One thing I will implement in my class is an experiment where students cannot see each others reactions but they talk to each other. Maybe on the other side of the wall. This is important to help students realize that what when you say something, it affects others and in the digital world, you do not get to see their reactions.

A second thing that I would like to implement is to teach students how to and why you should not take credit for other peoples work in a digital setting. This is so important as they get older and so much more content is available online. A fun experiment to do for this would be have students turn in each others work. And experience what it feels like to have your work taken from you. It will be important to make this a fun game so that they do not get hurt and help the lesson stick

One of the things I will do in my classroom is start the year with the expectations for online interaction, especially in the context on messaging teachers using Canvas. Many students have not yet learned how to email and message their teachers in a respectful way, and it is definitely something that needs to be taught.

Another unique way I have and will continue to encourage my students to be good digital citizens is having conversations surrounding video games and online game playing. So many students are involved in these activities and there is definitely a lack of good role models when it comes to interacting with others during these types of activities. Many students love to discuss gaming, and I think this is a great way to help normalize better online behavior.

It is extremely important for a teacher to lead by example with regards to being a good digital citizen. As you lead by example, show students how to interact online with a positive attitude and demonstrate respectful communication. I have seen firsthand a teacher show students how to interact with technology and to think critically while using it. In addition, he taught a lesson about being a good digital citizen that discussed the appropriate way to use technology and be ethical when communicating or using it.

Conscientious digital citizens demonstrate awareness of self and others, prioritize safety, and act with true empathy. Perhaps the most repeated sentiment in the participant reflections in the “Digital Citizenship Among Appalachian Middle Schoolers” article was that students did not realize the impact of digital actions. Whether that was in regard to how devastated cyberbullying might make another student or how long-lasting online content can be, anticipating the results of actions is foundational to interacting positively in an internet community. 

How to Help Students in Digital Citizenship: 

1. Instruction on Digital Footprint & Permanence of Online Content: I would likely incorporate mini lessons on digital citizenship when possible, and one of the priorities would be caution on oversharing on the web. To combat oversharing, I would instruct students on the longevity of posts and how students are always accumulating a digital footprint. Specifically, I would break down what types of information students should not be okay sharing with the public and should protect. I might even adapt this “digital trail” lesson from Common Sense Education that has engaging visuals and uses two fun characters, a mouse and an elephant, to show the difference in appropriate disclosures and ones that go too far. 

2. Cyberbullying Prevention Education: I would also make it a point to cultivate appreciation for others and practice empathy as part of cyberbullying prevention. Walking students through recognizing and affirming diversity in those around them is a great way to turn them toward a positive and inclusive mindset. I especially like ISTE’s digital storytelling project to show how to be collectively welcoming and empathetic. 

I think the qualities of a good digital citizen are very similar to the qualities that make a good citizen in the real world. Everyone should treat others with kindness and respect online, they shouldn't give out personal information, and they should understand that their words can have consequences. Something I've seen a lot online, especially in social media circles, is people not understanding a person's tone and misconstruing their words to be something that it is not. There are also plenty of people that don't seem to think of other people's reactions or feeling when speaking online, especially in cases of cyberbullying and internet trolling. The rise is social media has only increased this disconnect from internet to reality. This can have a negative impact on students' mental health and affect their performance in school.

So, how should we help students?

1. Internet Safety Instruction: I think students should be instructed on how to be safe online, such as not posting their PPI, which types of sites are likely to contain malware, the permanency of a digital footprint, etc.

2. Cyberbullying Education: I think students should be shown the potential consequences of internet cyberbullying to increase empathy and understanding and allow them to connect their online actions to real-world outcomes.

It’s always fun to share a funny picture, an article or a blog post. The most important thing is to give the creator full credit and send a link back to where you found it. If a student is writing a paper, lab report or a journal page, using a variety of sources is the best way to gather information, but it is very important for students to cite this work appropriately.

Two things I can do to help encourage my students to be good digital citizens is to teach it to them in a variety of ways. One way is to have them write on a piece of paper with sharpie then ask them to erase it. Just like how the sharpie won’t erase, everything we put out on the internet will not erase either. It will always be there, so we need to be cautious of how much we share online.

Another way is to help show them that just because it feels easier to type something mean, doesn’t mean we should. Cyberbullying is real and students need to be aware of it. I’d help them learn empathy and thinking before they type.

To help students become good digital citizens, it’s important to firstly, establish a code of conduct for online interactions. When implementing online learning activities such as discussion boards or collaborative research assignments, it’s important to provide guidelines for appropriate internet use. Examples of criteria for this would include respectful interactions with classmates, as well as citing resources to avoid plagiarism. Furthermore, teachers should encourage students to use resources from a wide variety of perspectives. In doing this, students will learn to form opinions and build their understanding on topics based on a diverse collection of information through various viewpoints.

Two ways I can help my students become good digital citizens:

1. Lead by Example

   As a teacher, I can model positive online behavior. I will show my students how to communicate politely and respectfully. When using a website during class, I'll explain why it's a safe choice and how it protects their privacy.

2. Be Wise

   Even in elementary school, social media plays a major role in behavior issues at school, including bullying and students getting into trouble. I would teach them to think before they post, share, or comment online. Words have power, and once they're shared, you can't take them back.

In the classroom, I can teach my first graders how to be digital citizens at a very basic level. Most of my students know about the internet and how adults use it to interact with one another. I will have class discussions about being kind, respectful and empathetic in the real world and how that translates to virtual world.

Most of my students have the privilege to either access or "own" a device at home. We will have discussions about how we spend our time and why it is important to have balance. I will specifically use the DC videos and lessons for first grade provided in the Week 6 assignment. This is a great resource to make it fun and relatable for my students!

I can help my students be ethical online through technology-based learning explorations that align with SEL learning standards. This could look like practice responding to someone's writing on a discussion board, or conscientiously creating and sharing original ideas through projects like websites, or social media posts.

I can also teach them about the importance of protecting their personal data. For example, we could practice logging on to websites they use that ask for permission to track cookies. We could discuss how these are often set to have users click the "allow all" option. Discussions would center around how protecting your data requires the extra effort of slowing down, being aware, and reading carefully, and how things that are seemingly "free" come at a cost: "If you aren't paying for the product, you are the product."

One thing that I can do to help my students learn about digital citizenship is modeling respect for others’ intellectual property rights. For example, if I find a definition or explanation of a term that another artist posts online and I use it in my slides, I include that artist’s name and website on the slide and treat it as a quote. We may not realize it, but I have found that students do notice this. Students have pointed out in class how often other artists or writers are attributed to what we read in class.

Another strategy I have in mind is something that I am aiming to incorporate this upcoming school year. Sometimes during an in-person critique, students can either drift off task during discussion or feel intimidated by the thought of speaking to the group. To solve both of these, I may try having a forum where students could post their thoughts and suggestions on a piece either in real time in class or outside class time. Does anyone have any tech suggestions for how I could pull this type of thing off? Something that requires actual writing of responses and more than a “thumbs up” or “heart” emoji. I envision being a microcosm of responding to each other online respectfully.

I think one way I could help my students become good digital citizens is by being a good role model and teaching them some digital etiquette. I think another way could be by implementing some literacy lessons in the classroom. The lessons could be on topics like online safety, identifying credible sources, and managing their digital footprints.

I believe that expectations for anything need to be explicitly taught and modeled for our youth. For example, I have talked to my daughter about internet safety as well as real life examples of what can happen when someone is not safe. She was aware that our credit card got hacked after ordering from a website, been blocked on her (teen-safe) social media accounts, and has had the horrors explained of what happens if a school mate/minor sends or shows you an inappropriate photo...but is also aware that the internet is full of knowledge and when used properly can be a very useful resource.

When it comes to being a good citizen digitally, I feel like it is just as important as being a good citizen in the real world. I really like to remember that it is a vital part of everyday, so whenever I can I try to model, remind, and guide safe, respectful digital interactions. Our school has a technology class where students within their grades can learn and interact safely within the internet age- appropriately.

Two things that I will implement within my students to help them become good citizens is to remind them that the words they use reach real people, so being kind and respectful is key. Second, I constantly want to model how to be safe on the digital world. This can be with explaining safe practices such as not sharing personal information, small teachings on data, sharing locations, and even aimlessly browsing without guidance from a trusted adult. I teach kindergarten and small step or small discussions go a long way, and utilizing questions for further discussions to be directed towards asking their parents/guardians. Sometimes parents or guardians are the best resource and tool as a teacher that we have when it comes to teaching/ communicating those heavier topics.

One thing to implement with students when it comes to being a good digital citizen is something I saw in one of our videos this week that I really liked. The teacher had students come up with a rule for themselves on being kind/safe online and posting it. They would then comment on other's posts something they liked about the persons rule. Another thing to implement is doing some sort of activity about distinguishing fake websites, information, or online scams and teaching students about how to spot those certain things.