Journal 6: A New Concept of Citizenship for the Digital Age-NETS 3,4,5

Greenhow, C. . (2010). A New concept of digital 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 doi: ISSN 1082-5754

This article is about the difficulty in defining and implementing digital citizenship. In 2007 NETS for Students defined digital citizenship as "the ability to practice and advocate online behavior that demonstrates legal, ethical, safe, and responsible uses of information and communication technologies." Teachers are suppose to follow these guidelines even though there may be a difference in opinion of what is ethical and what is safe, among others. Some of these differences arise with the number of people that interact through technologies across the world. Different countries have different laws (what is legal) and people of different religions or cultures have different ethics or ideas of what is safe. With the increase use of blogging, social networking sites, and other social media formats, people in general have become more aware of the digital behaviors. Students can easily become good digital citizens by using these sites because they are not only watching others, but because they are also being watched by many people.

Q: If digital citizen ship is difficult to define, how do I know how to be a good digital citizen?

A: The best way to be a good digital citizen is to remember your etiquette. If you are using appropriate language, being an overall good person, and reporting offenders in a respectful way you are being a good digital citizen. Common sense may be different to many people, but think before you post something and remember the golden rule.

Q: As a teacher, how do I teach these good habits to my students?

A: There are several studies that have been published in Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education and the Journal of Research on Technology in Education that have good teaching tips. Also, monitor your students work. If you see them misbehaving digitally, correct the behavior and explain to them the why's and how's of acting responsible both in person and with the use of technology.