11 Tools #10- Digital Citizenship

I want my students to understand and keep the following in mind when using technology:

• Always use kind words and treat others how you wish to be treated
• Don't email, write down, or post anything that you don't want everyone to see/read. (from the words of my father "If you wouldn't want it on the front page of the paper then don't share/write it down")
• If you aren't sure about something being appropriate it probably isn't, if it is a question about a website always ask a teacher or parent before clicking!
• Don't ever give out your personal information!

I would use the videos and quizzes on BrainPop to help teach digital citizenship. They are short and to the point. Many of these can be worked into different subject areas as well. The videos on Internet research and on plagiarism will be good to use when starting our research projects. The ones on Cyberbullying can be worked into our Character Education lessons. There are also ways to differentiate the instruction on BrainPop with the various follow up activities.

The best way to teach anything is through modeling and also being aware of what the students are doing. As they gain more knowledge they gain more responsibility and flexibility. The only way to teach them is through doing. There is so much out there now for the kids, many are wonderful resources, however there is so much that is very inappropriate for them as well. I do believe that the only way is to teach them the responsibility that is needed. They can't fully understand that if everything is blocked to them. There also needs to be some common expectations at school AND at home. This will make the expectations more clear and easily understandable to the student.

I always begin the year with clear expectations for the students. I share these expectations with the parents during open house and also in a handout in case a parent doesn't make it to open house. This year I'm going to use the video  Too Much Information that I found through my Librarian's blog to begin my digital Citizenship and expectations to the parents.

11.5 Thing 11

Digital Citizenship is so important. Our Librarian does a wonderful job teaching digital citizenship. It is my job as the classroom teacher to continue to model and teach upon what she has taught.
I loved the diagram of the 4 areas (Literacy, Safety, Learning Strategies, and Etiquette) with the student in the middle. It really makes clear what digital citizenship includes. A great visual for parents if they are worried about their child being on the computer. Being able to show them that this is what we teach your child about the computer and digital citizenship would be so helpful.
I also liked the site that had the 9 Themes of Digital Citizenship with the definitions. It helped a lot to organize my thoughts on what I have taught my students in the past and what I need to continue with or add to.
In our school, all the grade levels have a computer lab time, PreK-5th. As the students move up, their work on the computer increases. Since I'm on the Technology Committee at my school, I tend to try more new ideas with my students. This way I'm able to report back to my team with ideas for their computer lab time. I can also give them tips that I found useful when I presented the lesson to my students.
The beginning of the year is spent on Digital Citizenship-learning about the computer (Digital Literacy) and what the proper conduct for technology use is (Digital Etiquette). It is very important for me to begin with these two areas and to continue on reviewing them as the year continues. Digital Citizenship is not something that is taught only at the beginning of the year, but through out the entire year. It is not something that is taught in 1st grade and then assumed they remember it in 2nd, but retaught year after year. It is important to do so. Not only as a review, but also because technology changes so quickly there is always something new to learn!