Digital+Citizenship

What is digital citizenship? How do issues of safety, cyber bullying, responsible use, appropriate conversations and other 21st Century issues fit into our techno-constructivist teaching? Do we teach a course or does digital citizenship become part of our tacit curriculum?

Let's use this prompt to discuss those important issues. What are your questions, concerns, or resources related to this issue? What other resources have you found related to digital citizenship?


 * //Any of these work for you in thinking about Digital Citizenship?//**

Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship- []

1. Digital Etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure.

2. Digital Communication : electronic exchange of information.

3. Digital Literacy: process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology.

4. Digital Access: full electronic participation in society.

5. Digital Commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods.

6. Digital Law : electronic responsibility for actions and deeds

7. Digital Rights & Responsibilities: those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world.

8. Digital Health & Wellness : physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world.

9. Digital Security (self-protection): electronic precautions to guarantee safety.

After reading this article, I cannot help but think of our students. I overheard 2 kids talking about getting into a relationship over facebook. There is the option of "Are you in a relationship?" Kids use that to announce their intentions to date someone, sometimes before asking them. When they announce it on facebook, then the other child responds yay or nay.

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 [|Permalink] Reply by [|Wendy Darga] 9 hours ago #|DeleteI agree with Millie--we need to teach Digital Citizenship and it needs to be more than just part of the tacit curriculum. I'm thinking of the way we embed Academic Honesty into our teaching. I also agree with Alec that Digital Citizenship is more than just following established guidelines for tech use. Just as being a good citizen is about more than just following the law, digital citizenship is much more than just appropriate behavior with and access to technology.

Digital citizenship needs to be about decision-making. In addition to teaching students how to use technology, we need to teach them how to manage and filter what technology puts in front of their eyes. Our students already know how to do a lot of things with technology, but do they know how to do them well? Do they know how to use these tools to learn? Do they understand the power of publishing on the web? Do they understand the concept of their digital footprint? Are they efficient, effective, productive and intelligent users of the tools available to them?  [|Permalink] Reply by [|Sandra Turner] 14 hours ago Watching the Transmedia clip from Henry Jenkins, there were several thoughts that emerged as primary for where I am in my journey. One was the power of media and digital technology as a tool for social justice. That as individuals in an ever shrinking world, how can we use the digital and media tools to help empower action toward social justice? A recurring thought I have in my own personal experience seems to be that the digital age is exploding in many arenas (medical, business, etc.), but is moving at a snails pace in the educational circles. By it's very definition, digital citizenship requires that we adjust and change in real time. We can't afford to spend years "exploring the data"and then sticking our toe in to "try on" the newest technology. A major challenge will be evaluating how we have to adjust as learners and teachers to help each generation embrace this ever changing age of technology.  [|Permalink] Reply by [|Wendy Darga] 4 hours ago #|DeleteWhat you are talking about is the idea of Cognitive Flexibility. That we need to be able to adapt to new situations and that we need to be able to teach students to do this as well. Flexibility and Action--not exactly the strengths of our current education system...

The Digital Citizenship topic really seems to resonate with this group; it has been so fun to catch up with most of you face to face after the first Elluminate session and through our discussions I am feeling like we are moving in this direction for our project.

Wendy, are there any brain exercises we can employ to keep them cognitively flexible! I skimmed your article and was very relieved to see that my brain IS capable of adapting; it gives me great comfort and hope! Katie Not sure about that...I'll work on it and let you know. Oddly enough, in my never ending quest to understand and help my ADHD son, I enrolled him in this course called Brain Gym. It's pretty cool stuff...exercises to calm and center attention. I found them very relaxing! I picked up on this Cognitive Flexibility thing from the twitter stream from the MSU Tech Conference. I want to know more about it.

Rachel As an assistant principal, I must admit that I have had much of my time at school occupied by managing the inappropriate use of technology, whether it is cyber bullying, technology to spread slander or harrass someone, identity theft, or use of technology to access inappropriate sites.

My first year, I even thought about banning various items! However, after numerous conversations and much reading, I am convinced that just as kids needed to be educated about how to use a typewriter appropriately, so must they be educated about using technology. I am interested in exploring digital citizenship in a way that encourages all students to access technology, and that requires education and a significant shift in thinking just as much about //what// we teach as //how// we teach.

We have had a reduction in our inappropriate cell phone use, simply by spending more time addressing the expectations with kids at the beginning of the year, and including it in our Code of Conduct presentations with firm consequences. Sounds simple, but it was something that I didn't realize kids really needed lessons on. As an administrator, I am committed to developing lessons that address issues in digital citizenship, so that teachers can feel incredibly free integrating technology at //every// level in their classrooms. I think about what it would be like if we could actually say, "Bring your cell phones to class....we are doing a lesson with them today!"

Rachel I am always reminded of my friend's simple but true words from a well known quote, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

In other words, when I think about embracing technology and demonstrating what true digital citizenship means, it will be important to start small and then expand. Right now, Wendy Darga has a class that is blogging about a wide range of issues in our school. I have started to respond to these blogs, and not only is it providing me with an opportunity to respond to kids in a different way, but it is also enabling all of us who are participants in this pilot, to think about embedding the very things Alec speaks about in his post above.

__December 5__ OK--I read the most fantastic book today--__Catching Up or Leading the Way__ by Yong Zhao. Katie...he's back on top of my list :) Zhao writes about how the National Standards Movement, NCLB, etc., are killing our schools and how the countries we are trying to emulate with these standards (China, Korea, etc.) are actually working very hard to emulate us. He talks about the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, enGuage 21st Century, the Metiri Group, the ISTE standards, Daniel Pink's High Concept, High Touch Senses, and more. He talks about what schools can/should do regarding mindsets, policies and practices regardiing technology use (ie., filters, cell phones)

Zhao offers a model of what he calls Digital Competence Virtual World = Web, Internet

1. Knowledge of the nature of the virtual world a. Understanding the differences and connections between the physical and virtual worlds; the ability to tell fantasy from reality b. Understanding that the virtual world is dependent upon technology and that all technology can break and things can go wrong c. Understanding that online/virtual activities are fundamentally psychological d. Understanding data representation in the virtual world and how different media work together e. Understanding data management in the virtual world and basic file structures f. Understanding that the virtual world is a global network of individual and collective participants g. Understanding that the virtual world is evolving and constantly expanding

2. Positive attitude toward the virtual world a. Appreciation of the complexity and uncertainty of the virtual world b. Positive attitude toward technical problems c. Effective strategies to approach technical problems (knowing where and how to obtain assistance) d. Effective strategies to learn new ways of communication and information sharing

3. Ability to use different tools to participate and lead in the virtual world a. Ability to use different tools to participate and lead online communities b. Ability to use diffferent tools to entertain, learn and work c. Ability to use different tools to obtain and share information

4. Ability to create products for the virtual world a. Ability to use different tools to express views in the virtual world b. Ability to use different tools to create products (such as music, digital games) c. Ability to use different tools to create, manage, and lead online communities d. Ability to launch, manage, and promote businesses in the virtual world.

He also references the [|Harvard Digital Citizenship Project]

This could be a good resource for us as we move forward...Wendy