Digital Citizenship

Digital citizenship is modeled throughout the year. Every time I show my students something online I need to model how to find it appropriately. They need to be shown how to find an answer to their question using an appropriate resource. Through Google I can show them that they do not need to necessarily choose the first link they come to. Each suggestion comes with a little blurb that will help them choose. If they choose a link and don't like the site, they do have other choices they can return to. Students also need to be shown how to respond to a blog or post appropriately. I can model this by responding to someone's blog using the correct language and feeling tone. I can also show them what not to do when they understand how to appropriately respond. Also, I would like to show students how to choose appropriate websites to go to. Teaching the idea of digital citizenship make be a little difficult for 1st graders. There will be a lot of explaining the vocabulary necessary to understanding the concept. A flipchart may be the best way to teach digital citizenship. Students are comfortable with flipcharts and this comfortability will allow them to maximize their understanding of digital citizenship. I believe using that same format with parents at Open House or parent conferences will be beneficial. That way they see the same things their student saw. Having taught it this way to students first will allow the students to answer any questions their parents may have as well. Teaching digital citizenship to students will transfer into their life outside of school as well. Many students are on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. and respond to posts in an unacceptable manner. This may lead to cyberbullying. Having had an experience with cyberbullying in my own household I see the importance of teaching students how to act appropriately online.