Just as we should show good manners and treat others in the same manner we want to be treated in real life, the same applies to our online presence. This covers everything from the hows and whys of doing various types of communication online to behaviour in online gaming.
Digital citizenship distills down into a couple of related key components- respect and ethics. Recall the "Golden Rule" or treat others as you wish to be treated. In other words, use the same kindness and love in your online activities as you do in real life. Show respect for others online in the same manner you would as in speaking with someone while in the line-up at Tim Horton's.
How do we translate this message into the classroom? Fortunately, we as teachers are not left alone in this regard. There are a number of resources and guides available to help in training ourselves and our students in becoming digitally literate.
Alberta Education has created a guide to aid in understanding digital citizenship as well as how to create policies to support learning and understanding in digital citizenship. It may be found at this link:
http://www.edudemic.com/digital-literacy/
Another good reference is: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-citizenship-mary-beth-hertz. This article makes the great point that digital citizenship involves teaching children a new set of social skills.
Coming back closer to home, http://www.2learn.ca/ydp/digcitizen.aspx is an Alberta based site with a great selection of links to aid and guide in furthering understanding and knowledge of digital citizenship.
Digital citizenship distills down into a couple of related key components- respect and ethics. Recall the "Golden Rule" or treat others as you wish to be treated. In other words, use the same kindness and love in your online activities as you do in real life. Show respect for others online in the same manner you would as in speaking with someone while in the line-up at Tim Horton's.
How do we translate this message into the classroom? Fortunately, we as teachers are not left alone in this regard. There are a number of resources and guides available to help in training ourselves and our students in becoming digitally literate.
Alberta Education has created a guide to aid in understanding digital citizenship as well as how to create policies to support learning and understanding in digital citizenship. It may be found at this link:
http://www.edudemic.com/digital-literacy/
Another good reference is: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-citizenship-mary-beth-hertz. This article makes the great point that digital citizenship involves teaching children a new set of social skills.
Coming back closer to home, http://www.2learn.ca/ydp/digcitizen.aspx is an Alberta based site with a great selection of links to aid and guide in furthering understanding and knowledge of digital citizenship.