The Internet and the rise of social media have given citizens of the world power and abilities never before imagined. As stated by Crocket, Jukes, and Churches (2011), "[Internet and social media] have transformed the political stage, toppled governments, and bypassed censorship". As educators it is our responsibility to help students practice digital citizenship and "cultivate within our students a sense of what this means" (Crocket, et al. 2011). Individuals can no longer consider digital communications, Internet, and social media as separate from the real world. Instead, we must teach our students how using technology now reflects our core values and personal identity. In order for digital citizenship to be successful and help establish change in society, "it requires education to be successful...[as well as] a network of educators dedicated to collaboration" (Preddy, 2016).
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https://engagecxmarketing.com/one-in-three-customers-over-65-prefer-digital-communication-with-businesses/
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https://www.changeboard.com/article-details/15421/the-dos-and-donts-of-digital-communication/
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The Alberta curriculum and program of studies focuses on moulding students into 21st century learners and citizens, but there is an assumption that students already know what to do online. While many students have grown up with an array of technologies, Internet, and overwhelming amounts of social media, properly and respectfully using such technology is not innate within them and some individuals may not realize that digital citizenship must be intentionally taught (Preddy, 2016). Similar to manners, social norms, and other life skills included both in required curriculum and hidden curriculum, digital citizenship is a learned behaviour. Students need to be aware of how their online activity can affect their life, relationships and future employment. They also need to be taught basic online skills that are now widely accepted and commonplace, such as online banking and privacy. Teachers cannot confidently say they have prepared their students effectively for their future, whatever their interests may be, if they have not developed and practiced proper digital citizenship.
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"We know that technology is going to be a huge part of the future. So not only am I preparing [the students] for that kind of world, but by using tech to teach them empathy and compassion, I hope I'm sending out to make the world a better place" (Rosenstein) |
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Some schools, such as Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor have their students complete a digital citizenship course every year. Scarlett Middle School works with Michigan's School of Education, where undergraduate students will teach the middle school students about digital citizenship. Scarlett's program is "tailored to each grade and addresses privacy, security, phishing, copyright infringement, online reputation and cyberbullying" (Cortez, 2016). This program is to be completed before any students get to use technology, which demonstrates the importance of digital citizenship, and allows teachers and students to recognize areas that some are struggling with. Overall, the program for both Scarlett Middle School, as well as Michigan's School of Education has been successful, as student teachers are gaining experience and the student's themselves are learning important life lessons, such as empathy. As Anthony Stewart explains in the video, "the biggest lesson I've learned is to think about how people feel before I say or post something“.
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https://www.fractuslearning.com/digital-citizenship-poster/
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One of the many reasons that youth (an even adults) can struggle with practicing responsible digital citizenship is due to the fact that many see the online world and the physical world as separate. Effectively teaching digital citizenship means breaking down the barrier between the two. One way to do this to provide real-world examples that explain and provide an analogy to inappropriate or unsafe online behaviour. For example, a student would not walk into a store and steal a DVD or CDs, so why would they download a movie or song online without paying for it? |
https://www.seoblog.com/2018/07/rank-stolen-content-higher/
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