I was born in 1993, which technically categorizes me as a late “millennial.” That also means that I was part of the generation that grew up through the technology and social media transition. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a computer or access to the internet (even if they were desktops and dial-up). I went through the middle school AIM obsession, which eventually fed into MySpace. By high school, Facebook had taken over and in college, I started my Instagram and Snapchat. While I didn’t grow up with a smartphone or tablet in hand, I had access to some form of technology. How much digital citizenship education did I have in school? None. That’s why I believe the concept is so important for our students today. In December, I had the opportunity to attend a Digital Citizenship conference held at Google’s NYC office where I got to share with other educators who believed in the importance of this education for students. And when I say education, I mean students learning about using the internet and social media in a beneficial way-- NOT scaring them away from using it. Fear was a big thing when I was in school (not that it was really that long ago). “Don’t talk to strangers online.” “Don’t post anything because someone can find and hurt you.” “Don’t overshare because your future employer will find it.” And while some of those lessons are important, it didn’t educate us about how to effectively use the digital world to our advantage.In fact, it turned us in the wrong direction. We were the generation stealing songs off the internet, breaking through so-called school firewalls to access blocked games and websites, and hiding our social media profiles from our families...so clearly all that “fear” worked. We had to figure out how to use these tools appropriately ourselves, through trial and error, and for some of us, the message is still unclear. We have a chance to actually improve this education for our next generation of students in our classrooms. Yet, for some, the fear model is still the only education set in place. After my inspiring day at Google, I pulled together what I believe are the most important aspects of digital citizenship education in schools. Staff EducationThere are many misconceptions about what digital citizenship actually is. Some people just think it’s social media safety. Others think it’s appropriately using images and videos online and copyright rules. This confusion increases the need for staff education about digital citizenship. Google has produced a short Digital Citizenship course for teachers which provides self-paced modules and assessments. Teachers can work through this course at their own convenience and discover the exact message they should be sending students about digital citizenship. Before we can expect teachers to convey the importance of being internet safe, we need to explain what it actually is. This course is just one way to make sure that all educators have the same understanding. Consistency Across the SchoolOnce everyone is educated, the message needs to be consistent. It can’t be okay to make inappropriate Google Classroom comments in one class but have it be a serious issue in another. Students shouldn’t be lying about their age to get onto a website in one class while another teacher stresses the importance of honesty. Teachers should be on a similar page about the actual function of digital citizenship in the school. A brief list of expectations of students should be provided so both the students and the teachers understand. If you want all teachers to take responsibility for encouraging the practices associated with digital citizenship, then the overarching message needs to be clear. Everyone needs to have the same understanding of the expectations. Modeling is Important“Don’t bully others online” says the educator. Then on their social media profile, you see endless negativity and harassment of others. What message does that send? My students are aware I have social media profiles; I’m 24 so it’s not surprising to them. In fact, they can easily find my Twitter profile through a quick Google search of my name. And that doesn’t bother me. In fact, I like that it’s the feed they can see when they find me. They will find positivity, sharing of ideas, and appropriate ways to engage and respond to people with differing opinions. While these posts are education-based, my students can see me as a model for effective online behavior. Then it doesn’t become a “Do as I say, not as I do.” They see that it is an active way I live my life. In the same regard, school districts with social media pages can model this behavior, as well. Showing students that each staff member is embodying the message is crucial. One Unit isn't EnoughTeaching one unit of digital citizenship in isolation does not appear to be effective. In speaking with directors, supervisors, and teachers in other districts, it is clear that the “one and done” system does not work. At the same time, many teachers feel like they cannot dedicate a whole unit of time to teaching it, as they are losing time in their content area. The solution is one that is effective and gives back actual class time: integrate it all year long. Before you have the students complete research for a project, quickly review effective search strategies and real versus fake websites. Then refer back to that mini-lesson throughout the year. Not only are the students seeing how these skills are integrated into all content areas, but they are also seeing real-life applications.
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Katie Nieves@Ms_Katie Nieves Archives
December 2017
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