Foundations of Digital Citizenship
Understanding the core principles and terminology of digital citizenship is essential for both educators and students. This lab explores what it means to be a responsible digital citizen in today's interconnected world.
Key Terminology
Click on each term below to expand and learn more about essential digital citizenship concepts.
Expectations for Students
School-Issued Technology Use
Appropriate Use
Use school devices only for educational purposes. Avoid accessing inappropriate content, downloading unauthorized software, or using devices for personal entertainment during class time.
School AUP Compliance
Follow your school's Acceptable Use Policy at all times. This includes respecting network security, not sharing passwords, and reporting any technical issues or security concerns immediately.
Consequences of Misuse
Violations can result in loss of technology privileges, disciplinary action, parent/guardian notification, and in severe cases, legal consequences. All activity on school devices is monitored and logged.
Social Media Expectations
Personal vs. Educational Accounts
Keep personal social media separate from school-related accounts. Use school email only for educational purposes and maintain appropriate boundaries between personal and academic life.
Permanence of Posts
Remember that anything posted online can be screenshot, shared, and preserved forever. Think before you post: Would you be comfortable with your family, teachers, or future employers seeing this content?
Reputation Management
Regularly review your privacy settings and online presence. Google yourself to see what others can find. Remove or hide content that doesn't reflect your best self. Build a positive digital portfolio through thoughtful sharing.
Appropriate Sharing
Never share personal information (address, phone number, location) publicly. Be cautious about sharing photos that reveal identifying information. Respect others' privacy by asking permission before posting photos or information about them.
Expectations for Teachers
Professional Use of School Technology
Professional Boundaries
Maintain clear boundaries between personal and professional technology use. Use school email and devices primarily for educational purposes. Avoid accessing personal social media or conducting personal business on school devices during instructional time.
Modeling Appropriate Behavior
Teachers are role models for digital citizenship. Demonstrate respectful online communication, proper citation of sources, responsible social media use, and ethical technology practices. Students learn more from what you do than what you say.
Monitoring Responsibilities
Actively supervise student technology use in your classroom. Be aware of what students are accessing, address inappropriate use immediately, and report concerns to administration. Familiarize yourself with monitoring tools and filtering systems in place.
Social Media as an Educator
Separate Personal and Professional Accounts
Consider maintaining separate social media accounts for personal and professional use. If using one account, be extremely mindful of privacy settings and content. Never accept student friend requests on personal accounts.
Professional Online Presence
Your online presence reflects on your school and profession. Avoid posting controversial opinions, inappropriate photos, or negative comments about students, colleagues, or your school. Remember that parents and administrators may view your profiles.
Student Privacy Protection
Never post photos or information about students without proper consent. Follow FERPA guidelines and school policies regarding student privacy. Be cautious about discussing students online, even without using names.
Building Positive Digital Communities
Use social media to connect with other educators, share resources, and engage in professional development. Contribute positively to educational discussions and model the kind of digital citizenship you want to see in your students.
Key Takeaways
- Digital citizenship is about being responsible, respectful, and safe in online spaces
- Everything you do online contributes to your digital footprint and reputation
- Students and teachers both have important responsibilities in maintaining appropriate online behavior
- Teachers must model the digital citizenship behaviors they expect from students
- Understanding and following your school's AUP is essential for all technology users
Lab Completion
Once you have reviewed all the content above and understand the foundations of digital citizenship, mark this lab as complete.