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Acceptable Use Policy Advocacy Announcements Ditigal Citizenship FAQ Parent Information School Information Student Information Teacher Information Technology

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So, how do you teach your students digital citizenship? Just watch this video, I found it on Twitter, see how young kids are learning digital citizenship. I guess this is a great way to teach and learn Digital Citizenship.

Addressing the 21st century skill of digital citizenship is important; to help students to learn, communicate and collaborate safely and responsibly. Being a best digital citizen in the community includes having email etiquette, reporting and preventing cyber bullying, learning how to protect private information, etc.

Kathie Kanavel- Coordinator for Educational Tech, Santa Clara Unified School District, says, " Digital citizenship is really important for 21st century skills, because being a 21st century citizen means that you can collaborate and communicate, and you need to do that not only the people you face with but also those that you encounter in digital world."

School are now shifting to BYOD (bring your own device) as a main move for tech integration in the classroom. So, when students are so close to the tech, they must know or examine the impact of their online activity. Here are few crucial reasons why school should make teaching digital citizenship to their students the first step in the tech integration process.

Due to the fact that a lot of young kids embrace technology every day without examining the consequence of implementation, we must bring digital citizenship lesson in the curriculum. Students continue to use devices whether the device has been embraced in their curriculum or not. They are in touch with technology even after the surveillance of teacher i.e after school. Therefore, there is a need to teach them digital citizenship.

Today, with digitalization, employers judge prospective students or employees for their social media profile. So, it is important to teach students how to create online personas that project positive and constructive image.

Cyber-bullying is another reason for teaching digital citizenship. We can only prevent cyber-bullying by educating students about digital citizenship. Lack of awareness about digital citizenship can lead to the cyber-bullying which has grave consequences at times.

Information Search and Analysis is an important aspect of Digital Citizenship. There are lots of resources available over the Internet and not all is authentic. Digital citizenship teaches students how to look out, select, and streamline information and how to choose a real and authentic source of information.

Related

If you wish to adopt the Digital Citizenship and Internet Maturity curriculum in your school, visit the website to know more.

Teaching digital citizenship to primary students is crucial. So if you are a primary teacher then here are some tips that might help you while teaching digital citizenship to your kids.

Stay informed and safe:

Whatever students do keep their parents inform.

Ensure that their parents understand what their kids are doing.

Include parents as well in their kid online activities.

Things only get posted after teacher's approval of it.

Be Respectful

Talk to your students about compassion, respect and being kind over the Internet. Make the student understand leave comment that they wanted to receive in their blogs. Help them to understand how to just focus on good things and not on bad things and how to make ensure that only their "good work" online.

Be a good learner

In all your classes make your student understand that web is a place to learn and gain things. Keep their focus only on good place over the web where they can learn good things.

Today, the engagement of students with technology is more in this digital world, and most of them do not make right choice, in fact they don't really know what they are doing and what is its affect. Therefore, digital citizenship lessons are mandatory to teach.

Looking for Digital Citizenship Resources?????? Click here.

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Why is Digital Citizenship Important? Even for Youngest Kids

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So, how do you teach your students digital citizenship? Just watch this video, I found it on Twitter, see how young kids are learning digital citizenship. I guess this is a great way to teach and learn Digital Citizenship. Addressing the 21st century skill of digital citizenship is important; to help students to learn, communicate and collaborate safely and responsibly.

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Monitoring student's progress - Infographic by Skyler Yeargan

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Create stunning social graphics - in seconds.

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Why should kids be digitally literate?

Digital literacy is a crucial skill for the workplace and puts children on a level playing field with their peers

The ability to analyse information and communicate responsibly is vital in our technologically-dependent world

At a basic level, computer proficiency makes online learning much easier!

Why is digital literacy so important?

This year has made it abundantly clear: we live in a digital world. And although it can be daunting for the older generation to be faced with an onslaught of ever-evolving technology, it is different for our kids. Screens are as integral to their world as print was to our era - and our children's navigation of the digital world depends on their digital literacy.

According to US Digital Literacy, the European Cooperation in Science and Technology, and Common Sense Media, digital literacy is defined as the ability to competently and responsibly use digital technology and communication tools to find, evaluate, use and create information. But how, and why, should your kids acquire these skills?

Digital literacy at school

The first skills which are taught to young children at school are literacy and numeracy. But literacy should not just extend to reading and writing, but also to literacy in the ever-important digital space - staying safe online, finding reliable information, and not just using, but developing software. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as it seems. School libraries are the first port of call for schoolchildren to access information, yet 40% of US public school libraries have no full-time certified librarians on their staff. What's more, the computer science curriculum is inadequate. Technology is changing exponentially and cannot be treated in the same static way as other school subjects; while history or science class can reasonably be taught with a decades-old textbook, teaching digital literacy is impossible with outdated resources.

The digital skills gap

Given that 75% of Americans use the internet as part of their jobs, digital literacy is a crucial skill. And just as private school pupils are more likely to attend elite colleges and end up in better paid careers, kids who are successfully prepared for the digital world have an advantage over those who are not. There is a real issue, then, with the digital skills gap. Across 24 US states, only 35% of high schools taught computer science at all, and pupils from minority, poorer, or rural backgrounds were less likely to attend these schools. No child should be denied future opportunities because of their background.

Effective citizenship

The internet has been praised as the great equaliser, providing independent news, free education resources, and limitless connection, allowing us to build a better world from the ground up. But as we have seen, even the most intelligent of adults can struggle to use the internet responsibly. As the saying goes, the children are the future - and teaching them to be digitally literate will ensure that they can research properly, use technology safely, and make the most of the wealth of information at their fingertips. In fact, digital literacy is key for what is known as 'effective citizenship' - participating in community and political life, staying informed about important issues, and finding a voice.

Lessons from the pandemic

Though kids today are referred to as 'digital natives', their computer skills are sorely lacking. The International Computer and Information Literacy Study in 2018, an assessment of the ICT abilities of 42,000 8 th grade students from 14 countries, revealed that only 19% could work independently with computers in real-world situations. The pandemic could not have illuminated this issue further, when the sudden switch to online schooling caught out millions of people, not least kids. With hybrid or online teaching, digital literacy in its most basic form - the ability to type, use office and remote learning software, and troubleshoot the Wi-Fi - has extremely tangible benefits (and not just for the kids themselves, but for parents acting as tech support and unable to focus on their own work!) For more tips on how to make remote learning more engaging and successful, check out our article.

A path to the future

With such a high proportion of jobs involving technology, digital literacy provides a stepping-stone to the future. But kids' literacy can be advanced to another level by learning to code, allowing them to become not just users but creators of the digital space. Alongside the clear benefits of digital literacy, computer programming teaches kids transferable skills like problem solving, creativity, and abstract thinking. What's more, coding opens up a world of career opportunities.

If, like us, you believe that digital literacy provides critical preparation for your child's present and future, then CodeAdvantage's courses are a great way to introduce your child to the digital world. Our project-based classes are available in many different formats, from online classes and 1:1 lessons, to coding learning pods and school break camps.

We offer block-based coding classes for kindergarteners to 5th graders, which are a fantastic introduction to coding as no typing abilities are required. These include and , 3D Video Game Design with , and Minecraft Java Mods.

For 1st to 3rd graders who are interested in creative game design, our Minecraft Club and Roblox Build classes are ideal.

For older kids from 4th grade to 8th grade and above, we offer text-based coding classes for a variety of interests. Gamers will enjoy Minecraft Modding: , Roblox Code, or , and future web designers can follow their passions with Web & App development classes.

Photo by Algernai Hayes, Adam Winger, Alex Kotliarskyi, Haseeb Modi, Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

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Digital literacy is a crucial skill for the workplace and puts children on a level playing field with their peers The ability to analyse information and communicate responsibly is vital in our technologically-dependent world At a basic level, computer proficiency makes online learning much easier!

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Technology integration is the use of technology resources -- computers, mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, social media platforms and networks, software applications, the Internet, etc. -- in daily classroom practices, and in the management of a school. Successful technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is:

Routine and transparent

Accessible and readily available for the task at hand

Supporting the curricular goals, and helping the students to effectively reach their goals

When technology integration is at its best, a child or a teacher doesn't stop to think that he or she is using a technology tool -- it is second nature. And students are often more actively engaged in projects when technology tools are a seamless part of the learning process.

Defining Technology Integration

Before we can discuss how to shift our pedagogy or the role of the teacher in a classroom that is integrating technology, it is important to first define what "technology integration" actually means. Seamless integration is when students are not only using technology daily, but have access to a variety of tools that match the task at hand and provide them the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of content. But how we define technology integration can also depend on the kinds of technology available, how much access one has to technology, and who is using the technology. For instance, in a classroom with only an interactive whiteboard and one computer, learning is likely to remain teacher-centric, and integration will revolve around teacher needs, not necessarily student needs. Still, there are ways to implement even an interactive whiteboard to make it a tool for your students.

Willingness to embrace change is also a major requirement for successful technology integration. Technology is continuously, and rapidly, evolving. It is an ongoing process and demands continual learning.

"Effective integration of technology is achieved when students are able to select technology tools to help them obtain information in a timely manner, analyze and synthesize the information, and present it professionally. The technology should become an integral part of how the classroom functions -- as accessible as all other classroom tools." -- National Educational Technology Standards for Students, International Society for Technology in Education

When effectively integrated into the curriculum, technology tools can extend learning in powerful ways. These tools can provide students and teachers with:

Access to up-to-date, primary source material

Methods of collecting/recording data

Ways to collaborate with students, teachers, and experts around the world

Opportunities for expressing understanding via multimedia

Learning that is relevant and assessment that is authentic

Training for publishing and presenting their new knowledge

Types of Technology Integration

It is sometimes difficult to describe how technology can impact learning because the term "technology integration" is such a broad umbrella that covers so many varied tools and practices; there are many ways technology can become an integral part of the learning process. Just a few of these ways are listed below -- but new technology tools and ideas emerge daily.

Online Learning and Blended Classrooms

While K-12 online learning gains traction around the world (visit our Schools That Work package about online learning), many teachers are also exploring blended learning -- a combination of both online and face-to-face education. Read a blog by Heather Wolpert-Gawron about blended learning. Blogger Bob Lenz also gives us a snapshot of what blended learning looks like in the classroom.

Project-Based Activities Incorporating Technology

Many of the most rigorous projects are infused with technology from start to finish. Visit our Schools That Work package about project-based learning in Maine to read about a middle school and high school that are getting excellent results from mixing PBL with a one-to-one laptop program. Or read a recent blog by Brian Greenberg about combining PBL with blended learning.

Game-Based Learning and Assessment

There has been a lot of buzz about the benefits of incorporating simulations and game-based learning activities into classroom instruction. Visit our Video Games for Learning Resource Roundup page to learn more. Guest blogger Terrell Heick wrote about the gamification of education, or go straight for the practical resource and read Andrew Miller's "Game-Based Learning Units for the Everyday Teacher".

Learning with Mobile and Handheld Devices

Once widely dismissed as distractions, devices like cell phones, mp3 players, and tablet computers are now being used as learning tools in forward-thinking schools. Check out our downloadable guide, Mobile Devices in the Classroom. Read a blog by Ben Johnson on using iPads in the classroom or an article about using cell phones for educational purposes. Check out the case study by former Edutopia executive director Milton Chen on using iPods to teach English language learners, or there's a blog by Audrey Watter about texting in the classroom. We also have a blog series that maps k-5 iPad apps to Bloom's taxonomy by Diane Darrow. You will many more links on our Mobile Learning Resource Roundup page.

Instructional Tools like Interactive Whiteboards and Student Response Systems

In many schools, the days of green chalkboards are over. Read an article about how to put an interactive whiteboard to best use, or one with tips from a teacher about her favorite ways to use her whiteboard. Read an article about using classroom response systems for interactive assessment and watch a video where a student-reponse system is used in a classroom.

Web-Based Projects, Explorations, and Research

One of the first, and most basic, ways that teachers encouraged kids to use technology was with online research, virtual field trips, and webquests. Watch videos about online collaborative projects Journey North and the JASON project. Read an article by Suzie Boss about using web-based resources to help your classroom go global, and here's an article with links to wonderful virtual field trips. Or check out these useful how-to articles about using online photo archives for primary sources, teaching with virtual libraries, and helping students do research on the web.

Student-Created Media like Podcasts, Videos, or Slideshows

One of the central ideas of digital or media literacy is that students should be come creators and critics, not just consumers, of media. Read an article about student-produced podcasts, or find out more about quality digital storytelling in a blog by Suzie Boss. You can also watch a video about students learning how to become creators in Chicago at Digital Youth Network. Or learn about student filmmakers in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Antonio, Texas, or Effingham, Illinois.

Collaborative Online Tools like Wikis or Google Docs

Connecting with others online can be a powerful experience, both for teachers and for students. Teacher Vicki Davis is an evangelist for such connections; watch a video about technology in her classroom or read an article she wrote for Edutopia on creating personal learning networks for students. Read an article about the basics of how wikis work, and blogger Audrey Watters makes the case for why wikis still matter. You can also read more about Google's free offerings for educators.

Using Social Media to Engage Students

Though social media tools are still blocked in many schools, students around the world spend vast amounts of time on social networks outside of school. Read a blog that makes the case for social media in education, and article that goes over how to use social-networking technology for learning, or another blog about how to co-opt students' favorite social media tools for classroom use. You will find lots of tips and hints in our primer, " How to Create Social Media Guidelines for Your School."

Frameworks for Technology Integration

Two commonly used models for technology integration are known as SAMR and TPACK.

The SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) model, created by Dr. Ruben Puentudura, guides the process of reflecting on how we are integrating technology into our classrooms. The ultimate goal of technology integration is to completely redefine how we teach and learn, and to do things that we never could before the technology was in our hands. For more information, you can watch a series of podcasts by Dr. Puentudura, visit his blog, or read Dr. Puentudura's paper on the model (PDF).

The TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) framework lays out the knowledge that educators need in order to successfully integrate technology into their teaching. The TPACK website provides a large collection of free resources for teachers and other instructional leaders.

Levels of Technology Integration

In her blog, " What Does 'Technology Integration' Mean?" Mary Beth Hertz shares four levels of classroom technology integration she has observed in schools:

1. Sparse: Technology is rarely used or available. Students rarely use technology to complete assignments or projects.

2. Basic:Technology is used or available occasionally/often in a lab rather than the classroom. Students are comfortable with one or two tools and sometimes use these tools to create projects that show understanding of content.

3. Comfortable:Technology is used in the classroom on a fairly regular basis. Students are comfortable with a variety of tools and often use these tools to create projects that show understanding of content.

4. Seamless:Students employ technology daily in the classroom using a variety of tools to complete assignments and create projects that show a deep understanding of content.

Despite the dramatic differences in resources and abilities from classroom to classroom, school to school, and district to district, it's possible to integrate technology tools in ways that can impact engagement and learning for all students. And if, like many teachers, you have obstacles in terms of available equipment or support, we've got two great resources: Suzie Boss's article, " Overcoming Technology Barriers: How to Innovate Without Extra Money or Support," and Mary Beth Hertz's blog, " Integrating Technology with Limited Resources."

Continue to the next section of the guide, How to Integrate Technology Tools, where you will find many more tips for successful technology integration.

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What Is Successful Technology Integration?

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Technology integration is the use of technology resources -- computers, mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, social media platforms and networks, software applications, the Internet, etc. -- in daily classroom practices, and in the management of a school.