When I think about “digital citizenship,” I think of first principles (foundations of knowledge) or the basic rules for how to conduct oneself in the world. In sport, first principles are the rules of the game, so in the online world, digital citizenship is the first principles or basic rules that one follows when online. Digital citizenship can be defined as “engaging in appropriate and responsible behaviour when using technology” (virtuallibrary.info). More specifically, digital citizens are concerned with protecting private information, staying safe online, managing time spent online, respecting oneself and others, reporting on bullying and other nefarious online activities, respecting copyright and intellectual property, and carefully managing their digital footprint (Davis 2014). In my opinion, one of the most important foundations of being a good digital citizen is being able to determine between truth and fiction, or maybe truth, half-truths, and lies. I think that young learners should be taught how to close read, analyze, and assume that many positions exist on any single topic: knowing how to negotiate between positions is useful. I also think that digital citizenship recognizes that ideas have consequences, so when online, one should be cautious with information—even skeptical. Moreover, I think it is important that digital citizens should not blur the line between their online and real personas. When sharing photographs or information, a digital citizen should ask themselves if they are comfortable handing out the photo or information to their whole class, their parents, as well as the strangers in Costco. If yes, post it. Another strategy is to sleep before posting. In the morning, if you still think it’s a good idea, then go ahead. A good digital citizen is thoughtful about what they contribute to the online arena. Ultimately, I think that digital citizenship involves taking responsibility for one’s actions online just as one should take responsibility for their actions in real life. Finally, I think that a good digital citizen talks about their time online in real time and vice versa. I think a person should know that they are the same person whether they use an avatar to represent themselves online or not. For young learners, an ongoing conversation with their parents and teachers is important to foster good online habits and thus positive digital citizenship.
Davis, Vicki. 2014. What Your Students Really Need to Know About Digital Citizenship. edutopia.org
Digital Citizenship. virtuallibrary.info
