A broad definition of digital citizenship is the ability to use technology and the Internet in an appropriate manner. Digital citizenship skills give students the right tools to engage with the digital world in ways that promote healthy online communities.
Digital citizenship is not a long list of don’ts. It is about the do’s that help create thoughtful, empathetic digital citizens who can navigate the ethical questions at the intersection of technology and humanity. Digital citizenship is about:
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Using technology to make your community better.
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Engaging respectfully online with people who have different beliefs than you.
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Using technology to make your voice heard by public leaders and shape public policy.
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Determining the validity of online sources of information.
Digital citizenship goes beyond conversations about personal responsibility. It’s about being active citizens who see possibilities instead of problems, and opportunities instead of risks as they curate a positive and effective digital footprint.
When we help students develop healthy practices on the Internet, we’re also creating a better space for everyone they interact with. If your students use technology in class, the digital citizenship curriculum is one of the best ways to help everyone make the most of their time online.
Because technology is so prevalent in schools, teachers often have to worry about how to prevent cyberbullying, cell phones disrupting class, and plagiarism. Teaching digital citizenship can be one of the best ways to decrease these and other inappropriate behaviors at school. As they become good digital citizens, students can use the Internet with a greater sense of self-awareness and better understand how to best use technology.
