focus on what why how...of digital citizenship
Focus on digital citizenship importance in preparing students for their future.Many educators struggle to prioritize teaching digital citizenship to their students. Some educators question the need to teach this topic, the roles of schools and parents in this process, and appropriateness for grade level.
Teaching digital citizenship prepares students to navigate a technology-driven future where their interactions through online platforms and social media will influence their success in society. Preparing students to succeed in their future endeavors is our primary goal as educators. While it is not easily measured, these skills will be valuable in securing students in higher education, the job market, and entrepreneurship. An article in Inside Higher Ed reported on a college admissions study performed by Kaplan Test Prep that revealed 68% of colleges consider looking at an applicant's social media profile as an option to decide whether to accept their application (Jaschick, 2018). Several articles illustrate the need for schools to teach students positive online behavior early, even before they start leaving a digital footprint that could harm them later.
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Schools and parents need to partner together to teach students about digital citizenship. Schools have a responsibility to teach this concept in order to get the most out of their blended and personalized learning strategies. As education partners, parents should be also be educated on the basics of digital citizenship and supported in continuing lessons at home. Schools should begin teaching students positive online behaviors as early as kindergarten. This is important, especially now, as schools increase students’ access to technology use throughout the school day. Teaching digital citizenship guides students, especially younger children, on how to build a safe and positive online community at their school and in their homes. It helps build their judgment around choices that may lead to disrupting instructional time, hurting classmates, or placing themselves in an inappropriate situation.
Digital citizenship: Focusing on the what, why, and how. The Learning Accelerator. (n.d.). https://learningaccelerator.org/blog/digital-citizenship-focusing-on-the-what-why-and-how.
Teaching digital citizenship prepares students to navigate a technology-driven future where their interactions through online platforms and social media will influence their success in society. Preparing students to succeed in their future endeavors is our primary goal as educators. While it is not easily measured, these skills will be valuable in securing students in higher education, the job market, and entrepreneurship. An article in Inside Higher Ed reported on a college admissions study performed by Kaplan Test Prep that revealed 68% of colleges consider looking at an applicant's social media profile as an option to decide whether to accept their application (Jaschick, 2018). Several articles illustrate the need for schools to teach students positive online behavior early, even before they start leaving a digital footprint that could harm them later.
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Schools and parents need to partner together to teach students about digital citizenship. Schools have a responsibility to teach this concept in order to get the most out of their blended and personalized learning strategies. As education partners, parents should be also be educated on the basics of digital citizenship and supported in continuing lessons at home. Schools should begin teaching students positive online behaviors as early as kindergarten. This is important, especially now, as schools increase students’ access to technology use throughout the school day. Teaching digital citizenship guides students, especially younger children, on how to build a safe and positive online community at their school and in their homes. It helps build their judgment around choices that may lead to disrupting instructional time, hurting classmates, or placing themselves in an inappropriate situation.
Digital citizenship: Focusing on the what, why, and how. The Learning Accelerator. (n.d.). https://learningaccelerator.org/blog/digital-citizenship-focusing-on-the-what-why-and-how.
- Common Sense Education - this site is an amazing resource for students, teachers and parents. I use this site constantly to review sites, tools, and create lessons.
- Google Internet Safety Resources - Google has developed an online game called Interland that makes learning digital safety and citizenship fun and engaging.
- Digital Citizenship from Code.org - This lesson combines coding, STEAM and digital citizenship...three of my favorite things!
- Digital Citizenship Curriculum in Billings Public Schools (K-5) - this is a curriculum document I created for the library media specialists in our elementary schools.