What is Digital Citizenship?
Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology by anyone who uses computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society on any level.
There’s a major difference between good digital citizenship and bad digital citizenship.
Good digital citizenship engages people to positively connect with one another, empathize with each other, and create lasting relationships through digital tools.
Bad digital citizenship, on the other hand, includes cyberbullying, irresponsible social media usage, and a general lack of knowledge about how to safely use the Internet.
The 5 Competencies of Digital Citizenship
How to be an inclusive digital citizen
- Take the time to read and understand the original post. Read and reflect on an entire article or post as well as the comments of others before joining the conversation.
- Exchange ideas with one or more users. Approach online conversations as an opportunity to learn new things; read, ask questions and hear others out as much as — or even more than — you speak.
- Tag and mention community members. Reference a particular person, line of thinking or portion of the original text. Stay on topic.
- Carefully craft your message. Consider the audience you are writing for. Comments with typos, incomplete thoughts or uncommon slang can make it hard for others to understand your message.
- Present evidence and personal experiences that support your opinions. This is a more respectful and effective way to engage with others who do not agree with your opinions than insults, name-calling, and attacking other users.
- Uphold the digital community’s agreed-upon norms for interaction. If you don’t know the norms, look to how others are behaving or ask for guidance.
- Consume as much as you contribute. Read with the intention of understanding and learning more, not to combat other people’s opinions.
What does being an engaged digital citizen look like?
Research non-profits, community, political, and faith based organizations that interest you and align with your values.
Identify training and volunteer opportunities within your digital and physical communities.
Identify problems that need to be solved and use your digital presence to advocate for their resolution.
Do you control the technology or does the technology control you?
What does being an alert digital citizen look like?
Make a Plan!
- On a piece of paper write down the 5 Competencies of Digital Citizenship.
- Together with family and/or a group of friends, develop a plan to become more proficient in each of the competencies.
- As a team, set a weekly and monthly goal, and have everyone track their individual progress towards meeting those goals. Make it a challenge.
- Weekly and at the end of the month, compare your results to the results of the rest of your family and friends.
Explore the K12 Career Education Navigator
The K12 Career Technical Education (CTE) Navigator helps you explore high school courses and career pathways offered across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Browse by industry sector, county, school district, and more to find options that match your interests and career goals and see how these pathways can prepare you for college, certifications, apprenticeships, or the workforce.
Credits:
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