DIGITAL LITERACY AND DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP 1

The Importance of Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship In Schools

Andrea Adams
Loyola Marymount University
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The Importance of Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship

In Schools

In the last several decades, the use of technology in our daily lives has grown

tremendously. Younger generations are growing up in a culture in which technology is integrated

into their household, transportation, financial transactions, media, social and peer connections,

and even into education. Nearly two-thirds of our country’s school districts have incorporated

some form of blended learning into the classroom, or the intentional use of technology to deliver

rich and personalized instruction for a portion of a student’s learning (Quillen, 2013). When

considering how frequently students use technology in order to interact with one another and to

use it as a source of learning, educators must consider delivering curriculum that is infused with

teaching children digital literacy and digital citizenship.

Digital literacy is the ability of students to successfully find, create, communicate and

consume digital content (Heitin, 2016). A student who has digital literacy can confidently

navigate modern technology and analyze information and sources from the web. Additionally, a

student with digital literacy can use technology to synthesize information and then create content

using digital tools. With technology already an integral component of our society, it is important

that we teach students to become digitally literate and have the skills to adapt as technology

continuously advances.

Simply being able to use technology is not necessarily what benefits a student, but the

ability to do so appropriately and responsibly is what makes for a successful digital citizen.

Elements of digital citizenship include etiquette, access, law, literacy, communication,

commerce, rights and responsibilities, security and health and wellness (Ribble, 2016). As soon

as students are engaged with technology in the classroom, educators must simultaneously teach
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digital citizenship skills (McGuire, 2019), which means this should be happening in early

elementary school. Young students quickly embrace technology, but they need to be taught how

to become digital citizens and have the opportunity to develop those skills over time (Bharti,

2014).

Now, more than ever, the choices that students make online can influence their peers or

their future employment in both positive and detrimental ways. As a middle school educator,

cyberbullying and social media content appears to have the largest consequences for students

who are not making responsible choices as digital citizens. Using technology to bully peers has

become more common than traditional bullying and many students have admitted to taking part

in cyberbullying or being the victim of it (Duverge, 2015). If technology is used in the

classroom, students have access to digital communication, which can be challenging for

educators to consistently monitor. The use of social media for bullying or for posting content can

also impact how future employers consider applications. A recent study found that 60% of

employers use social media searches to to review potential job candidates (Cornell University,

2017). If students, especially at the high school age, are posting personal or inappropriate

content, universities or employers can easily search online for a candidate’s current or past

online history.

Providing meaningful and practical instruction in digital literacy and digital citizenship is

crucial for an educator’s curriculum, beginning as soon as children are using digital tools. If

schools can adopt learning goals that support a student’s digital development and integrate it into

their social and emotional curriculum standards, it can support the foundation for how students

perceive, interact, and use technology for years to come.

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References

Bharti, P. (2014, July 14). Why Is Digital Citizenship Important? Even for Youngest Kids.

EdTechReview. ​Retrieved from https://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/1331-

why-is-digital-citizenship-important-even-for-youngest-kids.

Cornell University. (2017). The Impact of Social Media on Employment: The Good, the Bad,

​ etrieved from https://blogs.cornell.edu/react/.

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Duverge, G. (2015, July 15). Digital Threats: The Impact of Cyberbullying. ​Touro University

​ etrieved from https://www.tuw.edu/health/impact-of-cyberbullying/.

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Heitin, L. (2016, Nov. 8). Digital Literacy: An Evolving Definition. ​Education Week.​ Retrieved

from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/11/09/what-is-digital-literacy.html.

McGuire, B. (2019, Jan. 8). Digital Citizenship: What it Means, How to Tech It, and the

Resources You Need. ​American College of Education. ​Retrieved from

https://www.ace.edu/blog/post/2019/01/08/digital-citizenship-what-it-means-how-to-teac

h-it-and-the-resources-you-need.

Quillen, I. (2013, July 7). The Rise of Blended Learning. ​Smithsonian. ​Retrieved from

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-rise-of-blended-learning-7719337/.

Ribble, M. (2016, Oct. 23). Digital Citizenship is More Important Than Ever. ​International

​ etrieved from https://www.iste.org/explore

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/Lead-the-way/Digital-citizenship-is-more-important-than-ever.