Digital Citizenship. I had never really thought of it. Being that my children are still young, and I teach digital immigrants, I feel as though we are navigating all this new technology at the same pace (at least for the moment). My husband and I set the rules at home, teaching responsibility and safety online. Kinda flying by the seat of our pants and learning as we go. However, there has to be some base line or standard to adhere to when they are navigating the digital world on their own. Just as we instill values and model good citizenship in real life we must do so in their virtual lives. It makes sense then that the same standards should apply across the board in both lives. If the two lives are merging into one, why have two different sets of standards or rules?
The question then becomes who sets and enforces the rules to assist in the merging? The teachers/parents fumbling to keep up? Or the students/kids who have the technological experience? There is no doubt some sort of order or hierarchies have evolved online in various gaming worlds but do they fit what society considers good citizenship? As Caroline Knorr states “They may not be new to technology, but — because they’re kids — they can’t foresee how things could go wrong.” They’re still kids and therefore require modelling and guidance from people with experience as to which behaviors and actions are appropriate. A combination of teachers/parents real life knowledge with students/kids virtual life experiences may lead to realistic, achievable standards. Eventually there will be (and all ready are some) lessons from peers to be learned about digital citizenship. See below.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/perspectives-on-social-media
It was chilling to hear students describe their mistakes on the internet and share them with their peers. I can’t think of a better way to teach students the downsides of some actions, and have it hit home, than through peer teaching.
Technology is changing life as we know it at an exponential pace. However, the values of a good citizen remain the same: Help Out, Be Kind, Encourage Others, Use Good Judgement, Donate. These standards can and should be applied to our lives no matter what form digital or real. We are all in this together.
Resources:
Knorr, C. (January 22, 2014). What Kids Can Learn from Shia, Kanye, Miley, and Justin Bieber. Common Sense Media. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/what-kids-can-learn-from-shia-kanye-miley-and-justin-bieber
Perspectives on Social Media video. Common Sense Media. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/perspectives-on-social-media
wikiHow. How to Be a Good Citizen. Retrieved from http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Citizen
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