What is Digital Citizenship?
Digital citizenship is the practice of appropriate and responsible behavior in regards to technology use. Digital citizenship is a complex system with nine elements of digital use.
The first element of digital citizenship is digital access. Digital access is the universal access to digital use. This means that full electronic participation in society is encouraged. Under digital access it is important for technology users to understand that not everyone has equal access to technology. Since not everyone has equal access, it is unfair to deny access to those with limited technology resources. As a productive member of society, it is important for everyone to make sure that no one is denied access to digital technology.
With technology advancing so rapidly in the twenty-first century, commerce has taken on a new platform in the technology world. Digital commerce is the second element of digital citizenship. With more businesses online, customers are encouraged to buy and sell goods through the digital world. Digital commerce indicates that technology users need to be aware of the problems with it. Citizens need to understand that while there are legal goods and services on the internet, there is also a good deal of goods and services being sold online that do not follow the laws and morals of the nation. Examples of this can include pornography, illegal downloading and gambling as well. Technology users need to be aware on how to be effective consumers in the digital age.
Next, the third element of digital citizenship is digital communication. Digital communication encourages the exchange of information through an electronic platform. There are various platforms for electronic communication such as email, texting, instant messaging, and even video chatting such as Skype. It is important for users to understand how to communicate appropriately and effectively through the use of digital medial.
With many problems occurring in the digital world, digital literacy is very important. Digital literacy is the process of teaching and learning about technology and its uses. As an educator, it is very important to educate children about the appropriate uses of technology. As technology rapidly advances, digital users need to be able to learn anything, anytime, and anywhere. In schools, students need to be taught how to utilize different resources in technology that will help them in the work place. Many employers look for people with the ability to use and create multiple different works using technological programs. Since workers need immediate information, it is important for students to be taught how to use technology responsibly.
Digital etiquette is a very important element of digital citizenship. It is the electronic standards of conduct or procedure. Often in the technological world today, users are attacking and verbally abusing other users. This most often occurs on celebrity posts with users shaming not only the celebrity but often other users commenting on the post as well. It is important for every citizen to be taught digital etiquette to become responsible digital citizens.
Along with digital etiquette comes digital law. Digital law is the electronic responsibility for actions online. Digital law deals with unethical use of technology such as stealing or other crimes. Users need to be informed that causing damage to other people's work, identity, or property online is a crime. Digital laws help protect users from unethical behavior caused online.
As a user of technology, each person is required to follow the digital rights and responsibilities rules. The digital rights and responsibilities is like the bill of rights in the American constitution. It outlines the responsibilities of users along with the rights they have while using and sharing information online. Basic rights must be addressed and understood in the digital world. With rights and responsibilities, users need to help define how to appropriately use technology.
With many users worldwide, it is important for users to understand the physical and psychological well-being in the digital world. Digital health and wellness focuses on educating users on the negative consequences of technology on the body. While technology can be great, it comes with serious health consequences such as internet addiction, eye safety, and repetitive stress syndrome. These are just a few of the negative consequences of technology on human health.
Lastly, the ninth element of digital citizenship is digital security. Through the use of digital media, fraud is much easier to occur. While using technology, users need to provide the same level of protection as they do their houses. In order to protect information users are encouraged to have virus protection, back ups of data, and surge control of our equipment. Along with this, users need to utilize site security options to protect their information from being available to others online. In the video posted below, it discusses the importance of teaching digital citizenship in classrooms.
How to Incorporate into Foreign Language Classrooms:
Teaching students the rules of appropriate and responsible use of technology is something very important to teach. Without teaching students digital citizenship, there is more room for unethical behavior to occur in the digital world. Teaching students about the appropriate use of technology starting at an early age helps form them into law abiding citizens on the worldwide web.
In order to teach technology into a foreign language classroom, educators need to make sure their lessons follow the states standards on education technology. Following North Carolina's standards of teaching, I have chosen North Carolina Standard NC.7.TT.1.3 and NC.7.SE.1.1.
North Carolina standard 7.TT.1.3 is the appropriate use of technological tools to design products that share information with others. The second standard I chose, 7.SE.1.1 is applying ethical behavior when using resources. Both of these standards teaches the element of digital literacy.
Using both these standards it is now time to create a lesson teaching digital law in a foreign language classroom. First, pick a theme. For this example, the theme being used is the house theme and all of it's belongings. This lesson is going to be a research based project. At the end of the unit, have students use technology to find houses for sale online in a foreign country. Some realtor sites for foreign countries include, World Properties, Viviun, and Realtor.
Before starting the project, assign students random amounts of money that they can use to "buy" their house. Using online resources, have students find houses in a foreign country for the price they have been assigned. After students have found their homes and printed out a copy of it, it is now time to write a description of the house. Students will be required to create a powerpoint, brochure, poster, flyer, portfolio or three dimensional model of their house. Included in the description of the house, students will be required to describe each room, what is in each room, how many floors the house has, and what is around the house, such as a pool, garage, or garden. After students have completed the project, they will need to present their information to the class and describe their house. Students are required to attach a bibliography at the end of their project.
This lesson teaches digital literacy because it is teaching students how to use the internet to find what they are looking for. This also teaches digital literacy because in relation to standard 7.SE.1.1 students are using ethical behavior by not violating copyright laws. Students are not allowed to use information that is not theirs and are required to cite the sources they used. Students are not allowed to use web translators either. By using a web translator, it is violating the copyright by copying and pasting their information. Using a web translator does not provide accurate translations so it is evident when a middle schooler uses a web translator in their project. By requiring students to submit a bibliography, students are practicing ethical behavior by not violating copyright. Standard 7.TT.1.3 is being used to teach digital literacy because students are using a variety of digital tools to create products in order to share information. Both of these standards teach digital literacy and digital law because students are encouraged to use a wide variety of digital tools while not violating or stealing other people's information.
Another lesson that applies to both these standards is a lesson around the art theme. At the end of the unit students will be required to create a powerpoint or a slideshow with their voice recording describing a night of the arts. In this research based project students have to choose a place where their event is being held (in a foreign country), a theme for their art night, several works of art including a piece of art from a famous artist from that country relating to the theme, a menu of the dinner they are providing with food from their chosen country, and a form of entertainment relating to their theme such as a movie or dance. This lesson also teaches digital literacy because students are using a wide variety of digital tools to create and share information with others. Also students are being taught digital law because they have to follow copyright laws as well with the pieces of art, menu, and the entertainment. Students will not violate copyright laws as they will be creating a bibliography of all the sites and tools that were used. For additional examples of lesson plans on how to teach digital literacy, check out Common Sense.
No comments:
Post a Comment