Journal #1 - Passport to Digital Citizenship

Ribble, Mike (January, 2009) Passport to Digital Citizenship
retrieved 2/2/09 from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigatorMenu/Publications/LL/Current_Issue/

This article addresses the importance of social rules regarding the use of technology at home and school. The NETS Refresh Project provides the perfect parameters for technology use and represents a vital aspect of bringing these important issues to light. The nine elements of digital citizenship (access, commerce, communications, literacy, etiquette, law, rights and responsibilities, health and wellness, security) incorporate the issues necessary to advocate in order to define the standards of appropriate and responsible behavior regarding the use of technology. Children today need to be prepared for our ever-increasing and constantly changing technological world. When teachers, parents and communities come together on these issues to agree on the guidelines necessary, future generations will be part of a functional foundation of responsible and ethical technology users.

Question #1:
Why is it so important for students to know and understand these issues?
Because technology has imploded in the past ten years (especially) no one is immune to the constant changes in advancement. In today’s society, technology plays a part in most aspects of the average person’s day, regardless of their age. For example, a kindergarten student often uses the computer to play educational games or take a math test. This student’s teacher in turn uses the computer to monitor individual test assessment and use this data to compile classroom stats. Grade school students often are exposed to technology not only at school but also at home with gaming systems, personal computers, and MP3 players. Junior high and high school students have the opportunity to take media technology courses, with daily hands-on use and exposure to a vast variety of the latest devices available. Adults in the business world rely on daily use of internet, email, cell phones, and blackberries to get them through the day. Today’s students will take their technological knowledge into their adult lives. It is especially vital for them to learn at a young age the importance of ethical (safe, legal, and responsible) computer technology use. Setting clear parameters and providing safety monitors are necessary not only for legal reasons, but to teach young learners there are boundaries and limits to which their use is held.

Question #2:
How can we bring teachers, parents, and communities together on these issues?
This is an important question because the disconnect between schools and home/community is a difficult hurdle to overcome. Culturally disadvantaged families do not have access to the same resources as more affluent members of society. This disconnect is also evident where children are more advanced technologically than their parents are, or ever might be. Many school districts help to bridge this gap in communication by providing very specific guidelines to parents and students in the form of a contract. This contract is signed by both the student and the parents prior to the start of the school year, and represents not only a written guideline of rules for the student, but also a legal protection for the school district. This is obviously in the best interest of the school as well as the students and parents within the community. Many communities can also benefit by offering classes through the local community center.