Digital Citizenship

Using Technology Appropriately

What is Digital Citizenship? Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers and parents to understand what students/children/technology users should know in order to use technology appropriately. It is a way to prepare students/technology users for a society full of technology.

Digital Citizenship Today Now is the time for educators, as well as other

adults, to begin to evaluate how they are using technology. Within this presentation will be examples of how you, as educators, can begin the process of teaching students how to use technology more appropriately.

Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use.

Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship 1. Digital Etiquette  The electronic standards of conduct or procedure 2. Digital Communication  The electronic exchange of information 3. Digital Literacy  The 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

Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship (Cont.) 7. Digital Rights and Responsiblities The freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world 8. Digital Health and Wellness Physical and psychological well-being in a

digital technology world

9. Digital Security Electronic precautions to guarantee safety.

The electronic standards of conduct or procedure.

Digital Etiquette What are some examples of inappropriate digital etiquette?

Example of improper digital etiquette.

Photo Courtesy of www.dba-oracle.com

Technology users often see this area as one of the most pressing problems when dealing with Digital Citizenship. We recognize inappropriate behavior when we see it, but before people use technology they do not learn digital etiquette. Many people feel uncomfortable talking to others about their digital etiquette. Often rules and regulations are created or the technology is simply banned to stop inappropriate use. It is not enough to create rules and policy, we must teach everyone to become responsible digital citizens in this new society.

Here is an example of a way to teach netiquette to s

The electronic exchange of information.

Digital Communicatio n What are some forms of digital communication, other than e-mail?

How communication has evolved.

Photo courtesy of http://www.concurringopinions.co

It’s a digital revolution One of the significant changes within the digital

revolution is a person’s ability to communicate with other people. In the 19th century, forms of communication were limited. In the 21st century, communication options have exploded to offer a wide variety of choices (e.g., e-mail, cellular phones, instant messaging). The expanding digital communication options have changed everything because people are able to keep in constant communication with anyone else. Anyone is afforded the opportunity to access information anywhere and anytime. Unfortunately, many users have not been taught how to make appropriate decisions when faced with so many different digital communication options.

The process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology.

Digital Rights and Responsibilities Everyone is entitled to the same basic set of

digital rights. These include the right to privacy, free speech, etc. Just as in the real world, these rights can be signed away. AUP(Acceptable Use Policies) are an example of waiving rights for Digital Access. Great Digital Rights resource.

Digital Literacy Each person please write on a piece of paper, one

thing that you excel at when it comes to working in a digital environment. You may be an expert at a computer program or you could be an excellent internet researcher. Write down anything that comes to mind.

Digital Literacy as Defined in Detail by Scientific American

How essential digital literacy is for students. No Child Left Behind

Photo courtesy of http://www.jesslaccetti.co.uk/

Learning isn’t just for classrooms anymore!  While schools have made great progress in the area of

technology infusion, much remains to be done. A renewed focus must be made on what technologies must be taught as well as how it should be used. New technologies are finding their way into the work place that is not being used in schools (e.g., videoconferencing, online Course Management Systems). In addition, workers in many different occupations need information when they need it (just-in-time information). This process requires sophisticated searching and processing skills (i.e., information literacy). Students must be taught how to learn in a digital society. In other words, they must be taught to learn anything, anytime, anywhere. Business, military, and medicine are excellent examples of how technology is being used differently in the 21st century. As new technologies emerge, students need to learn how to use that technology quickly and appropriately. Digital Citizenship involves educating a new breed of person—information workers with a high degree of information literacy skills.

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Full electronic participation in a digital society.

Digital Access What kind of internet access do you have at home? Are you satisfied with the current accessibility in the Easton school system? What could be improved?

Digital Access includes: Internet Connectivity Equipment availability Software availability The time to use the available resources.

The United States lags in providing “net” speed. Users with “dial-up” internet connectivity.

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Start a digital equal rights movement. Technology needs to be aware and support

electronic access for everyone to create a foundation for Digital Citizenship. Digital exclusion of any kind does not enhance the growth of human beings in an electronic society. One gender should not have preferential treatment over another. Electronic access should not be determined by race, physical or mental challenges. Those in cities or towns with limited connectivity need to be addressed as well. To become productive citizens, we need to be committed to equal digital access.

The electronic buying and selling of goods.

Digital Commerce Take a guess at how many orders were processed by online giant Amazon.com last year. How many did some Christmas shopping online?

2008 – Amazon’s Best Year ever. How e-commerce works. Why online shopping is better. Photo courtesy of http://www.impactlab.com

Digital Commerce Technology users need to understand that a

large share of market economy is being done electronically. Legitimate and legal exchanges are occurring. The mainstream availability of Internet purchases of toys, clothing, cars, food, etc. has become commonplace. At the same time, an equal amount of illegal/immoral goods and services are surfacing such as pornography and gambling. Users need to learn about how to be effective consumers in a new digital economy. 

Electronic responsibility for actions and deeds

Digital Law Who has wireless internet at home? Have you ever had a virus?

It would have been cheaper to buy coffee. Plagiarism without knowing it? E-mail and the law. Facts about Digital Law.

Photo courtesy of http:// whcfirm.com/

The internet has laws?! Digital law deals with the ethics of technology.

Unethical use manifests itself in form of theft and/or crime. Ethical use manifests itself in the form of abiding by the laws of society. Users need to understand that stealing or cause damage to other people’s work, identity, or property online is a crime. There are certain rules of society that fall under illegal acts. These laws apply to anyone who works or plays online. Hacking into others information, downloading illegal music, plagiarizing, creating destructive worms, viruses or creating Trojan Horses, sending spam, or stealing anyone’s identify or property is unethical.

The freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world.

Digital Rights & Responsibilities Same rights as the Bill of

Rights Some rights that should carry over?

Curmudgeon’s Guide to Digital Privacy Electronic Frontier Foundation EFF is the leading civil liberties group defending your rights in the digital world. Photo Courtesy of : www.vision.org

Be Aware of Your Digital Amendments Just as in the American Constitution where

there is a Bill of Rights, there is a basic set of rights extended to every digital citizen. Digital citizens have the right to privacy, free speech, etc. Basic digital rights must be addressed, discussed, and understood in the digital world.  With these rights also come responsibilities as well.  Users must help define how the technology is to be used in an appropriate manner.  In a digital society these two areas must work together for everyone to be productive.

Physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world

Digital Health & Wellness Anybody take an ergonomics class in college? Who here has shopped for ergonomically designed equipment? Anyone ever been addicted to the internet in any way? Online games? Ergonomic technology, within reach. Internet addiction can = death. Photo courtesy of http:// www.zimbio.com/

Report on Internet addiction in America. The perfect Ergonomic desk…if only we could all have one.

Wear goggles while typing.. Eye safety, repetitive stress syndrome, and

sound ergonomic practices are issues that need to be addressed in a new technological world.  Beyond the physical issues are those of the psychological issues that are becoming more prevalent such as Internet addiction.  Users need to be taught that there inherent dangers of technology. Digital Citizenship includes a culture where technology users are taught how to protect themselves through education and training.

Electronic precautions to guarantee safety

Digital Security Do you have antivirus protection and a firewall? Who here does online banking? Appropriate use of Computer Systems How to stay safe online

Photo courtesy of http://www.hq.nasa.gov

Batteries and backups are our friends. In any society, there are individuals who steal,

deface, or disrupt other people. The same is true for the digital community. It is not enough to trust other members in the community for our own safety. In our own homes, we put locks on our doors and fire alarms in our houses to provide some level of protection. The same must be true for the digital security. We need to have virus protection, backups of data, and surge control of our equipment. As responsible citizens, we must protect our information from outside forces that might cause disruption or harm.

Why we should all learn to stay as secure as possible ALL the

Conclusion The line separating society and digital society

is blurring more and more everyday. A few years ago, Digital Citizenship used to be the grey area everyone tried to avoid, but we can’t avoid it any longer as technology continues to integrate with life..and education. Additional Resources: Digital Compass and Technology Driver’s License Multiple Activities for Technology Users

Conclusion (cont.) Activities for trainers of adults

Articles and Publications: ISTE Publication, No.1 ISTE Publication, No. 2 ISTE Publication, No. 7

Created by Mr. Tim Levesque Technology Director Easton School District Easton, ME