Digital​ ​Citizenship

Digital​ ​Citizenship​ ​is​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​being​ ​a​ ​good​ ​citizen​ ​online​ ​and​ ​being​ ​a​ ​good​ ​citizen  off-line​ ​with​ ​the​ ​way​ ​you​ ​use​ ​technology.​ ​Our​ ​students​ ​live​ ​in​ ​two​ ​worlds​ ​-​ ​the​ ​physical  world​ ​and​ ​the​ ​online​ ​world.​ ​Supporting​ ​their​ ​growth​ ​in​ ​both​ ​is​ ​essential​ ​to​ ​helping​ ​them  deal​ ​with​ ​the​ ​advantages​ ​and​ ​disadvantages​ ​of​ ​being​ ​constantly​ ​connected.

With​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​information​ ​in​ ​the​ ​media,​ ​we​ ​have​ ​focused​ ​resources​ ​in​ ​the​ ​following  areas:

Self-Image​ ​and​ ​Identity

• Understand​ ​the​ ​similarities​ ​and​ ​differences​ ​in​ ​how​ ​they​ ​present​ ​themselves online​ ​and​ ​offline;

• reflect​ ​on​ ​how​ ​the​ ​Internet​ ​allows​ ​for​ ​anonymity​ ​and​ ​deception,​ ​and​ ​explore​ ​how this​ ​can​ ​affect​ ​their​ ​behavior​ ​online;

• and​ ​consider​ ​the​ ​motivations,​ ​benefits,​ ​or​ ​possible​ ​harm​ ​to​ ​oneself​ ​and​ ​others when​ ​assuming​ ​an​ ​online​ ​identity​ ​that's​ ​different​ ​from​ ​one's​ ​real​ ​self.

Relationships​ ​and​ ​Communication

• Recognize​ ​that​ ​different​ ​audiences​ ​require​ ​different​ ​types​ ​of​ ​communication​ ​and online​ ​etiquette;

• develop​ ​constructive​ ​solutions​ ​to​ ​online​ ​interpersonal​ ​dilemmas​ ​that​ ​exemplify ethical​ ​behavior;

• and​ ​imagine​ ​the​ ​motivations,​ ​feelings,​ ​and​ ​intentions​ ​of​ ​others​ ​as​ ​they​ ​relate​ ​to​ ​a variety​ ​of​ ​online​ ​exchanges.

Cyberbullying​ ​and​ ​Digital​ ​Drama

With​ ​students​ ​interactions​ ​happening​ ​more​ ​online​ ​than​ ​they​ ​do​ ​in​ ​person,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​easy​ ​to  imagine​ ​the​ ​culture​ ​that​ ​is​ ​shaped​ ​with​ ​little​ ​to​ ​no​ ​supervision​ ​and​ ​guidance​ ​from​ ​an  adult.​ ​Appropriately​ ​defining​ ​terms​ ​that​ ​are​ ​often​ ​used​ ​around​ ​cyberbullying​ ​is​ ​a​ ​large  part​ ​that​ ​parents​ ​and​ ​students​ ​can​ ​play​ ​when​ ​addressing​ ​online​ ​issues​ ​offline.

Terms

From​ ​CommonSense​ ​Media

cyberbullying: the use of digital media tools such as the Internet and cell phones to deliberately upset or harass someone.

drama: the everyday tiffs and disputes that occur between friends or acquaintances online or via text. Note: Unlike cyberbullying, which involves repeated digital harassment toward someone, drama is broader and more nuanced. That being said, kids and teens sometimes use the term drama to distance themselves from emotionally difficult behavior. Digital drama can still feel very real to students, lead to hurt feelings, and even damage friendships. In some cases, digital drama can escalate into an offline fight – either verbal or physical.

hate speech: making cruel, hostile, or negative statements about someone based on their race, religion, national origin, ability, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

target: a person who is the object of an intentional action.

offender or aggressor: a person who has a malicious intent to hurt or damage someone.

bystander: a person who does nothing when they witness something happening.

upstander: a person who supports and stands up for someone else.

escalate: to increase or make more intense.

de-escalate: to decrease or make less intense.

Additional Readings and Resources

• How Smartphones are Making Kids Unhappy

• Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation

• How to Keep Teens from Turning their Smartphones into Weapons

• When Should You Come Between a Teenager and Her Phone?

• Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle

• Media Guidelines for Children of All Ages

• How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers