Role - District Technology Support

We Need Your Help

Congratulations! You are part of a forward-thinking school district that is embracing mobile devices from home as part of a Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT). While you see the benefits of BYOT for students and staff, managing personal devices raises its own issues. More importantly, you worry that students will use their own mobile devices to bypass content filters, post inappropriate content, hack the network and servers. In short, students and staff are being encouraged to be bad citizens rather than responsible, digital citizens. You need to get a mental picture on how others technology staff are approaching this so you can prepare your District.

You'll be guided to look closely at three main issues and to find examples (facts, statistics, quotations, or any other inputs) that you think provide important insights on the issues. After you've collected three examples for each issue, your job will be to put the information together into one statement that shares your understanding as a "Truth" about that particular key issue related to digital citizenship and social media. Finally, you will combine what you've learned into an action plan.

Exploring Examples to Discover the Truth - Individual Activity

Issue #1 - How have perceptions changed about learning and technology?

Visit each web site, then copy-n-paste or write a 1 sentence take-away--an "infobit" on your Concept Builder Notes page.

1. Blog: Dispelling Myths about Blocked Sites

   1. Article: Digital Citizenship and the 4 Stage Cycle of Technology Integration

2. Policy: District Responsible Use Agreement (RUA)

Issue #2 - What roadblocks appear related to BYOD and Digital Citizenship, and are there detours?

Visit each web site, then copy-n-paste or write a 1 sentence take-away--an "infobit" on your Concept Builder Notes page.

• 1. Video: The BYOD Option

  2. Article: BYOD - Why Your IT Departments Shouldn't Despair

  3. Blog: Digital Citizenship and BYOD

Issue #3 - What are the ramifications of digital citizenship?

Visit each web site, then copy-n-paste or write a 1 sentence take-away--an "infobit" on your Concept Builder Notes page.

• 1. Article: Legal Challenges to Bring Your Own Device

  2. Resource links: Digital Citizenship

  3. Article (PDF): Do Students need a Technology Driver's License?

Focusing your Argument: An Action Plan - Small Group Activity

By looking at the Digital Citizenship and Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) from the perspective of a curriculum specialist, you have become an expert on the issues. Your team (and the World Wide Web community) need your expert advice. In your opinion, what would be the most effective plan of action to address digital citizenship in schools? In other words, what do we need to do to "make it happen?" Use the truths you have learned to make sure we tap into goldmines that could help everyone and avoid landmines that could threaten us all.

Your Action Plan should be a clear statement about what needs to be done next and why. It does not have to be long, but it should be thoughtful.

After you've developed a draft statement from your perspective, work with your team to prepare a clearly worded Action Plan statement to share with the whole group.