Tool # 10

Being a good digital citizen is based on respect. One, students need to be reminded to avoid  plagiarism  and to give credit where it's due by citing their sources and by respecting copyright law. Two, they need to know that what they put on-line has an impact on their own reputation and on others. Three, I would want them to know that they can't believe every thing they read on-line. One key way of discerning the validity of information found on-line is by checking the links and sponsorship of a website. I would use the Common Sense program accessed through Atomic Learning. Since I teach ESOL students, I will choose lessons from the lower grades, so that the message is easier for them to process. Common Sense Media offers this FREE Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum to help educators empower their students and their school communities to be safe, responsible, and savvy as they navigate this fast-paced digital world. I would teach the idea of digital citizenship by making an analogy to good citizenship in the class and in society in general. Then I would have the students brainstorm examples in groups before we watched a video on good digital citizenship. Parents would be informed with a letter highlighting the key points of good digital citizenship and would also be encouraged to discuss it with their children.