Using Technology Appropriately

What is Digital
Citizenship?
Digital Citizenship is a concept which
helps teachers and parents to understand
what students/children/technology users
should know in order to use technology
appropriately. It is a way to prepare
students/technology users for a society full of
technology.
Digital Citizenship Today

Now is the time for educators, as well as other

adults, to begin to evaluate how they are
using technology. Within this presentation
will be examples of how you, as educators,
can begin the process of teaching students
how to use technology more appropriately.
Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms
of appropriate, responsible behavior with
regard to technology use.
Nine Themes of Digital
Citizenship
1. Digital Etiquette
 The electronic standards of conduct or procedure
2. Digital Communication
 The electronic exchange of information
3. Digital Literacy
 The process of teaching and learning about technology
and the use of technology
4. Digital Access
 Full electronic participation in society
5. Digital Commerce
 Electronic buying and selling of goods
6. Digital Law
 Electronic responsibility for actions and deeds
Nine Themes of Digital
Citizenship (Cont.)
7. Digital Rights and Responsiblities
The freedoms extended to everyone in a digital
world
8. Digital Health and Wellness
Physical and psychological well-being in a
digital technology world
9. Digital Security
Electronic precautions to guarantee safety.
The electronic standards of conduct or
procedure.
Digital
Etiquette
What are some examples
of inappropriate digital
etiquette?

Example of improper digital etiquette.

Photo Courtesy of
www.dba-oracle.com
Technology users often see this area as one of the most pressing
problems when dealing with Digital Citizenship. We recognize
inappropriate behavior when we see it, but before people use
technology they do not learn digital etiquette. Many people feel
uncomfortable talking to others about their digital etiquette. Often
rules and regulations are created or the technology is simply
banned to stop inappropriate use. It is not enough to create rules
and policy, we must teach everyone to become responsible digital
citizens in this new society.
Here is an example of a way to teach netiquette to s
The electronic exchange of information.
Digital
Communicatio
n
What are some forms of
digital communication,
other than e-mail?

How communication has evolved.

Photo courtesy of
http://www.concurringopinions.co
 It’s a digital
revolution
One of the significant changes within the digital
revolution is a person’s ability to communicate with
other people. In the 19th century, forms of
communication were limited. In the 21st century,
communication options have exploded to offer a wide
variety of choices (e.g., e-mail, cellular phones, instant
messaging). The expanding digital communication
options have changed everything because people are
able to keep in constant communication with anyone
else. Anyone is afforded the opportunity to access
information anywhere and anytime. Unfortunately,
many users have not been taught how to make
appropriate decisions when faced with so many
different digital communication options.
The process of teaching and learning about
technology and the use of technology.
 Digital Rights and
Responsibilities
Everyone is entitled to the same basic set of
digital rights.
These include the right to privacy, free
speech, etc.
Just as in the real world, these rights can be
signed away.
AUP(Acceptable Use Policies) are an example
of waiving rights for Digital Access.

Great Digital Rights resource.

 Digital Literacy
Each person please write on a piece of paper, one
thing that you excel at when it comes to working
in a digital environment. You may be an expert at
a computer program or you could be an excellent
internet researcher. Write down anything that
comes to mind.
Digital Literacy as Defined in Detail by Scientific American

How essential digital literacy is for students.

No Child Left Behind

Photo courtesy of
http://www.jesslaccetti.co.uk/
 Learning isn’t just for
classrooms anymore!
 While schools have made great progress in the area of
technology infusion, much remains to be done. A renewed
focus must be made on what technologies must be taught
as well as how it should be used. New technologies are
finding their way into the work place that is not being used
in schools (e.g., videoconferencing, online Course
Management Systems). In addition, workers in many
different occupations need information when they need it
(just-in-time information). This process requires
sophisticated searching and processing skills (i.e.,
information literacy). Students must be taught how to learn
in a digital society. In other words, they must be taught to
learn anything, anytime, anywhere. Business, military, and
medicine are excellent examples of how technology is being
used differently in the 21st century. As new technologies
emerge, students need to learn how to use that technology
quickly and appropriately. Digital Citizenship involves
educating a new breed of person—information workers with
a high degree of information literacy skills.
Click for video.
Full electronic participation in a digital society.
Digital Access
What kind of internet access
do you have at home?
Digital Access includes:
Internet Connectivity
Are you satisfied with the
current accessibility in the
Easton school system?
Equipment availability
Software availability
What could be improved?
The time to use the
available resources.
The United States lags in providing “net” speed.

Users with “dial-up” internet connectivity.

Photo courtesy of
www.a7.vox.com
 Start a digital equal rights
movement.
Technology needs to be aware and support
electronic access for everyone to create a
foundation for Digital Citizenship. Digital
exclusion of any kind does not enhance the
growth of human beings in an electronic
society. One gender should not have
preferential treatment over another.
Electronic access should not be determined by
race, physical or mental challenges. Those in
cities or towns with limited connectivity need
to be addressed as well. To become
productive citizens, we need to be committed
to equal digital access.
The electronic buying and selling of goods.
Digital
Commerce
Take a guess at how
many orders were
processed by online
giant Amazon.com last
year.

How many did some

Christmas shopping
online?

2008 – Amazon’s Best Year ever.

How e-commerce works.

Why online shopping is better.

Photo courtesy of
http://www.impactlab.com
 Digital Commerce
Technology users need to understand that a
large share of market economy is being done
electronically. Legitimate and legal exchanges
are occurring. The mainstream availability of
Internet purchases of toys, clothing, cars,
food, etc. has become commonplace. At the
same time, an equal amount of illegal/immoral
goods and services are surfacing such as
pornography and gambling. Users need to
learn about how to be effective consumers in
a new digital economy. 
Electronic responsibility for actions and deeds
Digital Law
Who has wireless internet at
home?

Have you ever had a virus?

It would have been cheaper to buy coffee.

Plagiarism without knowing it?

E-mail and the law.

Facts about Digital Law.

Photo courtesy of http://

whcfirm.com/
 The internet has laws?!
Digital law deals with the ethics of technology.
Unethical use manifests itself in form of theft
and/or crime. Ethical use manifests itself in the
form of abiding by the laws of society. Users need
to understand that stealing or cause damage to
other people’s work, identity, or property online is
a crime. There are certain rules of society that fall
under illegal acts. These laws apply to anyone
who works or plays online. Hacking into others
information, downloading illegal music,
plagiarizing, creating destructive worms, viruses
or creating Trojan Horses, sending spam, or
stealing anyone’s identify or property is unethical.
The freedoms extended to everyone in a
digital world.
Digital Rights &
Responsibilities
Same rights as the Bill of
Rights
Some rights that should
carry over?

Curmudgeon’s Guide to Digital Privacy

Electronic Frontier Foundation
EFF is the leading civil liberties
group defending your rights in the
digital world.

Photo Courtesy of : www.vision.org

 Be Aware of Your Digital
Amendments
Just as in the American Constitution where
there is a Bill of Rights, there is a basic set of
rights extended to every digital citizen. Digital
citizens have the right to privacy, free speech,
etc. Basic digital rights must be addressed,
discussed, and understood in the digital
world.  With these rights also come
responsibilities as well.  Users must help
define how the technology is to be used in an
appropriate manner.  In a digital society these
two areas must work together for everyone to
be productive.
Physical and psychological well-being in a
digital technology world
Digital Health
& Wellness
Anybody take an
ergonomics class in
college?

Who here has shopped

for ergonomically
designed equipment?

Anyone ever been

addicted to the internet
in any way? Online
games?

Ergonomic technology, within reach.

Internet addiction can = death.

Photo courtesy of
http://
www.zimbio.com/
Report on Internet addiction in America.
The perfect Ergonomic desk…if only we could all have one.
 Wear goggles while
typing..
Eye safety, repetitive stress syndrome, and
sound ergonomic practices are issues that
need to be addressed in a new technological
world.  Beyond the physical issues are those
of the psychological issues that are becoming
more prevalent such as Internet addiction. 
Users need to be taught that there inherent
dangers of technology. Digital Citizenship
includes a culture where technology users are
taught how to protect themselves through
education and training.
Electronic precautions to guarantee safety
Digital
Security
Do you have antivirus
protection and a firewall?

Who here does online

banking?

Appropriate use of Computer Systems

How to stay safe online

Photo courtesy of
http://www.hq.nasa.gov
 Batteries and backups are
our friends.
In any society, there are individuals who steal,
deface, or disrupt other people. The same is
true for the digital community. It is not
enough to trust other members in the
community for our own safety. In our own
homes, we put locks on our doors and fire
alarms in our houses to provide some level of
protection. The same must be true for the
digital security. We need to have virus
protection, backups of data, and surge control
of our equipment. As responsible citizens, we
must protect our information from outside
forces that might cause disruption or harm.
Why we should all learn to stay as secure as possible ALL the
Conclusion
The line separating society and digital society
is blurring more and more everyday.
A few years ago, Digital Citizenship used to be
the grey area everyone tried to avoid, but we
can’t avoid it any longer as technology
continues to integrate with life..and education.

Additional Resources:
Digital Compass and Technology Driver’s License

Multiple Activities for Technology Users

Conclusion (cont.)
Activities for trainers of adults

Articles and Publications:

ISTE Publication, No.1
ISTE Publication, No. 2
ISTE Publication, No. 7
Created by Mr. Tim Levesque
Technology Director
Easton School District
Easton, ME