What is Digital Citizenship?
By: Katy Ainsworth
RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
It is so important that we understand how to communicate online in appropriate ways. How we say what we say and send online to friends, colleagues, and even strangers sends an even larger message than the subject of the conversation itself. Are we communicating professionally, or with an air of familiarity and comfort? Are we presenting information in a helpful and productive way? Understanding how to write and reply to emails, instant messages, and social media posts in an appropriate way is a vital skill for students to master in a modern age.
We also want our students to know how to communicate safely. In a time where communication has never been easier, we must acknowledge that the Internet can be a dangerous place if students do not know how to recognize inappropriate or threatening communication, whether that be with strangers or with the closest of friends. Students need to be taught how to protect themselves in online conversations from the unwanted attention of strangers, and also from cyberbullying and uncomfortable conversations with friends, family, and acquaintances.
How does this align with Louisiana Digital Literacy standards?
In my future classroom...
Tips for my future students:
- Know your audience. Remember that you don't talk to your principal the same way you talk to your best friend, so you shouldn't write your emails and online messages the same way either.
- Always sign your name. Make sure the person receiving your email or message knows who the message is from!
- Keep it brief. Emails and messages are best when they are communicating only the most important information. You don't have to write a whole book! Just a few sentences describing the main points you need to share.
- Keep your private life private. People online (even people who you think you know well) don't need to know where you go to school, what city you live in, your age, or even your last name! It's okay to talk about hobbies and common interests, but don't give away personal information.
- If something makes you feel uncomfortable, tell an adult. You don't have to send or say ANYTHING YOU DON'T WANT TO. If someone asks you to send them information or media you don't feel comfortable with, say "no," and let a parent or teacher know. If someone online is being rude or hurtful to you, tell an adult and do not continue your conversation.
DIGITAL FOOTPRINT AND REPUTATION
Students need to understand the permanence of posting on the Internet, and the effect (either positive or negative) their online activity can have on their reputation. Students need to be taught that nothing is truly private online, so their most personal information, photos, and interactions should not be shared. They also must realize that negative things that they share (or that are shared about them) can affect the way they are perceived by others. Colleges and universities, scholarship committees, and many businesses vet their applicants by checking out their digital footprint online. In addition, inappropriate or illegal content that is posted online can never be erased, and students must be aware of the danger and grave consequences of sharing such content with the public. Students need to be taught to share what is positive and meaningful online, and to protect themselves and their reputation by keeping their private information and unprofessional content to themselves.
How does this align with Louisiana Digital Literacy standards?
In my future classroom...
Tips for my future students:
- If your post would make your grandmother feel uncomfortable, don't post it. Anything you wouldn't feel good about sharing with the whole world should not be shared on the Internet.
- The Internet is NOT private. Your information is never erased, and can be accessed by anyone who knows how to find it, even if you think it's secure.
- If you are asked to share something that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, tell an adult. Do not share something that seems too private or maybe even wrong to share. Tell a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult.
- If you get in over your head, don't be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes we realize that we've shared too much when it's too late to take it back. Don't be afraid to ask an adult for help!
CREATIVE CREDIT AND COPYRIGHT
It is vital that students know what sources and media can be used, and how to properly give credit. To be responsible digital citizens, students need to know how to find information that is acceptable for use, and how to cite that information in something as formal as a bibliography, or as informal as an attribution underneath a photo taken from Flickr. Students should know how to quote things from sources that they find and how to take what they read and summarize it in their own words. They also should understand what copyright means, and how to request permission to use material from an author or creator. We want our kids to be able to use anything and everything they find on the Internet to create new and meaningful content and dialogue...we just want them to know how to do it fairly.
How does this align with Louisiana Digital Literacy standards?
In my future classroom...
Tips for my future students:
- Use your own words. When you use someone else's information to help you out on a project or paper, summarize what you find out! Tell the reader how you understand the information.
- Use quotes. If you want to include something exactly how you found it online or in a book, use quotes to let the reader know they're not your own words, and then mention who said it!
- Give attribution. When you use a photo, video, quote, or anything else that someone else created, give them credit. When you're writing a paper, make a list of the resources that you used, and include the author.
- If you're not sure you're allowed to use it, don't use it! If you have to break a law or do something sneaky to get a source/some kind of material for free, then it's not really free. Don't use it.