Journal #6 A New Concept of Digital Citizenship for the Digital Age

Greenhow, C. (2010). A New concept of 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

In "A New Concept of Digital Citizenship for the Digital Age" the author discusses what exactly digital citizenship entails. ISTE and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills in the United States have formulated definitions of six important 21st-century competencies: technological fluency, innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information fluency, problem solving, and digital citizenship. The question is how to meet this standard for digital citizenship. It is defined as the ability to practice and advocate online behavior that demonstrates legal, ethical, safe, and responsible uses of information and communication technologies. Individuals have attempted to research ways in which are useful to and safe in fulfilling the digital citzenship standard, for example; safe ways to blog and use social websites. There is still plenty of research that needs to be done in finding out which activities best satisfy digital citizenship.

How can I as a teacher improve digital citizenship early on?
Teachers can introduce students starting in kindergarten or first grade to computers; they can do this by teaching them correct terms and parts of the computer. After students know the different parts of the computer they can start exploring it first hand. Students can then use tools like, Microsoft, PowerPoint, Excel, and the internet to practice their new computer skills.

At what age would you recommend students to start having their own blog, facebook, etc.
I would say that the earlier the better for an education blog; as soon as the student has the skills to do so. As for facebook, I would say that after students are aware of cyber predators, cyber bullying, and the dangers of the internet. It is very important for students to know that the internet is not always safe, after they know this they can make better decisions when browsing the net.