Decoding Digital Citizenship

        The word citizenship carries several definitions; therefore, one must decide which definition to use when answering this question. When thinking about citizenship within the context of this course, digital citizenship is essentially the same as citizenship. Because most young people are connected digitally in some form or fashion, the digital world and the real world often intersect with one another." It is difficult to find where one ends and the other begins (Ribble, 2015)." 

      I define digital citizenship as the ability to function safely and responsibly in a digital environment. It is up to us as educators to teach our students what that looks like, and we must model good digital behavior for our students. Exhibiting poor digital behavior often carries over into the real world, damaging others' self-esteem and physical health. Therefore, it is imperative that educators teach students how to be kind, positive, and responsible citizens both online and off. 

        Of the nine elements of digital citizenship, the one that is most important for my students is digital access. My school is 80% socio-economically disadvantaged, and I knew that many of my students had trouble with having internet access. However, I did not realize the extent of this inequality until last year. The  COVID-19 Pandemic brought to light the very real disparity of technology access among our students, and I worried about not only their inability to complete homework assignments and attend virtual classes, but also their ability to access their basic needs. Our district did its best to provide Park-and-Learn areas in campus parking lots by boosting the wi-fi signals and issuing hundreds of hot spots for students to have at-home internet access. Furthermore, they worked to provide meals for our students who would otherwise go hungry. 

         The second most important element is digital communication. Many of our students do not have a concept of what is appropriate communication, and what is not. We have students getting into serious trouble over cyberbullying, sexting, or sharing inappropriate pictures of themselves on social media. Furthermore, these types of communique often compromise their safety and security which can have unpredictable and unpleasant consequences.

         Additionally, students need to be taught how to communicate appropriately with others through email. Some just do not understand that they should not use the same language to address their teachers as they would their friends. I am constantly modeling appropriate ways to ask teachers for help and inquire about grades and assignments. I even set aside time during my class on certain days to help my students compose emails to their teachers so they sound more professional and respectful.

Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.