What is Digitial Citizenship ? Post #1

Activity 1: Explaining digital citizenship

Digital citizens

Watch this clip, Edtalks: 2010 Ten trends: Cyber citizenship with Derek Wenmoth, Director of CORE Education, discussing digital citizenship. He explains that responsible digital citizens need to be respectful and act appropriately with information in an online world. He suggests it is necessary for teachers to have direct experience of the online environment to teach students effectively about responsible cyber behaviour.


Activity 2: Defining digital citizenship

Compare NetSafe’s definition of a digital citizen with the Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship outlined by Gerald Bailey and Mike Ribble in their book Digital Citizenship in Schools. 

1. NetSafe’s definition of a New Zealand digital citizen

A digital citizen:

“A digital citizen accepts and understands the rights and responsibilities of inhabiting ‘cyberspace’, including online safety.”

  • is a confident and capable user of information and communication technology (ICT)
  • uses ICTs to participate in educational, cultural, and economic activities
  • uses and develops critical thinking skills in cyberspace
  • is literate in the language, symbols, and texts of ICTs
  • is aware of ICT challenges and can manage them effectively
  • uses ICT to relate to others in positive, meaningful ways
  • demonstrates honesty and integrity and ethical behaviour in their use of ICTs
  • respects the concepts of privacy and freedom of speech in a digital world
  • contributes and actively promotes the values of digital citizenship.

2. Nine elements of digital citizenship

  • Digital access: full electronic participation in society
  • Digital literacy: the process of teaching and learning about ICTs and the use of ICTs
  • Digital communication: electronic exchange of information

Digital citizens
School environment and student behaviour
  • Digital security (self protection): electronic precautions to guarantee safety
  • Digital etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure
  • Digital rights and responsibilities: those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world

Student life outside the school environment
  • Digital commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods
  • Digital heath and wellness: physical and psychological wellbeing in a digital technology world
  • Digital law: rights and restrictions

Activity 3: Implications for you and your school

Blog Reflections questions (Post on YOUR blog only). Reflections must a minimum of 10-12 sentences for each question. Please post by Friday, January 20, 2015 @5pm.
  • What does digital citizenship mean to you in your personal life, professional life?
  • What implications does this have for our young people now and in the future?
  • While most of today’s students are comfortable with using technology:
    • Are they using it appropriately?
    • Do they understand their roles and responsibilities in digital society?
    • How can teachers help students become responsible digital citizens?
    • What are the norms of appropriate, responsible, ethical behaviour with regards to technology use?

About mrkirsch

Greetings from Garfield Elementary School! My name is Dan Kirsch. I teach Physical Education for students in grades K-5! Please read about what students are learning within our Physical Education program at Garfield!!