Digital Citizenship…is it on your radar?

   

Digital Citizenship…is it on your radar?

 

by  JH Images.co.uk 

In the past few years, my teaching role in special education has been one where I have not been using computers in the classroom.  So, the entire concept of digital citizenship wasn’t on my radar!  However, in my new role as coordinator for special education, and after hearing Bonnie Stewart’s presentation, I now believe that this is a very relevant topic that I need to share with the teachers I work with.      

Bonnie’s presentation was an eye-opener for me in many respects.  I learned about trolls and thieves and not the kind we read about in books!  The conversation took me to places I never knew existed.  I had no idea that there were so many issues there are in the cyber world and as Bonnie mentioned, we are all vulnerable and we must be more careful than ever before!  This topic really hit home for me as I reflect on all students in our special education programs.  The topics of cyber bullying, identity theft, etc. are all major concerns. 

Bonnie’s presentation prompted me to start researching digital citizenship on the weekend.  I came across some resources that I could start sharing with some of the high school special education teachers I currently work with.
 

Here are some Resources I would like to share with you.  Please feel free to add more below:

•    There are 9 elements of Digital Citizenship and they include:  Etiquette; Literacy; Access; Security; Health & Wellness; Commerce; Communication; Rights & Responsibilities; and the Law.  For more information please check out this link.

 

• 12 learning goals for students:   

1) learn to avoid pop-ups;

 

2) learn how to post pictures properly;

 

3) learn how to keep myself safe online;

 

4) learn how to avoid unsafe and inappropriate websites;

 

5) think through difficult situations;

 

6) look at online blogs and identify how they are positively affecting the world;

 

7) understand that our digital footprint becomes a permanent part of our reputation;

 

8) identify ways to be purposefully positive in my online behaviour;

 

9) identify some ways to determine if a website is a good source;

 

10) examine ways to evaluate online content;

 

11) identify safe online behaviour;

 

12) list rules that will keep me safe online.

 

For more information please check out the Ottawa Catholic School Board website:

 (http://ocsb.ca/board/administration/departments/religious-education/digital-citizenship).  

 

 

·         I bookmarked some other resources on my Diigo Library account. 

 

 https://www.diigo.com/user/kelly_brezinski.  (This is my Major Project in progress.) 

 

 

In conclusion, I have learned that we cannot assume that our students are good digital citizens or aware of the dangers out there in the cyber world we live in.  We cannot assume that just because young people have grown up with technology in their hands, that they know how to use it safely and how to be good digital citizens.  I have also come to accept that I am not technologically savvy and therefore need to turn my radar on when it comes to the topic of Digital Citizenship.  I don't think we can afford to "hide our heads in the sand" as Bonnie Stewart claims. 

 

I hope the resources I’ve shared with you in my blog will engage you even more in digital citizenship and its importance.  If you have 1 resource you can share with me that you think would be useful, I would be grateful.

 

Thank you!

Kelly