Digital Citizenship

What is Digital Citizenship?

Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology by anyone who uses computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society on any level.

(Applied Educational Systems 2019)

Technology has become one of the core resources that we use in our classrooms on a day to day basis. This in turn means that digital citizenship is a vital skill for our students to possess. To do this it’s important that these skills are taught from a young age. Teachers play a large role in the development of digital citizenship as technology is often used in a collaborative manner in the classroom.

Start a conversation!

Creating a culture where internet usage is brought into general conversation on a regular basis helps to remind students of responsible and meaningful usage. Giving respect and feeling respected is something that is a part of the culture in every classroom. This is something that should also be taken and incorporated into our students’ online usage. The long term goal is to help our students to monitor their own usage while being reflective and empathetic throughout.

Speak about safety

Knowing how to use the internet in a safe way is one of the most important topics of conversation, it’s imperative that students are vigilant when it comes to protecting their personal information and avoid phishing scams. This includes avoiding any dangerous or suspicious websites that could be concealing malware or misinformation.

Student internet practice will really be tested when students are at home and not in the classroom. With internet usage and screen at an all time high we’d hope that these discussions would resonate with them during these times to help them to be reflective and empathetic at all times.

Find some helpful resources below to promote digital citizenship in your classroom