What do you think of when you consider the phrase “digital citizenship”? How do you imagine digital citizenship in your teaching? In your classroom?
As an educator, you will likely be someone who provides device and/or internet access to students. It will be your responsibility to ensure their safe and ethical use of those resources. The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) has adopted the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students for all K-12 students. The OSDE expects integration of these standards in all content areas and grade levels. One entire ISTE strand is devoted to digital citizenship.
1.2 Digital Citizenship Strand
Students recognize the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model ways that are safe, legal, and ethical.
Standards
1.2a: Students cultivate and manage their digital identity and reputation and are aware of the permanence of their actions in the digital world.
1.2b: Students engage in positive, safe, legal, and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.
1.2c: Students demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property.
1.2d: Students manage their personal data to maintain digital privacy and security and are aware of data collection technology used to track their navigation online.
Understanding Digital Literacy
There are some key terms that come up frequently in conversations around digital literacy. Most are likely familiar to you. It is helpful, however, to have a shared understanding of the terms within your community. The OSDE definitions will be what you encounter in your professional development and teaching opportunities here in Oklahoma.
Digital Footprint: All of the information online about a person either posted by that person or others, intentionally or unintentionally.
Personal Information: Information that can personally identify someone, such as their name, email address or billing information, or other data which can be reasonably linked to such information.
Two-Step Verification: A security process that requires logging in to a service using two steps. You may have to enter your password as well as enter a code that was texted to your phone number or sent to you via email.
Cyberbullying: Unwanted, aggressive online behavior that is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time
Bystander: A person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part
Upstander: Someone who helps when they see cyberbullying occur
Harassment: unwanted remarks or actions that cause a person emotional or physical harm
Block: To prevent an individual from accessing your profile, sending you messages, etc.
It will also be helpful for you to have some familiarity with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA). COPPA sets specific requirements for websites and online services whose intended audience is children under 13 years of age. These requirements also apply to websites and online services who know they will be collecting personal information online from someone under 13 years of age. The Federal Trade Commission has published some plain language guidance and answers to frequently asked questions on the FTC Children’s Privacy page. What websites and online services do you think might need to be attentive to this rule?
As I browsed the frequently asked questions page, I was struck by the detailed description of what constitutes personal information; I can imagine understanding and helping students understand these details being very important in the classroom.
Teaching Digital Literacy
ISTE isn’t the only organization providing resources supporting the development of digital literacy.
Common Sense Media breaks digital citizenship into six elements. “Media Balance and Well-Being” describes a healthy balance of online activities and other life activities. “Privacy and Security” provides guidance for student privacy, describing ways to stay safe by not sharing personal information. “Digital Footprint and Identity” helps students understand the data they leave behind when interacting online. “Relationships and Communication” addresses building positive and healthy communication and relationships online. “Cyberbullying, Digital Drama, & Hate Speech” encourages students to build positive support groups and stand up for others experiencing unkind or hurtful behaviors. “News and Media Literacy” teaches students skills necessary to identify credible and valid online information sources. You can find free lessons useful for teaching digital citizenship in your classroom on the
Common Sense Education Digital Citizenship site.
The
Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science also gives some grade level specific standards for digital citizenship. Kindergarten classes are encouraged to discuss what passwords are and why they shouldn’t be shared with other people. Classroom activities might include, with guidance, using passwords to access devices and apps. By second grade, students should be able to articulate a code of conduct which explains grade level appropriate behavior and responsibilities in online communities. Suggested classroom activities include highlighting positive behavior, and developing ways to identify and report inappropriate behavior. Fifth grade students are expected to be able to observe intellectual property rights and appropriately credit resources. Students at this level should also develop an understanding of the connection between the longevity of data online, personal online identity, and personal privacy.
Interestingly, the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science invite high school students to consider and explain the beneficial and harmful effects intellectual property laws can have on innovation. How might you use the ISTE Standards for Students and the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Computer Science to provide instruction related to digital citizenship in your grade and content area?
