EDUC5464 - ICT

Reflection 3 - What area of Digital Citizenship do you think should be a current

focus for schools and why?
Digital Citizenship (DC) refers to the way a person participates in the on-line world.
In the same way a citizen of a country has rights and responsibilities, ethics, morals
and roles to consider so too does a Digital Citizen.

Digital citizenship isnt just about recognising and dealing with online hazards. Its
about building safe spaces and communities, understanding how to manage
personal information, and about being internet savvy - using your online presence to
grow and shape your world in a safe, creative way, and inspiring others to do the
same (DIGIZEN, n.d.).

The NSW government identifies 8 key areas of DC, shown below in Diagram 1.

Diagram 1 The 8 elements of digital citizenship

Source: Adapted from (Digital Education Revolution - NSW, 2010)

1. Digital Conduct refers to students understanding that healthy online interpersonal

relationships are the responsibility of all, much the same as it is in the real world.
2. Digital Footprint is about protecting your privacy while online. Snyder states that
students misuse social media without understanding the negative influence on
their global digital footprint and lives (Snyder, 2016, p. abstract). In addition,
students do not intrinsically know the potential dangers associated with the use
of technology as a communications medium (Snyder, 2016, p. 1).
3. Digital Relationships refers to understanding the benefits and risks associated
with interacting with others online. Benefits include networking, collaborating,

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connecting with friends and family. Risks include stalking, cyber bullying and
identity theft.
4. Digital health and wellbeing refers to the addictive nature of using and
participating in ICT related online activities such as social networks and gaming.
A recent study found that of students that were heavy users of media (more than
16 hours a day), nearly half earned only fair to poor grades. Students need to
understand the long-term impact of excessive media consumption (Ribble,
2012, p. 151).
5. Digital Law refers to understanding that laws apply to online content. Intellectual
property, copyright and identity theft are areas of law that can apply.
6. Digital Financial Literacy refers to understanding the safe ways to conduct
financial transactions online. In addition, there are many criminals who attempt to
steal your money through phishing and email scams.
7. Cyber Safety and Cyber bullying cross over all 6 of the above areas of DC. Cyber
safety refers to protecting yourself whilst online using tools such as virus
scanners, secure passwords and being suspicious of any unknown emails.
8. Cyber Bullying requires Students should understand the characteristics and
forms of cyber bullying and hostile cyber behaviour and the steps they can take if
experiencing or observing these behaviours (Digital Education Revolution -
NSW, 2010).

For schools, the increasing impact and influence that ICT is having on both the social
and educational lives of students and teachers alike poses some crucial questions.
Primarily, where should schools focus on their attention when it comes to DC?

Ribble states that the immediate focus should be on teacher training. For many
educators, digital citizenship is not a familiar term. Most are not trained on this topic
and are unprepared to teach it to their students (Ribble, 2012, p. 149).

The role of the teacher is not to compete with students ICT knowledge but to
facilitate the learning, use and application of ICTs in a safe and productive way. This
means and teaching students how to be good Digital Citizens. Ribble states
Educators can no longer wait for the next digital tool or federal mandate to be
released. Digital citizenship education is needed today (Ribble, 2012, p. 152).

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References

Digital Education Revolution - NSW. (2010). Digital Citizenship. NSW. Retrieved from
http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Sites/LRRView/13774/documents/Digital_Citize
nship_briefing.pdf
DIGIZEN. (n.d.). Why is digital citizenship important? Retrieved from http://old.digizen.org/about/
Ribble, M. (2012). Digital Citizenship for Educational Change. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 48(4), 148-151.
10.1080/00228958.2012.734015
Snyder, S. (2016). Teachers' perceptions of digital citizenship development in middle school students
using social media and global collaborative projects. In M. Carter, A. Jayasena & D. Stein
(Eds.): ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

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