Link Roundup: Digital Citizenship
Students today learn in a world where education is digital. This doesn’t mean all classes are virtual! Instead, it might look like submitting assignments online, using learning apps or exploring AI.
While this focus on educational technology isn’t new, the barrier between on- and offline grows thinner by the day. Students must now navigate between virtual spaces and the “real world” — and realize how little distinction there is between the two. It can be tricky to change this mindset, but it’s important.
The focus on interaction with others online is called digital citizenship, so named because students are citizens within the digital world and should respect each other as such. Virtual classrooms are no less real than their face-to-face counterparts, with students who can be just as hurt by rude comments. Likewise, students need to realize that beyond their digital classroom, there is a need for safe browsing.
It can be challenging for students to realize these nuances when going online, even just at school. By learning about digital citizenship, they extend their awareness of classroom conduct into virtual space. Ideally, these lessons go beyond school as well!
In the following links, learn more about what digital citizenship is as well as how you and your students can begin to incorporate its principles into your classroom.
“Developing Students’ Digital Citizenship Skills” from Edutopia
In this post, published in late 2023 on the education blog Edutopia, you’ll get a general overview of digital citizenship, from online safety to stopping cyberbullying. Topics such as information security can help prevent data theft for even young students. The post shares further resources for training materials, curricula and more.
“Digital Citizenship” from Common Sense Education
Common Sense Education has developed training and resources all about digital citizenship, including lesson plans for multiple grade levels that focus on aspects relevant to students today, like popular social media apps. They collaborated in part with the Harvard Graduate School of Education to develop some of its content. During October, they hold events in conjunction with Digital Citizenship Week.
“Digital Citizenship” from PBS LearningMedia
These videos from PBS are educator friendly and cover topics suitable for students of all levels. They look at digital citizenship through a lens of technological literacy. Topics range from how algorithms work to YouTube influencers. PBS’s “Digital Citizenship” video (for grades 5–8) offers a good general overview.
About the blogger:
Jesika Brooks
Jesika Brooks is an editor and bookworm with a Master of Library and Information Science degree. A lifelong learner herself, she has always been fascinated by the intersection of education and technology. She edits the Tech-Based Teaching blog (and always wants to hear from new voices!).
