Element 4: Digital Citizenship

Students

Delivering instruction on digital citizenship is important for all ages, but may not look the same for each grade level. Identifying what technology students will be exposed to and how they will interact with it will navigate the context for applying the basic principles of being a good digital citizen. 

When students demonstrate good digital citizenship in class the teacher might make a point of verbally acknowlegeing it to the class or making a written note personally to the student. For the younger students teachers might also also verbally share their thinking process as they activly demonstrate the principles of being good digital citizens when giving instruction, or presenting a simulation. 

Scheduling a time for students to review and discuss these principles is important as it sets the foundation for how they interact with others. Micro digital citizenship lessons can be given by teachers as part of a regular lesson. Administration may decide on a school wide schedule for digital specific lessons such as the first tuesday of each month for 20 minutes. I am willing to develop grade level appropriate lesson if called upon to do so.

Example Lesson: Implementing Learning Experiences for Students to be Empathetic and Socially Responsible 

(ISTE criteria 8)

This is a lesson I designed and led for a group of 5th graders at my school where I was teaching them how to give empathetic and socially responsible comments online. After I taught and modeled the framework they would be asked to use, they were given time to practice on Nearpod before responding to each other on Flipgrid. 

Teachers/Administration

In workshops and meetings that I have with teachers  and administrators I will model digital citizenship for them, and review best practices. I will share new resources and skills that they can take back to their students and classrooms. I also want to empower teachers and administrators to partner with students. I want foster an environment where teachers and students can learn from each other. By providing an open discussion where teachers can share with each other what digital skills/tools their students shared with them, teachers may be more proactive in asking their students to share what they know. In meetings with administrators we can address areas of weakness regarding digital citizenship, and make plans to strengthen our school community. 

Example PD: Designing a Digital Learning Environment

 (ISTE criteria 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23)

Parents

Along with regularly scheduled lessons for students, I would send materials to parents and guardians for home discussion regarding digital citizenship with their students. These materials might look like flyers or short videos regarding best practices or common problems to address. If possible I would be willing to hold evening forums with parents and students regarding digital citizenship to open discussion within our community.

The following is a slide deck I shared with parents to bring awareness to the digital tools their students would have access to over the summer.