How can Students Become Better Digital Citizens?
You may have heard the term ‘Digital Citizenship’ floating around spaces discussing software for education and the ethical use of technology in the classroom. A 'Digital Citizen' may seem to be a confusing or vague title, but this is more than just a meaningless buzzword!
So let’s start learning how we can all become Digital Citizens…
What is Digital Citizenship?
Becoming a digital citizen is an important aspect of responsible internet use and student safety and well-being online. It is based on three core principles:
• Respect
• Education
• Protection
Digital Citizenship is essential with the increasing integration of technology into our lives through hybrid learning and the rise of social media. Empowering students to act responsibly and stay safe online is the goal of Digital Citizenship, promoting independence and respect in all online activity, both in and outside education.
Respect
Open and respectful communication between students and teachers as equal and open should be core to all hybrid classroom management strategies. This digital etiquette is the first step in growing self-knowledge of your responsibilities to others in person and online.
In the classroom, teachers can define digital etiquette alongside face-to-face respectful communication through everyday practice. Habit forming in this way can improve negative attitudes that often emerge online, preventing larger issues as hybrid learning becomes a large part of future school technology use. Knowing how to identify appropriate actions and langue on different platforms and situations online is central to showing the correct levels of respect online.
A useful activity to help students understand this is by using the example of social media. Practicing professionalism for a post on LinkedIn rather than the more casual etiquette on TikTok is a clear way to demonstrate how your actions online can be perceived in different ways.
Preventing cyberbullying is another core part of responsible digital citizenship in schools. School software solutions such as the use of Microsoft Teams create an opportunity for harmful communication which can impact the mental health of students.
Microsoft Teams chat monitoring is a key place where digital citizenship can be taught through student device monitoring software. Safeguarding displays and content filtering provide an awareness of what is respectful behavior and how their actions can impact others.
One of the key benefits of technology in education is the increased accountability that educators’ remote monitoring of Teams chat logs and other online interactions can have on students. They become more aware of their responsibilities when teachers are both aware of and responsive to cyberbullying and inappropriate internet use.
Education
Young people are more exposed than ever, sharing personal information is more common than it should be, and access to students’ data and privacy is easier. Therefore, outside of instilling the importance of respect and communication in students, the digital citizenship initiative is distinctly pro education.
As digital citizens, students (as well as teachers and para educators) should always be aware and considerate of their digital rights and responsibilities. Education on their wider place within the digital landscape empowers students to enact responsible citizenship online both in and after school.
Having concepts of digital etiquette and the digital footprint embedded in their education provides organic teaching of digital literacy. Naturally teaching important aspects of student safety through action helps ensure students can identify when they are treated fairly online.
The Digital footprint is perhaps one of the most important aspects of which students can be made aware. Examples of a positive digital footprint include appropriate and responsible actions on public social media, keeping your personal details private, and using safe search school web filtering software to remove inappropriate or harmful content.
An awareness of the many different examples of digital law that impact young people online is also important. Senso school software solutions work to legal regulations and guidelines to keep kids safe online, including SOPPA, COPPA & FERPA, and CIPA Compliance. Important policies which you can learn more about with our handy guides.
Protection
Protection is the end goal of effective Digital Citizenship, especially when it comes to responsible and ethical use of technology in the classroom. Student safety is dependent on how they are able to interact with harmful internal and external aspects of technology use, which educational institutions have a responsibility to safeguard them from.
Fostering a democratic classroom management style allows students to express their worries and concerns about their experiences online. Teachers should also be Digital Citizens, answering their questions, and where necessary, implementing safeguarding software where necessary to meet these issues effectively and quickly.
Using classroom management software such as Class Cloud gives students an outlet to securely and privately contact their teachers with their concerns through messaging functions. Also, the screen sharing or monitoring capabilities of this school software solution allow for issues to be identified and dealt with in real time, protecting students further.
Education on students’ rights and what respectful actions look like online produces effective Digital Citizens with the awareness and context of where they are being mistreated or under threat online. This empowers them to stand up for their well-being online and protect their privacy and safety in additional ways that schools can protect through communication and technology.
Promoting Digital Citizenship through Technology
Senso believes that education and technology are the best tools we have to keep students safe online in both their lives at school and home, and in fostering long-term safe habits.
If you think our School Software Solutions are right for your students, book a demo with us today or call our reliable experts on 866-664-1520.