Digital citizenship becomes an increasingly important issue as the shift moves from classroom sources to computer sources. “Digital Citizenship: Addressing appropriate technology behavior” (2004) by G.D. Bailey, M.S. Ribble, and T.W. Ross discusses the importance of teaching and modeling appropriate digital etiquette and behavior norms. I am often shocked at the number of students who rely solely upon technology and Google search engines for information and research. Students have not learned the alternatives and benefits to other forms of information. It has become increasingly easy for students to get their hands on information and material without actually learning it. Students can log on and find answers. They often will text or email answers to their friends thinking nothing of it. I think the most dangerous part of the digital age and becoming a digital citizen is the anonymity that can follow suit. Students will do things and say things to one another over a computer that they would not dare do in person. It is as if the computer or cell phone has become a screen blocking social etiquette and character traits that would be otherwise present.
Our school had an assembly about Internet safety that many students were silent during and finally saw the seriousness and implications of what happens in the technology realm. One thing that became shockingly clear was the message that once you put something out on the Internet it is always there. The delete button can never entirely delete and cheating via text messages is still cheating. Actions done through technology still have consequences. As the article says “Education is not the teaching of the three R’s. Education is the teaching of the overall citizenship, to learn to live together with fellow citizens, and above all to learn to obey the law.” We are educating future citizens to live productive lives and do meaningful work and without proper character education the lessons in reading, writing and arithmetic will be meaningless. Is modeling the best method to get character education messages across? Who should handle the situations in which students are not exercising appropriate digital citizenship?
Here are some commercials about Internet Safety
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT1GvPQG904
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbtajOvAU10
References:
Ribble, M.S.; Bailey, G.D.; Ross, T.W. (2004). Digital citizenship: Addressing appropriate technology behavior. Learning and Leading with Technology, 32(1), 6-12.
