What Is Digital Citizenship And Why Is It Important? The 9 Elements

What Is Digital Citizenship?

Digital Citizenship is “how we should act when we are using digital tools, interacting with others online, and what should be taught to help the next generation be better stewards of this technology.”

For schools and teachers, it is what and how we teach our students to interact with the online world. Devices like tablets, laptops, and Chromebooks are being used nationwide in schools these days, so teachers have the perfect opportunity to educate students about the digital world around them and how to be a good digital citizen.

Below are the 9 elements that are essential for teaching students what they need to know to be safe and informed digital citizens:

1. Access refers to the amount of access students have to technology. Not every child will have a personal device or internet at home, so schools should be aware of this as they require students to use more technology.
2. Commerce refers to the buying and selling of items online. These could be actual items or expertise through courses. This is an important aspect to share with parents and students because it can affect their future job choices.
3. Community and Collaboration includes digital relationships. Teaching students how to appropriately interact on the internet is a huge part of digital citizenship.
4. Etiquette covers the rules of conduct when interacting with the digital world. Knowing the rules before jumping online helps students be more aware of their digital footprint.
5. Fluency or literacy refers to the process of using technology and its benefits. Students make better decisions when they are online if they are digitally fluent. This also refers to fact-checking and being able to determine fact from fiction when reading an online source.
6. Health and Welfare looks at the physical and psychological side of technology. Is there such a thing as too much screen time? This aspect also covers cyber bullying and helping students be aware of what they say and post online.
7. Law consists of the responsibility of using technology. Laws are there to protect the people who use devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets. These laws also govern topics like cyberbullying and sexting topics.
8. Rights and Responsibilities refers to the freedoms that people have in the digital world as well as the real world. Everyone is entitled to their own ideas and opinions, but helping students use technology responsibly is a huge part of digital citizenship so that they can have continued access to it.
9. Security and Privacy consists of not only protecting technology from viruses and other “bugs” that threaten the use of a piece of technology, but also protecting personal information. Teaching students to discern fraudulent websites and users is a huge key to keeping them safe.

Why Teach Digital Citizenship with Technology in the Classroom?

The benefits of digital citizenship for kids extend far beyond the individual. When we help students develop healthy practices on the Internet, we’re also creating a better space for everyone they interact with.

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 and how to identify unsafe online activity, or when others are not simply not being good digital citizens.

Teaching digital literacy and other citizenship skills can also help bridge digital equity gaps (or the “digital divide”) between students. Not all students have the same level of access to technology at home. Students from low-income or marginalized communities often have fewer digital experiences in comparison to their peers. When digital literacy is a core part of their education, the technological resources and lessons in school can help these students catch up with their classmates.

Right now, digital citizenship is more important than ever. Even though many teachers assume that their students are competent tech users, in reality, not all students are as tech savvy as their teachers might assume. And although students may be comfortable using technology, they may not understand how to use it appropriately or how to harness the power of technology to pursue their passions and contribute to their community.