Creating Good Digital Citizens

One of the discussion board questions this week really got me thinking about my students. I work with elementary schoolers and it is so funny to watch them with technology. They are so much more advanced with it than I was and I grew up with a computer at my house -- shout out to the family desktop that was in our dining room!

I find it funny to watch them with technology, though, because they usually just know what to do when they get to a website. Some of them already know how to get to the website, without my help. And others are somewhat clueless, but it still usually only takes me one time to explain something before they have it. And now they all have their own devices. Our district purchased Chromebooks for every student when we had a digital option during COVID. 

So now, we have the added task of making sure that they are being monitored not only in real life, but also online as well. We have the job of creating good citizens in their real life community and also in their digital communities.

Making sure that kids know that being safe online is just as important as being safe in the real world feels daunting. It's one more thing that teachers have to think about. As soon as you give kids that access, it's hard to take it away from them.

Being a good digital citizen isn't just about being nice to people online, but also creating good things for your digital community. Putting information out into internet-land that helps people. Making sure that kids do this is something that is important to me and should be important to others. 

Comments

  1. Cohl MillerJuly 17, 2022 at 9:46 AM

    The constants supervising of every single student on Go Guardian was a huge added stressor for me. What are some ways you found to instill good digital citizenship in students?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sarah StraughnJuly 17, 2022 at 10:12 AM

      Yes totally agree! GoGuardian is nice, but it is so much extra to have to keep track of. I think modeling best practices is one way I've found to instill good digital citizenship in my students. Showing them how to use Google or other search engines appropriately has really helped me immensely. I think also making sure they know my expectations before we start is helpful as well!

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