Digital Citizen

Advocacy
Emily Benz
ISTC 702
Towson University
 What is Digital Citizenship?
“Digital citizenship refers to the
responsible use of technology by
anyone who uses computers, the
Internet, and digital devices to engage
with society on any level” (Zook, 2013).
 What are the 4 components
of digital citizenship?
1. Civic Engagement to Improve School
Community
2. Respectful Online Behavior and a Healthy
Technology Balance
3. Examining Online Media Sources
4. Protecting Personal Data and Your Digital
Profile
 How do we teach these
components?
● These components are taught through technology
integration for students and educators.
● The International Society for Technology in Education
(ISTE) has created standards for students, educators,
educational leaders, and coaches.
● The ISTE standards provide a guide for effective use of
technology in schools.
 What is Civic Engagement to
Improve School Community?
● According to the ISTE standards, this component falls
under Digital Citizen Advocate in the coaches'
standards.
● The standard reads “Inspire and encourage educators
and students to use technology for civic engagement
and to address challenges to improve their
communities.”
 Civic Engagement to Improve
School Community
While incorporating technology to address civic engagement
within the school and/or community, there are problems that arise.
Problems Possible Solution
• Teachers and school staff often lack the • Schools should build a community with
knowledge of the what is in the not only the parents of students but also
surrounding community and do not know the surrounding community. For instance,
the resources that are available in their local business.
community to support student learning. • Teachers should start sharing about what
• This lack of knowledge prevents students is being learned within the classroom and
from seeing how they can be involved in asking for resources parents have
the community. Students cannot take part knowledge of. This allows parents to
share technology resources that they are
in the community.
aware of. These resources can enhance
student learning.
 What is Respectful Online Behavior
and a Healthy Technology Balance?
● According to the ISTE standards, this component falls
under Digital Citizen Advocate in the coaches'
standards.
● The standard reads “Partner with educators, leaders,
students, and families to foster a culture of respectful
online interactions and a healthy balance in their use
of technology.”
 Respectful Online Behavior and a
Healthy Technology Balance
While working to develop a culture of respectful online interaction
and a healthy balance in their use of technology, there are
problems that arise.
Problems Possible Solution
• While we encourage students to • Teachers should incorporate lessons on
interact respectfully online, we don’t how to interact with one another in a
explicitly teach students how to do this. virtual environment.
• Many of the health lessons within • Schools should host family nights that
Howard County Public System provide information to families on how
curriculum focus on student interacting to monitor student online interactions as
with one another in a physical world well as teaching students how to have a
situations. Lessons solely focus on health use of technology.
students interacting kindly with one
another throughout the school day.
 What is Examining Online Media
Sources?
● According to the ISTE standards, this component falls
under Digital Citizen Advocate in the coaches'
standards.
● The standard reads “Support educators and students
to critically examine the sources of online media and
identify underlying assumptions.”
 Examining Online Media Sources
While working to examine online media sources and
the underlying assumptions, problems can arise.
Problems Possible Solutions
• When students are given the opportunity to • When students are given the
conduct research, the topics and research opportunity to conduct research,
search is often provided. For example, if lessons should incorporate students
students are researching different Native learning how to evaluate online
American tribes, the Howard County Public
researches.
School System curriculum office provides
• When students research topics,
students with the topic and resources.
• This prevents students from learning to find lessons should incorporate students
resources to support a topic they choose. learning how to locate online
• Students do not learn to evaluate resources resources on their selected topic.
for credibility, accuracy, and bias. • Teachers collaborating with their
media specialists and/or technology
teacher to teach students these skills.
 What is Protecting Personal
Data and Your Digital Profile?
● According to the ISTE standards, this component falls
under Digital Citizen Advocate in the coaches'
standards.
● The standard reads “Empower educators, leaders, and
students to make informed decisions to protect their
personal data and curate the digital profile they intend
to reflect.”
 Protecting Personal Data and
Your Digital Profile
While working to protect personal data and create
digital profiles, problems can arise.
Problems Possible Solutions
• Teachers often have the • Teachers can place student’s school
student’s school issued issued username and passwords in a
username and password safe place. For instance, in students'
displayed in the classroom. daily communication folder.
• While this provides easily • Teachers can discuss with students the
accessibility to students, it importance of protecting their personal
does not teach students to online data in collaboration with the
keep their usernames and media specialist and/or technology
passwords private. teacher.
 Why Digital Citizenship?
As we continue to move As technology moves into
through the 21st century, classrooms,
technology • teachers should model
● will become more proper elements of
prevalent in the digital citizenship, as
classroom. these skills will follow
● can provide new students through not only
opportunities. their schooling, but their
life.
Results of Digital Citizenship
Digital citizen components
come together to make a safe
and responsible digital citizen.
 References

Zook, C. (2023, July 18). What is digital citizenship & how do you
teach it? Applied-Educational-Systems.
https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/what-is-digital-citizenship
ISTE. (n.d.). https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-
coaches