Before reading these two articles and taking EDUC 422 at
CSUSM, I was not aware of the term “digital citizenship.” My lack of awareness
seems to be what educators are trying to correct by teaching digital
citizenship in school. In an ever-evolving technology based world, a necessary
skill students (and teachers!) must hone is media literacy. Digital citizenship
is being media literate. It is of some debate whether teachers should teach
ethical behavior for being online or simply provide the technology and
applications for students to communicate with the rapidly changing digital
world and act as a guide.
As it stands, there is already misuse of technology and
resources. Too often students fall victim to plagiarism, being written up for
using their personal device in class, or a ho-hum attitude about technology in
the classroom if it isn’t being used for entertainment. How do you correct
this? I firmly support teaching digital citizenship to students. A component of
being media literate is not only citing your sources but also understanding
your wider responsibility to the online community. If a student can realize
that just as they want online privacy, credit for their work, to be seen as an
authority, and praised for their authorship so does the rest of the Internet!
This realization should be celebrated, as Jason Ohler, a champion of digital
citizenship, notes in his argument for technology in the classroom.
We are only going forward. In order for our students to be
good digital citizens they need to be provided with proper, up to date digital
environments and guidance.
Ribble, M., Bailey, G., & Tweed, R. (2004). Digital citizenship: addressing appropriate technology behavior.
Retrieved from http://cc.csusm.edu/pluginfile.php/354492/mod_resource/content/3/digital_Citizenship_ISTE%281%29.pdf
Ohler, J. & Malmstrom, M. (2012, November 30). Should schools be required to teach digitial
citizenship? Retrieved from http://cc.csusm.edu/pluginfile.php/354493/mod_resource/content/2/Teaching_Digital_Citizenship_Y-N.pdf
Hey! I love this, "understanding your wider responsibility to the online community". What you said is totally true and I didn't even think about it in this way. As an educator I have been adamant about my students getting involved in our community and taking responsibility for the healthy function of our school and the area around the school and near the students homes. I want my students to be involved in community activities and feel proud to be relied on by other community members to help make a difference and create a better world. This also extends into the digital world as you so thoughtfully remarked above. As much as I want my students to be activists in our physical community I want them to network with the rest of the digital world and spread their activism and encouragement to the online community. In order for this to become a reality, the students must be taught how to properly use the resource. As you said above, many people, including myself, have not (did not) think much about digital-citizenship, but as Jason Ohler suggests "Our prosperity, humanity, and even survival may depend..." (Ohler, J. & Malmstrom, M. 2012) on our students ability to use, navigate and activate the power of the digital world. This is why teaching technology should be a priority in schools, and is why I am so excited to be teaching it. \(^-^)/
ReplyDeleteUlysses Quintero
ReplyDeleteI agree that students are misusing technology is already in the classroom. Students have become so attached to their phones, that they are constantly checking their social media profiles and texting during instructional time. Teaching digital citizenship at an early age can lay the foundation for students to be responsible and held accountable when using technology. Because students will learn the rules guidelines at an early, teachers will continue to follow the protocols instead of retraining students in regards digital citizenship in middle school and high school. I too believe that teaching digital citizenship to students is the teacher’s responsibility. Teachers should receive the proper training and learn the best techniques in order to teach digital citizenship.
Based on my experience as a substitute teacher I witness how students would misuse the privilege of using technology in the classroom. For example, students would use their cell phones to text or be on facebook instead of using their devices to conduct research. Students would also use their personal devices to be online during independent assignments. I also allowed students to listen to music while working on class work. However, students would take advantage of the situation and would misuse their time by texting.