Section outline

  • General

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  • Welcome & Introduction



    • The internet and internet-enabled technologies are continuing to develop at a very fast pace. This has many benefits, but it also changes the way in which students learn, communicate and interact. Learners are keen and avid users of the internet and mobile technologies. They are seen as ‘digital natives’, always surrounded by technologies. There are many social, educational and economic benefits for learners in using ICTs but learners do need to understand what is acceptable and appropriate behaviour in an online society.


    • On completion of this unit of study you will be able to:

      • Model and instill in students appropriate behavior when communicating online, i.e. netiquette
      • Identify digital citizenship knowledge, skills and values
      • Design a lesson that incorporates digital citizenship competencies.

    • Understanding today's learners

      Young learners are more connected than ever before. They have access to large amounts of information and are part of a global community who are able to study or communicate anywhere and anytime. As citizens of any community, we have certain roles and responsibilities. Your role as a teacher is to help your learners understand what is acceptable and appropriate behaviour in an online society. Here are two important terms you will need to keep in mind as you work through this lesson:

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  • Netiquette



    • What is netiquette?

      Technology users often see netiquette as one of the most pressing problems when dealing with Digital Citizenship. So what exactly is 'netiquette'? Simply put, netiquette is internet etiquette. Investigate further by watching the videos below.

    • Middle Cafe. (2020). Netiquette: A Student's Guide to Digital Etiquette. YouTube Page
      Students must
      View
    • Vacca. M. (2020). Netiquette Guide for Online Learning in 2020. YouTube. Page
      Students must
      View


    • As you found out in the videos that you watched, netiquette means behaving appropriately online. In much the same way as our learners need to learn what is and isn't polite or acceptable behaviour in everyday life, as educators we also need to guide them on how to behave appropriately online. We need to teach them to become good digital citizens. Let's have a look at what it takes to be a good digital citizen.


    • Basic netiquette

      Here are some basic rules for being a good digital citizen:

        


    • Activity

      Can you spot when netiquette has been ignored? Consider the example below:

    • Spot poor e-mail netiquette Lesson
      Students must
      View
      Spend at least 4 mins on this activity
      Go through the activity to the end

  • Digital Citizenship



    • A citizen

      To be a citizen of a country brings certain rights and responsibilities. You have the right to vote, and the responsibility to pay taxes. You have the right to express your opinion, but you also have the responsibility to be respectful of the opinions of others. Digital citizenship has similar benefits and responsibilities.  Consider the video below:

    • National Library NZ. (2014). Netiquette: Digital Citizenship - An Overview. (YouTube). Page
      Students must
      View


    • With daily digital interactions and a growing number of ways to communicate, the result of online decisions can have a huge and lasting impact. As teachers, it is important that we convey this impact to learners and consider all elements of digital citizenship when working with them in the digital world.

    • Digital citizenship curriculum and competencies

      What exactly should we cover when preparing digital citizenship lessons for our students. What skills should we impart to our students? It is important that we teach our learners about what it means to be a safe yet savvy digital citizen. Access the book below that will unpack exactly what we mean by the concept 'digital citizen'.

    • Digital Citizenship Framework and Competencies Book
      Students must
      View

    • Lesson ideas

      Those eight digital citizen competencies cover a lot of ground! How might you teach some of them to your students? Look at the lesson plans below. Could you implement any of them?

    • Digital Technology Hub. (2020). When I post something online how permanent is it? (CC BY). URL
      Students must
      View
    • Code. (nd). Digital Citizenship. (CC BY-NC-SA). URL
      Students must
      View
    • DQ World. (nd). Become a digital leader with 8 digital skills. ((c) Free to use) URL
      Students must
      View
    • Common Sense Education. (2019). New Digital Citizenship Lessons for your Classroom. URL
      Students must
      View
    • BrainPOPEducators. (nd). Digital Citizenship Lesson Plan: Digital Compass URL
      Students must
      View
    • TeachersPayTeachers. (2020). Digital Citizenship Lesson Plans URL
      Students must
      View

    • Discussion

      If none of the above lesson plans work for you, how else might you teach digital citizenship? Use the forum discussion below to brainstorm some strategies with your peers. Post some ideas and be receptive to the ideas suggested by your colleagues. (Post once, reply at least twice).

    • Brainstorm session - How to teach Digital Citizenship Forum
      Students must
      View
      Post replies: 2
      Make forum posts: 1

    • Video

      Watch this short, fun, dynamic yet informative video on digital citizenship.

    • Talent Plantation. (2021). Digital citizenship URL
      Students must
      View

  • Additional Materials (GEC)

  • Assignment



    • Assignment instructions

      Imagine you are trying to coach your class to be good cyber citizens. Create a presentation, or a lesson plan, that you can use to teach them either about netiquette or one of the eight aspects of being a good digital citizen. Once you have created your presentation, or lesson plan, use the assignment submission tool below to upload your document for marking. 

    • Digital Citizen Lesson Assignment
      Students must
      View
      Make a submission



  • Attribution and Licence