In 2004 researchers Joel Westheimer and Joseph Kahne examined dozens of curricula used in civics and social studies classrooms around the country to answer the question, “What kind of citizen do we need to support an effective democratic society?”
Using the ISTE Digital Citizenship Scope and Sequence we integrate Lessons from Common Sense Media, Nearpod, Google and multiple other online sources to develop a curriculum that includes Freshman Seminar lessons, Wellness lessons, monthly schoolwide themes, student-led issue-based education, opportunities to embed DigCit across all grades and all content areas.
ISTE Scope and Sequence for Students 9-12
Students live in a globally connected world, and the world is in the palms of their hands. What are the characteristics of a good citizen in a digital world? Tony Wagner (2008) wrote, “[A]ll students need new skills for college, careers, and citizenship.” If we fail to provide students with the opportunity to learn digital citizenship, then we will fail to prepare students for life. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1940) said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”
How can you use digital tools and classroom assignments to prepare our youth for the future? As educators, we need to address digital citizenship because our students are citizens of the world and they are connected. Character education and citizenship are not ancient history. Our students are competent with smart phones, laptops, video games, apps, and social media. What type of citizen will your school district produce?