Are you a Digital Citizen?
Many people from all over the world desire to be an American citizen, but they find it is not an easy thing to accomplish.
Image from Flickr user Caroline Eyer
Likewise, becoming a Digital Citizen is not as easy as it seems either. Just as an American citizen needs to know the basics of the rules of this country to survive, like driving their car on the correct side of the road, a Digital Citizen needs to know how to get around on their devices. It is very easy to end up in unsavory pornographic places, or worse, in virus laden environments that risk the life of one's computer. Another danger is that it is as unsafe to leave one's car unlocked as it is to have no locks on our digital data, so that any unscrupulous hacker can enter our bank accounts. A Digital Citizen needs to know the laws of Digital Land, even as an American Citizen needs to know the laws of this nation. Some copyrights on images can be worth suing a person over. It has been said that the Disney corporation is very aggressive in protecting it's intellectual property. Similarly, due consideration must be given the physical property of companies and businesses and not commit theft there either.
Yet on the other hand, there are many differences between a Digital Citizen and an American Citizen. One such difference is that a Digital Citizen would not need to know the three Branches of American government, nor the veto power of the President. The famous leaders of the American Revolution have no connection with the Internet. And the details of the Civil War on the citizenship test have nothing in common with digital etiquette. Then finally, the Articles of Confederation have zero to do with digital health and wellness.
Yet we can apply traditional citizenship ideas to our work in helping students develop digital citizenship by considering how to be a good citizen in both realms. Both realms need their citizens to be law abiding, not doing illegal actions. Both realms need their students to be considerate of other people, and be an influence for good, not oppressing or threatening others. Traditional citizenship would be like knowing the Bill of Rights, knowing and abiding by the Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship, respecting the right of free speech, and the right to privacy.
Finally the teacher's role in helping students develop digital citizenship is essential. A teacher must tell the students about copyrights on images and videos. A teacher must encourage the students to honor these copyrights. And lastly, a teacher must show the students how to use and attribute images off of the internet properly.
For more information on attribution see:
Attribution Infogram
Yet on the other hand, there are many differences between a Digital Citizen and an American Citizen. One such difference is that a Digital Citizen would not need to know the three Branches of American government, nor the veto power of the President. The famous leaders of the American Revolution have no connection with the Internet. And the details of the Civil War on the citizenship test have nothing in common with digital etiquette. Then finally, the Articles of Confederation have zero to do with digital health and wellness.
Yet we can apply traditional citizenship ideas to our work in helping students develop digital citizenship by considering how to be a good citizen in both realms. Both realms need their citizens to be law abiding, not doing illegal actions. Both realms need their students to be considerate of other people, and be an influence for good, not oppressing or threatening others. Traditional citizenship would be like knowing the Bill of Rights, knowing and abiding by the Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship, respecting the right of free speech, and the right to privacy.
Finally the teacher's role in helping students develop digital citizenship is essential. A teacher must tell the students about copyrights on images and videos. A teacher must encourage the students to honor these copyrights. And lastly, a teacher must show the students how to use and attribute images off of the internet properly.
For more information on attribution see:
Attribution Infogram
You made some powerful connections between citizenship in the U.S. and digital citizenship. I think this analogy would be helpful in teaching students to understand the importance of digital citizenship. I really think you're on to something here.... This could be a great approach for introducing digital citizenship in your classroom.
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