Digital Citizenship

When I began to think about the concept of digital citizenship, it had me thinking about what it truly meant to be a good citizen. I believe that in order to do that you need to be respectful, help others, be helpful in your community and when faced with choices do the right thing. I then began thinking about the digital world and what all can happen within the cyber community. To me, digital citizenship is staying safe when you are online and not clicking on something that looks suspicious or “click bate”, staying off of bad websites that may have viruses or lead to trojan horses, protecting your private information by not giving such things out to websites that are not securely maintained and protected, and by respecting others viewpoints and posts on the internet. If you disagree, it is best to scroll past or be polite when posting a reply or comment. I recommend for anyone to try not to get caught up in the digital world too much. Try to take a break and don't spend too much time browsing and/or playing or streaming. Lastly, if you see cyber bullying stand up for the person being bullied. It is not right to bully anyone and definitely not right to do it while hiding behind a screen and keyboard. Words can be hurtful and can lead to much more serious consequences in this world we are living in. Be a good digital citizen and stand up and stop the cyber bullying. In many ways Digital Citizenship and Traditional Citizenship are similar but in other ways they are different. One difference is the layout and security that comes with being on the internet. It's easier to get caught up in something on the internet than it is in the real world because people often disassociate themselves with those they are interacting with.

As teachers and educators we need to explain to our students what digital citizenship is and outline the importance that it can play because this generation is a generation of technology and we all use it constantly. That's why we need to help students be aware of the things that can happen on the internet and teach them what to do and what not to do. If we can start teaching students now they can start passing it down to the next generation and begin creating a more knowledgeable society as we are introduced to newer and more advanced technology.

If we can connect the traditions of a good citizen to digital citizenship and use them online, then I believe that the internet will become a better place for all to use and learn from. Technology and the internet can help us in so many ways but only if it is used in the right and safe way. I believe that throughout this experience I have had the opportunity to learn more about being a good digital citizen and it is my plan to put my new found understanding to good use as I move forward not only with myself but with my students as well.