#2: Promote and Embed Digital Citizenship
Information literacy is a modern day skill set that is not only important for students but imperative for citizens of society to be successful in just about any trade or profession. The ability to intelligently and safely navigate the internet, gather information, and evaluate sources of information is becoming increasingly important. Teachers and students are ever more reliant on web based tools and virtual worlds for all types of academic, social, and even emotional needs. The Covid -19 Pandemic accelerated these changes in education. As a middle school teacher, I knew a gap existed with digital literacy skills but was unprepared for just how big the deficit truly was. A common observation I hear from teachers is that students are over exposed to sources of social media and lack the ability to think critically about sources. At home, parents that do, in fact monitor their child's web uses, focus more on privacy and safety than taking time to discuss bias, viewpoints, or purpose of content on the internet. As a teacher I stress the idea that being a savvy social media and web browser means you have responsibilities to consider the accuracy and purpose of content that you create or re-circulate on the internet. In a sense, we all have a responsibility to be good digital neighbors to those we connect with.
- Here are 3 great resources for teaching digital citizenship skills for K-8 students.
1) Be Internet Awesome
Published by Google, this free, detailed curriculum spans the spectrum of digital citizenship skills. Lesson plans, worksheets, and discussion prompts are outlined in this 100+ page resource guide. Topics of online security, data privacy, practices for identifying credible sources, considering bias, and even combating negative online behavior are woven together into 5 units. One unit design feature I found useful was the differentiation of activities based on grade level. Google also includes the link to a free online game, called Interland, which challenges students to use their newly developed skills to complete tasks and competitions.
2) Empowering Student Relationships With Media
Josh Weisgrau from Edutopia.com provides a meaningful new taxonomy and ladder of questions for students to ask when they are evaluating the value of a resource. Teaching students to use these in the classroom will not only improve the depth of their resources but also allow them practice with much needed critical thinking skills.
- Here are 3 great resources for teaching digital citizenship skills for K-8 students.
1) Be Internet Awesome
Published by Google, this free, detailed curriculum spans the spectrum of digital citizenship skills. Lesson plans, worksheets, and discussion prompts are outlined in this 100+ page resource guide. Topics of online security, data privacy, practices for identifying credible sources, considering bias, and even combating negative online behavior are woven together into 5 units. One unit design feature I found useful was the differentiation of activities based on grade level. Google also includes the link to a free online game, called Interland, which challenges students to use their newly developed skills to complete tasks and competitions.
2) Empowering Student Relationships With Media
Josh Weisgrau from Edutopia.com provides a meaningful new taxonomy and ladder of questions for students to ask when they are evaluating the value of a resource. Teaching students to use these in the classroom will not only improve the depth of their resources but also allow them practice with much needed critical thinking skills.
3) Teaching Students to Evaluate Websites
- Evaluating websites is kind of like being a detective. A few simple pointers here from Amie Weinberg of Edutopia.com will help prepare your students to tell the difference between honest content and the range of biased or even fake news content that circulates the world every day.
- Evaluating websites is kind of like being a detective. A few simple pointers here from Amie Weinberg of Edutopia.com will help prepare your students to tell the difference between honest content and the range of biased or even fake news content that circulates the world every day.
References:
The Net Safety Collaborative. (2021, June). Smart Alert Strong Kind Brave; Be Internet Awesome. Google.
Weinberg, A. (2022, January 21). Teaching Students to Evaluate Websites. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-students-evaluate-websites
Weisgrau, J. (2015, April 28). Empowering Student Relationships With Media. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/empowering-student-relationships-with-media-josh-weisgrau
The Net Safety Collaborative. (2021, June). Smart Alert Strong Kind Brave; Be Internet Awesome. Google.
Weinberg, A. (2022, January 21). Teaching Students to Evaluate Websites. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-students-evaluate-websites
Weisgrau, J. (2015, April 28). Empowering Student Relationships With Media. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/empowering-student-relationships-with-media-josh-weisgrau