When was the last time you reviewed your timelines' history on a particular social media account? Did you ever think about how this could impact your identity? Your family? Your students? Community?
Your digital footprint is only one small aspect of many important ways we engage with the online world. The more important question is: what are you doing as an educator to model positive digital citizenship? Are you creating opportunities for your students to showcase their learning in meaningful ways through the technology they inherently bring into the classroom?
Though the concept of digital citizenship is not new, it has become an increasingly crucial area for educators and students alike, to be aware of and engage in; finding ways to not only protect identity and well-being, but also how to create and demonstrate positive and meaningful spaces online that are inclusive and constructive. This type of technology and its application to communication and engagement is not going anywhere, instead, it continues to accelerate its bond to our personal and professional lives (no matter how hard some may try to resist it or find balance within it).
New to the idea of Digital Citizenship?
Below you will find a list of helpful websites to get you thinking about digital citizenship and what it looks like in the classroom. As part of the Modelling Digital Citizenship through Technology and Social Media in the Classroom elective, teacher candidates have developed questions, reflective thinking prompts and lesson/activity ideas that you can use in your own professional learning and classroom. (Updated during the B.Ed. academic year)
You can follow this account on Instagram at @TrentUDigitalME
Helpful Links
CommonSense.org
commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
EdTech Magainze
edtechmagazine.com/k12/
Media Smarts
mediasmarts.ca