Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Journal #6: A New Concept of Citizenship for the Digital Age

Greenhow, C. (2010). A New concept of citizenship for the digital age. Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25564&DirectListComboInd=D

Summary
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The concept of digital citizenship is relatively new, but important to understand in the digital age we live in. ISTE includes digital citizenship in its NETS for students because of its importance and relevance to our current educational climate. This article offers multiple definitions as well as some recent studies addressing this standard. According to NETS-S, digital citizenship is, "the ability to practice and advocate online behavior that demonstrates legal, ethical, safe, and responsible uses of information and communication technologies." There are many abstract terms in this definition because it encompasses all of the different aspects of safety and responsibility students should understand when participating in the digital world.One reason digital citizenship is hard to define is the differences between the cultures of hundreds of countries. Even within our own culture, there are a multitude of ways one can be misunderstood online. Add a language and cultural barrier and there is a big problem with the concept of citizenship. The scope of digital citizenship has also expanded with the rise in popularity of social networks, blogging, and other Web 2.0 media.Researchers from the University of Kansas identified 9 components of digital citizenship:- digital etiquette- digital communication- digital access- digital literacy- digital commerce- digital law- digital rights and responsibilities- digital health and wellness- digital securityDigital citizenship includes serious issues such as cyberbullying. Research is being done to examine the effects of this type of harrassment on children and teenagers today. Another study was conducted to examine the moral code teachers should follow on social networking sites in hopes of modeling appropriate and safe behavior online.

Q1: As a teacher, what should I do to model digital citizenship?

Any social networking profiles I have will be private, only visible by those I choose to see it. I want my students to understand the importance of privacy and safe internet practices. I will not engage in inappropriate behavior because there are consequences to our actions online even though they may seem intangible. Being a good digital citizen not only includes being aware of safety, but also being aware of how our actions affect others.  I will model for my students how to responsibly and respectfully engage in conversations and debates online. 

Q2: Have teachers been fired for inappropriate online behavior?

Yes. I googled this topic and found a case on the PBS website of a teacher who created a myspace to communicate with students. The school fired the teacher for "exercising poor judgment" and possibly having inappropriate conversations with his students.  This is an important issue to research because when using Web 2.0 tools these types of boundaries are being threatened and must be upheld even with the greater communication between teachers and students.  If we as educators do not take the proper precautions to make online communication safe and appropriate, we are vulnerable to termination and the stigma attached with it. 

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