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| http://mattbgomez.com/we-should-be-doing-more-than-teaching-digital-citizenship/ |
Digital citizenship, in my opinion, should be taught early and often. If I could have it my way, as young as kindergarten when we start teaching the students concepts of “stranger danger”. Let’s be honest, these kids are on the internet whether we want to believe it or not at this young age anyways. The concept of knowing how to act and behave online can be overlooked by many teachers or adults with the simple assumption that the children know how they should behave and act. In my own experience, many times I have also overheard “teacher room talk” with suggestions that perhaps the parents need to look at their child and what they are doing online. The blame can be put on all sorts of people, but that will not solve the matter at hand of how do we teach children the importance of protecting themselves through respecting themselves online? I feel that there is a strong need for children to learn what their digital footprints implies, how it can follow them their whole life, and how to protect it.
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| http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3rgi6e |
As far as my own digital footprint is concerned, I try to stay private about most things and avoid posting images of myself/social life. I do have this blog of course for professional and educational purposes, and I also have a Twitter for the same purposes,l as well as to stay up-to-date on current events and news. However, I steer clear of photo sharing sites such as Facebook and Instagram. Don’t get me wrong, I understand how some people use these social sites to stay in touch with friends and family or for other means, but it’s just not for me. I know that somewhere out there in “internet database world” there are images of me, but nothing that I must say I regret or would pose a threat for me. Now I understand what people could do with these photos could pose a potential threat but that is where an individual must take a stand and be proactive about what it is they want people to know about them via the world wide web and keep a watchful eye.
Yes! Early and often! I've come to see that a lot of parents have no idea what their children are up to online. One of my 4th grade students told me in a survey that he enjoyed playing violent video games online. That information went back home asap! The student was obviously away that he probably shouldn't be playing them, but it seemed there was no follow through at home after this initial lecture, and he was able to get away with it, and then brag about it! Like your meme says, Digital Citizenship needs to be more than simply "taught". If mom and dad tell their children not to post pictures of themselves online, they mom and dad should follow the same protocol. Yes, they could argue that they're older and such, but still, children will follow your example rather than listen to what you say.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with the nature of your post! I'm almost too embarrassed to admit that my 4 year old knows how to use an iPad. I've discovered some great reading, writing, and math tools that he loves! He also got a Leap Frog for Christmas which is a children's version of an iPad. Still, I've had conversations with him about time limits explaining why he's not allowed to play with these apps for more than 10 minutes at a time.
ReplyDeleteBrittany,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I especially like the quotes you chose to include with you post as they serve to support your argument about why it is so important to teach students about digital citizenship early. On this point, I agree with you completely! In my fourteen years in an elementary school, I am constantly surprised by the amount of online interactions my young students are having online, right under the noses of their parents. Therefore, like you I believe if we are to prepare of students to become successful thriving members of society yet fully envisioned we need to empower them with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the roads of this online environment in positive and healthy ways. Therefore, it falls on our shoulders to lead by example and show students through our actions online and in the lessons we teach in the classroom what leaving a positive digital footprint looks like.
Thanks for sharing
Terri
I couldn't agree with you more, Brittany! Children need to learn from an early age about the power and dangers of the internet and the parents need to be there to model the correct behavior! I know the kindergartners I work with are always very curious about any technology I bring in and I would rather teach them now how to use it correctly than wait for them to try to discover it on their own. Parents and teachers should be working together to help their students have a positive digital footprint. Great post!
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job on your blog post Brittany! I completely agree that digital citizenship should be taught early on in children's lives. I think it's important to show the choices they make early on can affect their futures. I always worry the most about my middle school students. They don't think "long-term" and they post whatever they feel like, whenever they want. I think if we need to be more proactive as teachers in order to prevent our students' mistakes.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a great point about how we teach our kids and students about stranger danger so why is it any different to teach them about the risks of technology and what can happen if they don't use it safely??
ReplyDeleteI, unlike you an not very private and I have a very large digital footprint out there. I have pictures on facebook and statuses, I have images on instagram and I send emails all the time to friends and family with personal information about myself and children, as well as pictures. You have to really be careful what you put out there because those pictures could come back to bite you i the butt someday!
I love your images by the way!!