Digital citizenship - resource ideas for teachers
A good starting point for a school wide programme
Why Teach Digital Citizenship?
Just as it is important for our students to become safe and successful digital citizens, so too must teachers learn to use online environments effectively and appropriately. ICTs and online environments provide powerful teaching and learning opportunities that if used effectively can support both student engagement and achievement.
However alongside these many positive opportunities are also increased risks in terms of managing time, expectations and online relationships with our learners. One of the keys to the development of successful digital citizens in our classrooms, is the positive role modelling that they receive from their peers, their teachers and their families.
The NetSafe LGP (Learn Guide Protect) framework recognises the key role that teachers (and parents) play in this development, and suggest that these “Guides” form an integral part of the digital citizenship journey for young people. It suggests that; Young people want opportunities to discuss online challenges with respected and authoritative adults.
This does not require teachers to be technology experts, but it is important that their knowledge is broad, authentic and current. Developing teacher capability so they can act as effective cyber safety guides is vital You can read more about the LGP framework here or by reading the framework document.
Digital Citizenship Categories and resources:
1. Defining digital citizenship and promoting it
Digital Citizenship - Student User Agreement (HPSS - there are many more examples online and all available via a Google search)
Digital Citizenship in schools (National Library)
2. Basic ICT skills
3. Online relationships, safety, privacy and sharing
4. Copyright, copyleft & plagiarism, Honesty, integrity and ethical behaviour
5. Online research and Critical thinking
6. Restorative justice
Digital Citizenship Restorative Conference Script (Adapted from HPSS)
PB4L School-wide Evaluation: Preliminary findings (Education Counts)
7. School wide resources
Digital Technology: Safe and responsible use in schools (Ministry of Education)
(download from links at top of page)
Other digital safety resources recommended by teachers
Net Aware (UK) - a site where parents review and rate social media apps and sites based on the features and how appropriate it is/isn't. I like that it describes the potential dangers and even tells what age children should be allowed to have access to it
Digital Safety- a blog post that gives an overview of several dangers on the Internet and how to deal with them, such as child online safety, social media safety, etc.