Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship in Schools

A teacher's job is to provide opportunities for students to learn new things. School should be a place where kids are shaped into better citizens in their own unique way. Teachers should guide them along the way and expose them to lessons that will help them discover who they are and what they want to do in life. These lessons should equip them to live life in a way that enables them to make a difference and do so safely. 

Technology is on the rise in today's society. This puts a spin on teachers job to help students grow up to be upstanding citizens. Teachers also have to consider that not only will the students become citizens of the world, but also of the digital world. This is a hard concept for students to realize at a young age because of the barrier technology creates between people. No one is directly watching them as they post something on social media. No one directly sees them click the mouse to go onto a website they shouldn't. Not to mention how easy it is to type negative and derogatory things versus saying it to someones face. 

The first step towards creating responsible students online, is making them realize that their image and reputation online is just as important as it is in person. The same goes for their safety. Places they go online can be just as dangerous as places they could go in town. As a future teacher I will create opportunities for my students to practice responsibility online. I will teach them what is appropriate information to put on their profiles and to release to certain websites. I will ask them what certain pictures make them think. I will ask them "What if you were in this picture?". It is also important for them to understand that just because something is online, doesn't make it free. At a young age, people should learn and become aware of the laws regarding piracy and theft online. It is easy to get away illegal things online, but that doesn't create a good environment online. My students will be the future generation of society and it is my job to teach them to be honest and responsible. 

Students should be exposed to technology in many different aspects. Some don't have access at home and school is the only place they learn to use it. Schools should take responsibility for teaching students how to use technology responsibility. It is becoming such a huge part of life, therefor it should be present in schools. I agree that many aspects of social media and games can hinder children's focus in learning. I think these aspects should be restricted but there are plenty of other resources to teach kids how to use social media responsibly. 

Photo Credit to Terry Heick

links to more info on digital citizenship

http://digiteacher.flatclassroomproject.org/Let's+Talk+about+Digital+Citizenship

http://digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html

Teachers and the Digital Divide

In today's world, some people have an advantage over others due to access to technology. With technology growing so rapidly, the future is centered around its influence. Those people who have technology and internet access in their homes have a better understanding of how to use it, and use it effectively. Coming into a classroom with the prior knowledge and advantage wedges an invisible "divide" between students. As teachers it is our job to close that gap and give all students an even playing field for them to prosper. 

Having students at different ability levels is a common hurdle that teachers have to learn to work around when planning lessons. Technology is adding another aspect to this problem. Some students have computers and Ipads at home that they use on a regular basis. Others only have a smart phone to allow them internet access. This creates a great disadvantage for the latter. When assigning homework, teachers cannot assume everyone has the resources to create a word document, power point, or even to look up a video online. 

Students with access to the internet have an endless supply of information at their fingertips. Other students may only have access from a cell phone or at a local library. The time and experience spent with technology can impact how the readiness a student has to enter into the work force. Employers are looking for people who will be able to work with technology like its second nature. They want young people who grew up with technology and the truth is, that not all young people do.

Teachers need to bridge this gap by providing access to their students as much as possible and teaching every child the basis of technology use so their knowledge can grow from that. Teachers should provide opportunities to let them discover new possibilities that technology has to offer. If every student has a basic knowledge of how to use technology for everyday life and a knowledge of how to learn more, their future outside of school has a greater potential. 

Statistics:

74% of women and 80% of men have internet access in developed countries.

37% of women and 41% of men have internet access worldwide.

48% of people 15 and older use a smartphone. 

Links to more information: 

www.internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm 

www.edutopia.org/de-technology-access-resources

http://www.infodocket.com/2013/06/10/new-report-from-u-s-census-rising-internet-use-and-impact-of-smartphones-on-digital-divide/

Digital Natives

I think that learning how to use technology is a lot like learning how to speak a language. For the first few years of ones life, the brain is more capable of picking up on words and making them second nature. Being around people that speak this language constantly makes the brain naturally want to decipher the code. Communication interacting with everyday life helps a baby learn what words mean and how to use them. 

Putting a child in the same setting with technology does the same thing. When they see it being used on a regular basis and are exposed to it they will naturally learn how to use technology. On the other hand, older generations have to teach themselves or be taught how to use it. They will have to put in the effort and time to manually teach their brains something that came naturally to a digital native. 

In the debate I took the opposing side to my beliefs. I have learned that for a lot of people in the older generation have a knack for technology and don't have to spend as much time learning how to use new technology as others. As technology develops it becomes harder for natives to adapt, and it is possible that a non-native could learn easier. A lot of this does depend on how much time each generation spends with technology on a regular basis. A non-native could use technology in his or her workplace more than a native does in school. This could put the non-native above the native in terms of technology fluency.  

Photo credit to Ken Lee 

Photo credit to Dave Winer

This is a link to a great blog about digital natives. The author does not automatically claim that everyone in the younger generation is a digital native. Instead she discusses an idea that they still need to be taught and should in turn be called digital citizens. The author states that children will be able to figure out technology when handed to them, although they should be taught proper etiquette. These "citizens" should have guided assitance. 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-native-digitial-citizen-stereotype-mary-beth-hertz

Effectively Integrating Technology in the Classroom

Integrating technology can be a great tool if used properly, however when it is used as an addition instead of to enhance the teaching style and collaboration of the students, it can actually be detrimental.Technology should be used as a way for students to share opinions and ideas in a group setting. It can be used to enhance informative projects and give them flair. Smart boards and Ipads can be used to allow students to physically touch things versus listening to a lecture. This is huge for students that learn better by participating rather than watching. However, poor use of technology does little to no good when it comes to better the quality of the education. Technology that does not allow the students to participate or share their feedback and ideas simply takes on another form of lecture. Lecture style provides nothing that targets the students who learn best by hands on projects and conversation.

 Integrating technology is important because students need to learn to use different methods of technology and understand their options for future use outside of school. Technology will adapt and change throughout their years in school. By teaching them how to use it from the beginning they will have the basics down and the adaptations will come easier, preparing them for future changes. Another reason why technology is so important is because it creates higher quality education. As a whole, our society needs better education. We need better teachers and better resources. Technology can provide what some teachers don't have, and enhance what they do have. 

I like using technology to participate in large class discussions. When I have done that it made it easier for me to see the ideas of everyone else and contribute my thoughts freely. This connects a large class in a way that cannot be done without technology. It encourages participation and paves the way for young minds to think and ponder their own thoughts and opinions. This is a huge step for educators. It should be taken advantage of everywhere. 

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  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathycassidy/Photo credit to Kathy Cassidy

Photo credit to Michael Coghlan