Rethinking Digital Citizenship

Summary

In this speech, the speaker emphasizes the importance of teaching digital citizenship to students, beyond just online safety. Digital citizenship is about using technology to positively impact communities, engage respectfully, and critically evaluate information online. Through examples of student projects and stories of positive digital engagement, the speaker urges educators to actively teach these skills in a meaningful context. They highlight the need for a collective effort to promote digital citizenship and encourage teachers to commit to one action that will foster responsible technology use in their schools.

Takeaways

• 😀 Digital citizenship is a key area that needs more focus in education, as it is essential for students' development in the modern world.
• 😀 Digital citizenship is not just about teaching online safety (like not posting inappropriate pictures), but about how to use technology to engage with and improve the community.
• 😀 Online safety and digital citizenship are different: online safety focuses on avoiding harm, while digital citizenship involves positive and respectful engagement in the digital world.
• 😀 One important aspect of digital citizenship is the ability to recognize false information online, which is vital for critical thinking and informed decision-making.
• 😀 Learning how to distinguish fact from fiction in the digital space is a skill that needs to be taught in context to ensure it can be applied effectively in real-world situations.
• 😀 Transferring knowledge between different contexts (like classroom lessons to real-world applications) is challenging, but essential for meaningful learning.
• 😀 If students are taught digital citizenship skills only in certain settings (like the classroom), it is unrealistic to expect them to apply those skills in other digital contexts (e.g., social media).
• 😀 The power of digital citizenship can be seen in real-world examples where students use technology for social good, like organizing volunteer opportunities or raising awareness for important causes.
• 😀 Effective digital citizenship involves understanding how to use technology not just for entertainment, but to amplify one's voice, engage with public policy, and make a positive impact on society.
• 😀 Teaching students how to organize and collaborate for a cause, both in physical and virtual spaces, is essential for empowering them as responsible digital citizens.
• 😀 Digital citizenship is about cultivating the ability to engage respectfully and productively online, and preparing students to be active participants in society and democracy.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the speaker's message?

The main topic is the importance of teaching digital citizenship to students and how it goes beyond just online safety. The speaker emphasizes that digital citizenship involves using technology to engage with communities, promote positive change, and distinguish truth from false information.

How does the speaker differentiate between online safety and digital citizenship?

The speaker explains that online safety involves things like protecting students from posting inappropriate content and creating strong passwords. However, digital citizenship is about using technology to make communities better, engage respectfully with others, and recognize valid information online.

Why is it important to teach digital citizenship in context?

Teaching digital citizenship in context is crucial because skills learned in one setting often do not transfer easily to another. The speaker emphasizes that for students to apply what they learn in real-life online scenarios, they must be taught digital citizenship in a virtual space.

What study does the speaker refer to, and what was its purpose?

The speaker refers to a study by Professor Don Liu, who asked middle school students to write an essay about the 'northwestern tree octopus.' The study's purpose was to assess students' ability to recognize false information online. Most students did not question the validity of the fabricated website they found.

What lesson did the speaker learn from the study about recognizing false information?

The speaker learned that as information shifts to digital platforms, traditional indicators like print or design are no longer reliable. The ability to recognize truth from fiction is an essential skill for survival in today's digital world.

How does the speaker suggest we help students distinguish between fact and fiction online?

The speaker suggests that students need to be taught how to distinguish truth from falsehood in a digital context. This involves developing critical thinking skills, teaching media literacy, and applying these skills directly to online environments where information is often misleading.

What is the speaker's view on how digital citizenship is currently being taught in schools?

The speaker notes that while many schools claim to teach digital citizenship, the focus often falls on basic online safety, such as not posting inappropriate images or creating strong passwords. This approach misses the broader and more impactful aspects of digital citizenship.

Can you give examples of how digital citizenship is being successfully implemented in schools or by students?

The speaker mentions several examples: 'No One Needs Alone,' a project ensuring no student eats alone at lunch; the Parkland students who used technology to change national conversations; and an app created by students in India to help people find volunteer opportunities in their communities.

What is the story of Kristen Lane, and how does it relate to digital citizenship?

Kristen Lane, a high school student, posted about selling her prom dress but faced cruel online comments. One student responded with kindness, which sparked others to do the same, turning the situation into a movement against cyberbullying. This story illustrates the power of positive digital citizenship and how one person can make a difference online.

What action does the speaker ask the audience to take regarding digital citizenship?

The speaker invites the audience to think of one thing they can do to promote digital citizenship in their schools and share it on social media using the hashtag #DidYouSitCommit and #SD18. This will help amplify ideas and inspire others to act.