Digital Citizenship. In an era where technology is such a ubiquitous part of our lives should we just call it “Citizenship”?  And how to we train children to become responsible edTech-700x700“citizens”? These are questions our team here at Concordia has been working to answer.  We think we have come up with a pretty decent plan and a path to lead students to become good Digital Citizens.  If you’d like to hear it, stick around for today’s episode of a new season of the Concordia EdTech Roundtable.   

Lessons Learned

Dennis – Year two in China.  Working harder, but easier.

Chris – Always look on the bright side of life (deedum, deedum-deedum-deedum)

Notes & Links

Our Path to Digital Citizenship –

Key Issues in implementing One to One

  • Why are we doing this?
    • From our MS Admin – Tech is part of the world we live in. It has challenges. Easy way to to say we won’t do it, and continue what we’ve been doing. More difficult is to face it head on, AS A TEAM, embrace the challenges and have a plan to equip students to use responsibly.  “We choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy but because it is hard!” – JFK
  • Addressing fear (of unknown, of change)
    • Is my 5th grader ready to own their own computer?
      • It’s not THEIR computer. It is the FAMILY computer that they get to use for school. Parents are the ADMIN. Not the child.
      • Technology Bootcamp
      • Ongoing Digitial Citizenship training – Tech Tuesdays in Homeroom/Advisory
    • I don’t know…
      • Have a PLAN at home. Family Technology Contract (PDF). A combination of resources from Common Sense Media & our Tech Code.
      • Talking points for parents and kids.
      • Permission to say NO to your child.  (It’s not because I’m a mean parent, this is what the school is telling me to do.)
  • Not just a Tech Department thing.
    • A TEAM effort – Admins, Counselors, Curriculum, Teachers, Tech Dept, and PARENTS

Resources:

Customizable Device Contract:

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/connecting_families/customizable_device_contract.pdf

Family Media Agreement:

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/connecting_families/family_media_agreements_k-12.pdf

Common Sense Education’s Digital Citizenship page

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/digital-citizenship

Thinkb4u family-oriented digital safety and citizenship

http://www.thinkb4u.com/

13 Resources To Help You Teach Digital Citizenship – THE Journal

https://thejournal.com/articles/2014/12/17/13-resources-to-help-you-teach-digital-citizenship.aspx

Digizen – UK-based digital citizenship site (comprehensive)

http://www.digizen.org/

Digizen review – Our 4-minute review of the site

http://21clradio.com/digizen-digital-citizenship-audio-review-84/

How You Can Become a Champion of Digital Citizenship in Your Classroom? EdSurge

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-06-25-how-you-can-become-a-champion-of-digital-citizenship-in-your-classroom

Building A Pathway For Good Digital Citizenship – Susan Bearden Interview

http://21clradio.com/susan-bearden-paints-pathway-good-digital-citizenship-education-vanguard-56/