What is Digital Citizenship?

Submitted by Jennifer Blackstone on Wed, 12/21/2011 - 11:34

Digital Citizenship is the norms of behavior with regards to technology. As a way of understanding the complexity of digital citizenship and the issues of technology use, abuse, and misuse, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) identified 9 general areas of behavior that make up digital citizenship.

  1. Etiquette
    • Definition: Electronic standards of conduct or procedure
    • Example of inappropriate etiquette: Using all CAPITAL LETTERS IN WRITING (This signifies that you are yelling)
    • Strategy: Follow rules and policies established by the school for appropriate technology use
  2. Communication
    • Definition: Electronic exchange of information
    • Example of inappropriate communication: Using texting language rather than formal written form in an email to your teacher
    • Strategy: Encourage students to use good digital communication
  3. Education
    • Definition: The process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology
    • Example of inappropriate education: Students using the Internet to obtain answers from other students
    • Strategy: Teach students how to use technology to find credible resources and materials, provide learning opportunities in different technology modes, and teach information literacy
  4. Access
    • Definition: Full electronic participation in society
    • Example of inappropriate access: Schools not providing technology for students to complete their assignments
    • Strategy: Provide time for students to use school technology to work on assignments
  5. Commerce
    • Definition: Electronic buying and selling of goods
    • Example of inappropriate commerce: Students purchasing goods online without knowledge of how to protect their identity
    • Strategy: Teach students about the dangers of identity theft and how to protect themselves
  6. Responsibility
    • Definition: Electronic responsibility for actions and deeds
    • Examples of inappropriate responsibility: Illegally downloading MP3 music from sites; students copying material off the Internet for class assignments without citing their sources
    • Strategy: Begin discussions on student perceptions of ethical/unethical technology use; discuss fair use and copyright laws
  7. Rights
    • Definition: Freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world
    • Example of inappropriate rights: Students violating school acceptable use policies because they view them unfair
    • Strategy: Engage the school community in discussion of why school and digital policies regarding technology exist; provide students with information about appropriate and inappropriate use of technology in school; engage students about the differences between rights in school and outside school when using technology
  8. Safety
    • Definition: Electronic precautions to guarantee safety
    • Examples of inappropriate security: Assuming there is no need to protect electronic data; failing to maintain current software updates and patches on home computers that protect from viruses; students not protecting their identities while using email, chat, or IM
    • Strategy: Teach students to back up data and protect their equipment from damage; teach students how to conduct regular checks for viruses or other software intrusions using approved software. (The National Cyber Security Alliance stated that 67% of broadband users don’t have properly installed and securely configured firewalls)
  9. Security
  • Our next blog will take a deep look into Internet Security…
  • For more information of this topic, please access our source for this blog www.iste.org
  • Special thanks to Mrs. Mena, HHSO Counselor, for putting this information together to help protect and educate our students.