Digital Citizenship

Before taking this class, I’ve heard about Digital Citizenship but was unaware of its true definition.  According to ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, Digital Citizenship “occurs” when students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students should advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology, exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity, demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership for digital citizenship. (http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007.aspx)

I never truly understood its importance until understanding how pervasive technology truly is in the 21^st century.  Personally, I utilize Skype, Facebook, and participate in Online Gaming with both my friends and other people around the world.  I can only imagine that younger children are utilizing technology, both at home and at school, more and more everyday. Teaching Digital Citizenship at an early age will help them leaRN and understand how to be ethical online.

      The article, Why Teach Digital Citizenship, (http://www.techwithintent.com/2011/05/why-teach-digital-citizenship/) was very interesting to me because the students seemed very enthusiastic about their teacher and her teaching them about Digital Citizenship. They mentioned giving attribution if using someone’s work and having their permission to do so because plagiarism is becoming an epidemic in school districts across the country, both intentionally and unintentionally.  Plagiarism is treated very seriously and can result in expulsion. Teaching them about plagiarism and citing sources at an early age may help curb this phenomenon in the future. Digital Citizenship should be taught by both Parents and Teachers because it isn’t just a school-related subject; children should be responsible online, at both home and school, possibly even more-so at home because they aren’t as restricted online at home, in most cases.

Personally, I don’t believe that technology should be banned in schools because it is truly integral to  children of  the 21^st century. Students are online all the time, whether its Skype, Facebook, MySpace, etc.  The article, 'Banning Is Not the Answer' to Mobile and Social Tools in Schools,” (http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/04/11/banning-is-not-the-answer-to-mobile-and-social-tools-in-schools.aspx)  intrigued me because it argued that policymakers shouldn’t just consider the negative impacts of technology, they should consider the positive impacts as well before deciding whether or not to restrict Social Media and Mobile Devices. The 4 Critical Observations interested me because they reiterated realities we have discussed in class.  For example, the fact that Social Media and Mobile Devices are in widespread use by both students and teachers, both at home and at school.  School districts are beginning to adapt their own policies because of the students’ current interest in technology.

Overall, this topic is extremely intriguing and relevant to both students and teachers of the 21^st century because technology isn’t going away; it’s going to continue to grow and expand throughout this century. School districts should realize this and adapt their own policies regarding technology. Teaching Digital Citizenship, by both teachers and parents, is important and should be done at an early age so that children will be responsible and ethical in their online interaction with other people around the world.