Post date: May 13, 2016 4:20:26 PM
When teaching online, being a good digital citizen and having your class act as appropriate digital citizens is incredibly important. Instead of physical classroom management, you have to manage your online classroom and part of this is making sure your students act appropriately online.
When exploring an ideal digital citizen, there are three character traits that are especially important: RESPECT, CONNECT, and PROTECT. Within these three over-arching themes, there are some important characteristics that people interacting online should have:
RESPECT
Communicate appropriately
Typing in ALL CAPS is considered rude.
Treat others as you would like to be treated. Don't use the anonymity of the internet to say hurtful things to others. An online bully is just as hateful as an IRL bully. Don't be one!
Don't lie, cheat, or steal. Don't take someone else's work and pass it off as your own.
Follow your parent's rules. If they don't want you on a website, they probably have a good reason. Respect that.
CONNECT
Think before you share something online. Would I want my mom to see this? Would I want my future employer to see this? Would I want my spouse to see this? When you post something online, it is there forever, even if you "delete" it.
PROTECT
Be an "upstander". Don't just sit by and watch others get bullied. That's known as passive participation. Stand up for those that are being bullied. After all, you'd want them to do the same for you.
Report those that are acting inappropriately online. This is a form of neighborhood watch. If we all look out for each other, we can help keep the internet a safe place.
Basically, being a good digital citizen is like being a good regular citizen. Be a good person. Do good things.