Education &

Digital Citizenship

Ann Okafor
5316
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Digital Citizenship?

We can define digital citizenship as

the norms of appropriate, responsible
behavior with regard to technology
use (“Nine elements of digital
citizenship”, 2017).

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How does digital citizenship relate to education?

Since digital citizenship is how we should act and behave when

using digital technology tools, it is important that educators help
the next generation be better stewards of this technology.
For educators, it is how we teach our students to interact with the
online world.
As more school districts move toward 1 to 1 devices
or BYOD, there has never been a more perfect
opportunity for educators to educate students about
the digital world around them and how to be a good
digital citizen.

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Teaching digital citizenship

There are 9 elements to address when discussing and teaching

digital citizenship.
As technology becomes more widely available to students, it is
important that educators, parents, students, and the community is
aware of these 9 elements or principles.
9 Elements of Digital
Citizenship
 Digital Access: full electronic participation in society.

Digital access is defined as the full electronic

participation in society (Ribble, 2015).
One of the benefits of technology is it
provides opportunities for anyone with
access to explore and communicate almost
immediately.

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Digital access: Unequal access

However, due to socioeconomic status, disabilities, and physical locations like

rural areas, these populations do not have equal access compared to others.

Educators need to assess their use of technology at their schools to determine

if all students have adequate access to devices and high-speed internet.

While disparities among these groups have shrunk over the past several years,
access will still be an issue that needs to be addressed.
Digital access: COVID-19 and the digital divide

When COVID-19 shut down our schools almost a year ago, we realized quickly
that most of our students did not have access to devices or reliable internet
connect.

Many of our students simply disappeared.

Because of socioeconomic statues of our student population, they did not have
digital access to fully participate in the online society.
Only 30% of my students
owned a computer or had
reliable internet at home

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 Digital access: District’s response

For years, my district ignored and overlooked the

digital needs of our students.
Finally, after realizing that if we truly wanted to
prepare our students to succeed in a post-COVID-
19 world, it was important for all our students to
have equitable access (Ribble, 2015).
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 There is a growing digital divide
and I am worried that my students
will not be fully ready to
participate in the digital world.

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Digital access: My journey to closing the digital divide

One of the reasons why I decided to pursue this degree

was because I firmly believed that technology can be
used to improve classroom instruction, such as
personalized learning.

I think it is important for my students and myself to have

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 Digital Commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods.

It is the electronic buying and selling of goods (Ribble, 2015).

While educators may think digital commerce as the most
difficult to teach, it however has played a large role in
students’ lives.
Being a good digital citizen means being an intelligent and
informed consumer.

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Digital commerce: a necessary lesson

Some students purchase items online without realize the potential

consequences, such as debt accumulation or stolen data.

Educators should help students understand that their actions can

potentially follow them for the rest of their lives (Ribble, 2015).
Digital Communication: electronic exchange of information.

Digital communication is the third element, and it refers to

the electronic exchange of information (Ribble, 2015).
Digital communication, such as email and text, have
allowed users to have instant access to others.
However, these messages are usually stored on a server
even if deleted.
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 Even posting anonymously does
not make them safe despite the
false sense of freedom it may give
them (Ribble, 2015).

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Digital communication: No one is anonymous

Users, including students, need to be aware of what they say, post,

or share when using emails or other online communication
methods.
As with digital commerce, the decision they make now may haunt
them for the rest of their life.
Digital Literacy: process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology.

Element four is digital literacy, the process of teaching and learning

about technology and the use of technology (Ribble, 2015).
Understanding how technology works is an important aspect of
technology.
As technology has become more integrated into our schools, how
to use technology appropriately has not kept up.
 Digital literacy: The need to incorporate digital literacy in the classroom

While the lack of digital access may be a major

issue of some, for others, it is the lack of
professional development on how to use these
digital technologies appropriately.
It is the responsibility of the school’s technology
specialists to help identify tools for the classroom
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Digital Etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure.

Digital Etiquette is defined as the electronic

standards of conduct or procedure (Ribble, 2015).

Students typical see others around them use

technology and believe that they can behave that
way as well.

One of the difficult parts of technology is the lack of

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rules on how to appropriately use it. www.flaticon.com"
Digital Etiquette: Evaluating your use of technology

As new technology develops, parents and teachers have not been trained or
informed on how to use it.

It has become common for students to watch their peers on how to use
technology.

When students see adults use technology inappropriately, it only continues the
cycle of bad digital behavior (Ribble, 2015).
 Good digital citizens should
evaluate their own use of
technology and those around them
and make necessary adjustments.

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Digital Law: electronic responsibility for actions and deeds

Digital law, the sixth element, is the electronic responsibility for actions
and deed (Ribble, 2015).

Sharing information online has never been easier.

However, sometimes users are fully aware or consider what may be

appropriate, inappropriate, or illegal.

For instance, sexting, which has become increasingly popular with young
people.
Digital laws

Just like in society, the digital world will have people who do not
follow the rules and there are rules being created now by
politicians.

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 It should be up to good digital
citizenship to determine policies,
not laws.

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

Digital rights and responsibilities is the requirements and freedoms

extended to everyone in a digital world (Ribble, 2015).
Just like with being a citizen of a country, a digital citizen means
having certain rights and privileges.
But they also have certain responsibilities as well, such as
acceptable use policies.
 Digital rights & responsibilities

Members of the digital world should work together to

create an appropriate use framework for all users to abide
by.
To create this, educators need to provide structure for
technology use so students can be given a clear
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them as a member of the digital society.
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Digital Health & Wellness: physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world.

Element eight is about digital health and wellness.

Some students may not be aware of danger of using technology (Ribble, 2015).

Some of the dangers, including physical pain or internet addiction.

Some intent addicts have even died after neglecting their wellbeing to play
video games (Ribble, 2015).
 To prevent more of these issues,
educators should make learn and
model digital safety in their
classrooms.
Digital Security (self-protection): electronic precautions to guarantee safety.

The night element, digital security, is the electronic precautions to guarantee

safety (Ribble, 2015).

Many students store sensitive information on their devices. Students should be

aware on how to protect their data, such as virus and firewall protection.

Without it, anyone would be able to access their information for free.

Many of the security breaches that happen are due to use error, not the device
itself.
Digital Security: Keeping safe online

Students should take the time to make sure they

have updated virus protection and firewalls so
that viruses do not infect others (Ribble, 2015).
People should double check where they store
their data in the cloud, and make sure their
devices are secured with a passcode or lock.
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Cyberbullying
What educators can do to help
Curbing cyberbullying through digital citizenship

Cyberbullying is using technology to badger another

person via social media, texting, and email (Katzen,
2015).
Many children find it easier to be cruel to others
digitally because there is a disconnect in the
relationship with that person.
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Teaching students how to handle
cyberbullying and how to avoid it
is crucial to their mental well-
being and safety.

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Being a good citizen

Without being able to see the repercussions of one’s comments in real time,
it is very easy for students, even teachers, to say things that they would not
normally say while online (Katzen, 2015).
This is why it is so important to teach our students to be good digital
citizens.
Good digital citizenship is about thinking carefully about what you post
online.
Practicing good digital citizenship
is an integral part of preventing
cyberbullying
Where to start?
Our digital footprint

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Digital Footprint: Our online reputation.

A digital footprint or tattoo is the trail that you create when using the
Internet (Christensson, 2014).

It includes social media, electronic communication, and information

submitted to online services.

These footprints can be either positive or negative and can shape our
online reputation as well as our experiences online.
 Cultivating a positive digital footprint

While social media can be used for positive attributes, it

can also pose some potential dangers.

According to a study by Oregon Business Report, 45 % of

employers used social media to screen job candidates
(Driver, 2020).

College admissions, scholarships, and sport teams also

use social media to screen potential candidates (Fani, "Icon made by Freepik from
2015). www.flaticon.com"
Cultivating a positive digital footprint: The steps

For students to cultivate a digital footprint, they are several steps students can
take to clean-up and cultivate a digital footprint.
● First, students should do a quick research about themselves online.
● Check privacy settings so that they are aware of what they are sharing. T
● hey should use different, strong passwords, especially for email or banking.
● Remind them to think before they post.
● Students should be encouraged to create an ePortfolio that includes blogs,
videos, images, and projects.
References

Christensson, P. (2014, May 26). Digital footprint definition. https://techterms.com "Icon made by ultimatearm from
www.flaticon.com"
Driver, S. (2020, March 23). Keep it clean. Social media screenings gain in popularity. Business News Daily.
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2377-social-media-hiring.html

Katzen, H. (2015, October 12). Preventing cyberbullying with digital citizenship. Family Online Safety Institute.
https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting/preventing-cyberbullying-digital-citizenship

Fani, Anthony. (2015, July 29). Harmful digital footprint impacts that parents should know about. Family Online Safety Institute.
https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting/harmful-digital-footprint-impacts-teens

Nine elements of digital citizenship. (2017, October 13). WACC Global. https://waccglobal.org/nine-elements-of-digital-citizenship/

Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. (3rd ed.). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology.