Why Digital Citizenship?
The Calgary Board of Education is committed to helping its students thrive in the 21st century. Digital citizenship, with an emphasis on both personal safety and ethical behaviour, is a key component in helping CBE students use the available digital technologies available to their intended capabilities; to assist students in reaching their full potential as learners within the CBE and beyond.
What is Digital Citizenship?
Digital Citizenship is having the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to demonstrate responsible and appropriate behaviour when using technology or participating in digital environments. This usually includes email etiquette, protecting private information, staying safe online, and knowing how to deal with bullying, whether you're a target or a bystander.
"Digital citizenship isn't just about recognizing and dealing with online hazards. It's about building safe spaces and communities, [having students] understand how to manage personal information, and about being Internet savvy-- using your online presence to grow and shape your world in a safe, creative way, and inspiring others to do the same."
Digizen.org http://www.digizen.org.uk/
Our goal is to elevate the concept of citizenship in a digital environment to reflect Johnson and Nissenbaum’s definition:
Citizen: “A person who works against injustice, not for individual recognition or personal advantage, but for the benefit of all people. In realizing this task – shattering privileges, ensuring information and competence, acting in favour of all – each person becomes a citizen.”
(Johnson & Nissenbaum, 1995)
To explore the elements of digital citizenship visit Mike Ribble’s website on Digital Citizenship at http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html
It is important to understand that digital citizenship is not a single lesson or unit nor is it centred on a specific technology. Digital citizenship is a comprehensive approach to the use of digital technologies that spans student education from K-12 and into adulthood. Digital citizenship should be practiced in every course, throughout the school and at home. Digital Citizenship should be an active part of our everyday lives. It is an ongoing partnership between teachers, students and parents. Just as teachers build an awareness of the importance of digital citizenship at school, parents should build and reinforce these concepts with their children at home. It is our goal that students approach any use of technology with the digital citizenship components in mind.
For a list of resources that address the principles of digital citizenship for teachers, parents and students, visit our DC Resources list at: Digital Resources
