Why every classroom should teach digital citizenship

Every day, we see students struggle with how to
mindfully manage the potential and power of their digital devices. 

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 With our TechforEd initiative, and other 1:1 school programs, it’s become obvious that students need time to examine the consequences of their online activity. Here are some reasons why educators should take the lead in promoting digital citizenship curriculum inside their classroom and some helpful resources for how to implement. ​

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1. Guiding
appropriate
technology
​use

The number one concern we hear from teachers across our district is related to inappropriate use of technology by students in the classroom.  With our TechforEd initiative, we knew we would need to provide instruction and guidance for staff and students around this topic. Jeffco’s Digital Citizenship scope and sequence and associated supports are built on Common Sense Media’s research based curriculum.  This school year, resources are released monthly to schools and include lessons, activities, reading materials and family communication. If you are new to Digital Citizenship, these free resources are a great way to engage your students.

2. Incessant multitasking
​creates the need to "teach" focus

“Although students had been told at the outset that they should “study something important, including homework, an upcoming examination or project, or reading a book for a course,” it wasn’t long before their attention drifted: Students’ “on-task behavior” started declining around the two-minute mark as they began responding to arriving texts or checking their social media feeds. By the time the 15 minutes were up, they had spent only about 65 percent of the observation period actually doing their schoolwork.”
​~study out of California State University

If we want students to thrive in the digital world, they must be taught and have time to practice sustained attention.  This is not a new practice, but urgent in the current environment. In the classroom, we can (and should) offer students incentives to engage in undistracted learning on their devices. 

1. Time their engagement
ex: if students are on task for __ minutes, they get 2 minutes of YouTube
2. Create more engaging digital tasks.
ex: Create slideshows in Pear Deck, allowing for digital interaction with the content
​3. Give students choice in how they show they learning.
ex: a typed essay, a Google site, a WeVideo, a podcast using Soundtrap, a digital poster using Google Drawings or Boardbuilder in Discovery Education

3. We are more apt to search the intranet than visit a library to research

One of the most empowering elements of digital media is the opportunity to learn anything, anytime, anywhere.  Evaluating and citing sources has long been a skill that educators have guided students through. Now, more than ever, this skill is needed and, luckily, we know how to teach it!  Teaching digital literacy empowers students with the skills and understanding necessary to not only use internet and technology to their benefit, but use it in the most effective ways to quickly find information and utilize the ever expanding list of sites and means of communication at their disposal. ​

4. Digital wellness is a mounting concern

​With the rising concerns of technology addiction, isolation, and depression in children comes the need for more personal interaction.  According to Common Sense Media, “the line between healthy and harmful (digital) use varies person to person and context to context (with evidence showing that already vulnerable teens, for instance, are more likely to exhibit unhealthy use of media), and research shows both positive and negative impacts of everything from social media to games”.  As educators, we understand that our content is not the most important thing. Building relationships that provide a safe classroom community is the first thing we do with our students, because we know that feelings often trump learning. We can use this same philosophy when thinking about digital wellness. We must build digital wellness supports into our 1:1 classrooms.  Talking with students about what media balance means to them and making screen time limit goals around their personal needs is a good way to build awareness. One school is Columbus, Ohio created a Digital Wellness Month.  Giving students a voice in determining what is “healthy” rather than mandating arbitrary screen time restrictions creates more buy-in.

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Educators tend to have two major assumptions. First, we assume that as digital natives, there is no need for teaching students how to use technology. Second, technology comes in many forms and we tend to lump it all together.  In reality, the quality of the tools and devices matters. Remember creation vs. consumption. Engaging with an educational app (like Book Creator) for one hour per day is far more valuable than something that provides entertainment.

If you want planning support or more grade level examples, please reach out to your school’s Digital Teacher Librarian or Ed Tech Specialist.  

​FREE Digital Citizenship resources for educators:
Common Sense Media
Be Internet Awesome 
TechforEd
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