Teaching Digital Citizenship

I am on the fringe.  I use twitter.  I try to stay current on new technology.  I blog--sometimes.

So when I start talking to any one of my colleagues I realize that I am on the fringe when it comes to technology and the effect it has on education.  However, just as much as a school should be helping students become good physical citizens I am more convinced more than ever  that schools should also encourage students to be better digital citizens (and I'm not the only one) . . .

After a solid 10 minutes of brainstorming I think being a good digital citizen has at least these three elements:

• The Safety Element: The most important world application of digital citizenship is keeping yourself and others safe both online and offline.  Teaching students when, how, and why to express themselves safely online is imperative.  It's an easy sell too in light of the recent online bullying stories.
• The Information Element: The internet is a wide and diverse place and the answer to practically any question can be found online.  However, without the skills to determine what information is valid and verifiable and which information is likely false students have no skills to quickly find the information they need.
• The Collaboration Element: As the world grows in population it shrinks in size.  As more people learn how to use tools online to share their world the world itself shrinks.  Teaching our students to use these tools effectively will put them on much stronger footing in a future we cannot predict.

Of course many of the same character elements we would teach about digital citizens would clearly be characteristics we want in every student that leaves our classroom--respect for peers and viewpoints, initiative, and a deep thirst for knowledge.  

As a classroom teacher I don't have access to one-to-one computers so my students cannot practice these skills in my classroom.  However, anytime I am online I am sure to show them anything I can to help make them safer and more knowledgeable about online skills and citizenship.

What element would you add?  What elements would you teach?

Getting in on the Conversation

I'm not consistent with my posts.  I'm debating why.  It's not that I don't read blogs or have thoughts to contribute . . .

• Perhaps I'm afraid of putting IT out there.  
• Perhaps I don't think I have anything new to add that hasn't been said.
• Perhaps I don't think I have the time.
• Perhaps I'm too lazy.

Of those choices I'm pretty sure it's the fourth.  I sit and browse articles for hours or I flip through google/reader/play 3 times a day.  I have the time.  So now it's a matter of discipline.  I should easily maintain  two posts a week for the next month.

As a corollary I should also start commenting on the blogs I read.  All conversation takes both hearing and responding I need to do more responding.

So here's to joining the conversation . . . we'll see how this goes.