People can demonstrate netiquette by showing their best self on the internet. The world we live in is very technology based so many people meet others through the internet. So, it is important that people learn how to talk to others on the internet by using netiquette. Netiquette also involves using correct grammar and punctuation while using the internet. Using incorrect grammar reflects upon a person poorly, which portrays bad netiquette. It is important to not put too much of a person's self onto the internet due to privacy reasons. People need to know how to protect themselves on the internet.

Digital Citizenship provides individuals all ages the chance to connect with one another, share ideas, and create appropriate relationships through the use of the media. It also teaches individuals how to properly use the internet safely and responsibly protecting ourself from people who are the internet for the wrong reasons.

• Protect your privacy- There are many aspects of sharing information on the internet and it is important to know what is okay to share. It is also important to look into the different cites being used and if it is safe to share certain information. Reading the different terms and conditions of a website is the first thing to do when accessing the website, this allows for extra safety for oneself. Never share your passwords with anyone. Keep them in a safe place. Lastly, only share what information is necessary.

• Think before you post- Sometimes in the heat of the moment, someone might want to post something with ill intentions, but sometimes it is important to leave, cool down and really think it is necessary to post something.

• Always proofread before you post- It is unprofessional to send messages that have grammar and spelling issues. It is important to teach young students that they should always read something before they send it out into the world. Sometimes a message may come off the wrong way, when that was not the intention. Sometimes having someone else proofread can be a huge asset.

Don'ts ❌

• Engaging in cyberbullying- It is important not to engage in cyberbullying because it can hurt others, and impact how they use the Internet as well. If you see cyberbullying occurring on the Internet it is important not to get involved, but instead tell a trusted adult about the situation so that they can diffuse the situation before it becomes more serious.

• Believing everything written on the internet- It is important not to believe everything you see on the internet because not everything is going to be true. In some cases, people will post false information to get a reaction out of people. It is important to learn about credible sources, so that when you are using the Internet you can differentiate which information is accurate and reliable, and not falling into a trap of false information.

• Spread any private information about yourself or others- It is important not to share any private information about yourself or others across the Internet. By sharing private information about yourself or others, people will know things about you that you wouldn't want people to know. This can lead to people hacking you, and finding out the information. It is also important to remember that once you post something on the Internet it is there forever, even if you delete it.

Objective: Students will demonstrate their understanding of digital citizenship through learning basic online safety practices.

Introduction To Lesson: Begin by asking the students if they know what it means to be a good citizen in their community. After, you discuss the students' responses transition into explaining how, since there are rules for being a good citizen in their community, there are also rules to follow about being a good citizen online, in which the teacher will then introduce the term digital citizenship.

Lesson: Teacher will show a video to students that is age appropriate, introducing what Digital Citizenship is. After the video clip, have students share what they learned and ask them ways they use technology at home and at school, making a list on the white board. Then go over rules that will ensure safety on the internet such as never sharing personal information, being respectful, and asking an adult for permission before clicking or downloading something. Include examples and scenarios to help students make sense of this information even more.

Activities For Lesson: Split the students into small groups and then give each group a scenario that is related to online safety. Have each of the groups discuss what they would do in each scenario and then have students share with the class. After the group activity is over, students will all return to their seats and be given paper and crayons/markers. Students will then be asked to draw a picture of themselves being safe and respectful while utilizing the internet. The students will also be encouraged to include things in their picture that they talked about in the lesson.

Ending Lesson: The teacher will have all students finish their pictures showing what they have learned about internet safety. Then the teacher will review the key points of what the students have been taught about Digital Citizenship. The teacher will re-emphasize the importance of why we should not only be good citizens in our community, but also online. The teacher can then ask students if they have any other questions in that moment, and to tell them that if they ever have questions about Digital Citizenship they can ask at any time.

Assessment:

• Informally assess students' participation in discussions and group activities.

• Collect the students' activity worksheets to asses their knowledge on Digital Citizenship.

Citation: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (Feb 18 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Objective: Students will be able to communicate respectfully online by using proper netiquette.

Pre-Assessment: Ask students if they can define what netiquette and digital citizenship is. Then ask students why it is important to be polite while being on the internet. Make sure to relate face-to-face interactions with online interactions. There should not be a difference with the way others are spoken to, there should always be respect given.

Lesson: Before the activity, explain to them what netiquette is, and show them a brief youtube video. Then separate students into small groups. They will be each given different pictures of different online interactions. They will be examples of different social media posts, emails, or messages. With their group, they will discuss which images illustrate proper etiquette and why, and then which images do not illustrate proper etiquette and why.

Post-Assessment: Gather all students back together in one group and have them recap what they have learned about using proper netiquette. Then elaborate on the importance of being mindful, while communicating on the internet.

Citation: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (Feb 18 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Something I did not consider prior to doing research is how much more children use technology in school and at home. Technology starts at way younger ages than when I was in elementary school. Preschoolers now have devices that they use in and outside of school, which can be an asset, but can also be a scary thought. They can be exposed to certain things on the internet that they should not be seeing. It is important that they learn how to use the internet in the right ways, such as using proper netiquette and being a good digital citizen. I did not consider that I will have a huge part in helping my students navigate the internet. 

My research has confirmed that I will need to instruct my students about netiquette and digital citizenship. I will need to do multiple lessons within the school year about these concepts. Every grade level is different in how the internet plays a role in their lives, and learning what ages that certain aspects of the internet are exposed to them, is something I will have to learn. Navigating the internet is hard, and I hope to be able to help my students navigate the internet as best as possible.

Prior to doing this research, what I did not consider was how young I should introduce the Netiquette and Digital Citizenship topics to children. As the years progress, I can see that technology is progressing as well, and kids are using electronic devices younger and younger. That being said, I learned how I should teach Netiquette and Digital Citizenship to young kids because of how evident technology is in kids' lives. Not only are kids using technology at home at a young age, but schools are starting to implement Ipads and Chromebooks for kids to use.

What my research has confirmed and strengthened in my point of view regarding Netiquette and Digital Citizenship in terms of children, education and me as a teacher is that it needs to be taught as early as possible and kids need to be aware of how the internet can be dangerous and what to avoid. By teaching kids this at a young age, it can make them aware when using the internet about what sites are appropriate and displaying good Netiquette and Digital Citizenship. I have also realized that these skills are skills that they will carry with them in many different aspects in their lives, and can use as building blocks as they get older and learn more about Netiquette and Digital Citizenship.