment, where students frequently interact with digital tools and online platforms, digital literacy promotes responsible online behavior, ensuring that students engage respectfully and ethically in virtual spaces. It also empowers them to critically evaluate digital information, safeguard their personal data, and create safe and inclusive online environments. By fostering digital citizenship, educators can help students become responsible and informed digital citizens, which is essential for their success in the digital age and their ability to contribute positively to both physical and virtual communities.

1. ISTE's 5 Competencies of Digital Citizenship

   • 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."

     • Example: "How the Parkland Students Got So Good at Social Media." Florida Students practice Digital Citizenship through the engagement of social media to make their voices heard to advocate for gun control after experiencing a mass shooting at their High School. 

     • Example: No One Eats Alone; "a student-led  social justice movement empowering students to become activists and change the culture of the school." 

     • United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 

   • Informed: 

     • "I evaluate the accuracy, perspective, and validity of digital media and social posts."

     • Find the most accurate sources: Advanced Google Search Options

     • Identify Bias in Reporting: https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news 

   • Inclusive:

     • "I am open to hearing and respectfully recognizing multiple viewpoints, and I engage with others online with respect and empathy." 

     • Harvard Implicit Bias Test 

     • "Conversations with People Who Hate Me: 12 Things I Learned From Talking to Internet Strangers" by Dylan Marron

     • Become informed and aware of Filter Bubbles 

   • Alert:

     • "I am aware of my online actions, and know how to be safe and create safe spaces for others online."

     • See "Terms to Know" below

   • Balanced:

     • "I make informed decisions about how to prioritize my time and activities online and off." 

     • Evaluate whether screen time is active or passive.

       1. Active: "creating and designing, collaborating and problem-solving" (Culatta, Digital for Good, pg. 47)

       2. Passive: "watching content online" (Culatta, Digital for Good, pg. 47) 

     • What is the depth of online activity: Low-bar, Medium-bar, or High-bar?

     • Common Sense Media Family Media Agreement

2. Explicitly teach the do's of digital citizenship that promote , with the intent to refer back to concepts learned on a regular basis, creating a digital citizenship culture:

   • Media balance 

   • Privacy and Security

   • Digital Footprint and Identity

   • Relationships and Community

   • Cyberbullying, Digital Drama, and Hate Speech

   • News & Media Literacy

2. Embed digital citizenship and literacy skills in everyday practices

• Check out Be Internet Awesome, by Google which features the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world safely.

  • Printable Activities to help teach students to "Be Internet Awesome."

• Common Sense Education DigCit Lessons

  • K-2 DigCit Lessons

  • 3-5 DigCit Lessons

  • 6-8 DigCit Lessons

  • 9-12 DigCit Lessons

3. Involve families in the digital citizenship conversations.

• Consider informational parent evenings to speak to parents about how they can help their children be safe and responsible online.

• Common Sense Media parent presentation: Kids and Screens

• Sign up for Tech Balance text messages from Common Sense Media

1. Sexting: The term ‘sexting’ is used to describe the sending and receiving of sexually explicit photos, messages and video clips, by text, email or posting them on social networking sites.

   • internetmatters.org

2. Sextortion: A crime that happens online when an adult convinces a person who is younger than 18 to share sexual pictures or perform sexual acts on a webcam.  

   • FBI.gov

3. Phishing: When scammers try to trick you into divulging personal and/or financial information by pretending to be a legitimate source via email or text. 

   • What is phishing? 

4. Catfishing: The practice of pretending on social media to be someone different, in order to trick or attract another person.

   • People Explain Catfishing to Their Kids

5. Doxxing: To publicly identify or publish private information about someone especially as a form of punishment or revenge

   • American Library Association

6. Trolling: A troll is Internet slang for a person who intentionally tries to instigate conflict, hostility, or arguments in an online social community.

   • GCFGlobal