Ribble, M., Bailey, G.D., and Ross, T. (2004). Digital citizenship: Addressing appropriate digital behavior. Learning & Leading with Technology 32(1), 6-11. ISTE: Eugene, OR.
In the article Digital Citizenship: Addressing Appropriate Digital Behavior authors Mike Ribble, Gerard Bailey, and Tweed Ross are concerned about the misuse and abuse happening around digital etiquette or behavior. They report that there have been several incidents of students inappropriately using technologies in the classroom either as a distracting source, such as cell phones during class, or by plagiarizing information available on the Internet (Ribble et. al: 2004). As such, they feel it necessary to address appropriate digital behavior for students in school, which is modeled and applied by the teacher. In particular, Ribble et. al, focus on aspects of digital citizenship that are clearly addressed in ISTE Nets for Students 5: Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Strategies that help guide student online behavior are essential to teachers’ educating learners in an age where digital access to any kind of information is massive and widely accessible, since they run the risk of developing inappropriate digital practices. Hence, early intervention and exposure of proper digital etiquette (or netiquette) is key.
The authors identify nine areas that make up digital citizenship, which are: etiquette, communication, education, access, commerce, responsibility, rights, safety and security (p.7, 2004). In the area of education the authors state that although technology is increasingly becoming a part of curriculum “teaching how to use technology has not grown accordingly” (p.8, 2004), because many times teachers do not teach their students how to properly cite materials or how to conduct sane research. Four manageable and practical strategies are offered. One of them is to “create activities and exercises that allow students to use PDAs to retrieve, store, and share information in a responsible fashion” (p.8, 2004). If teachers’ are to implement this approach to inform their students about proper research methods, which highly contribute to digital citizenship, then as professional and well informed educators they will meet ISTE Nets for Teachers 4: Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility: a) advocate, model, and teach safe, legal and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.
Personal Response
I believe that all of the areas of digital citizenship go hand in hand in equipping students with the proper tools to thrive and network in the digital age. In particular, student safety is of my concern. Since, there have been increasing reports of cyberbullying amongst students versed in digital age computer skills, safety remains at the center of why students should acquire online behavior norms that are respectful of their opinion and of others. It is my obligation as a future educator to invest in the caring qualities, such as respect, of my students which will ensure theirs and others safety. Because when respect is normalized in digital culture it will reduce the online victimization of children and teens and establish a digital culture of acceptance and not hate or allow the scapegoating of others. Learning about the rights of online users as well of the copyright companies will enable students to build a larger capacity of what is appropriate when retrieving online information and how to credit those who have copyright ownership without feeling like they are stepping on egg shells. Students can gain knowledge that will help guide their online experiences and treatment of others’ ideas, projects, and opinions. In short, students awareness of digital citizenship places responsibility at their hands while making them accountability of their behavior, as it also gives them tools to recognize and implement appropriate digital behavior in which they can share amongst the larger community of friends and family. Thus, they will strengthen their capacity to become leaders in the digital age.
Diana,
ReplyDeleteThis is a truly important concept to us as future educators. I couldn't agree more with the authors, and you, that lessons of digital citizenship have not been emphasized proportionately to match the increase in technology in the curriculum. Additionally, we must address the inappropriate use of technologies in the classroom. One example I have seen in my observations is the use of cell phone to help students cheat. They are able to program answers in their devices, or share information via text messaging. And unfortunately, I feel that some teachers have given up, believing that they are powerless against this kind of behavior. Districts and principals need to be responsible for giving their teachers proper training on how to combat this behavior and reeducate or students on appropriate digital behavior. I really appreciated your words,"Because when respect is normalized in digital culture it will reduce the online victimization of children and teens and establish a digital culture of acceptance and not hate or allow the scapegoating of others." That is key: normalizing respect. How do we get our students to arrive at the conclusion themselves that cheating, cyber-bullying, plagiarism, and the rest of these disrespectful behaviors are no "cool" or okay. If we can accomplish that, then we will have done our part on fostering and modeling appropriate digital citizenship.
Hi Diana,
ReplyDeleteI like how the article touched on some of the more prevalent issues with working with technology. For example, you mentioned in you summary how some people use it as a distraction and don't seem to take digital citizenship and responsibility very seriously. Even in college, we tend to forget how to behave online and engage in inappropriate behavior at times. Cyberbullying, which you mentioned, is an example of this. Everyone knows the term and has heard stories on the news about it, but I honestly never took it very seriously until I learned more about it. It is something very serious, and if we are future teachers, we need to incorporate this into our curriculum. Especially since our students will be much more tech-savvy than we are, we need to equip them with the necessary tools for success and proper digital behavior.