Helping students become a digital citizen can be a challenge when the digital landscape is continually changing. A teacher who can overcome that challenge is someone who can effectively research technology trends, monitor the uses of technology in your school, avoid the fear factor that can easily paralyze you, and empower student-centered learning to create vibrant, exciting learning projects. If you are not at that place of comfort or ability there several things to consider to help you teach effective digital citizenship to your students.
The first is to customize. Students don't like to "placed in a box". They like to feel unique and stand out. They customize their life in an effort to be noticed and not become another face in the crowd. Teachers should customize their lesson plans and give the students some freedom to explore, create and learn on their own as well. Standards do not have to be sacrificed in order for this to be done. By allowing the students to have the freedom to customize it is also important to know how to monitor their work and make sure it is appropriate. Students should be taught the difference between professional networking and social networking.
It is also important for teachers to monitor the student's work. Social networking and professional networking are two different things. Most students today are familiar with social networking and may not know how to change their language, tone, and information given out. Monitoring their activities can be checking the type of avatar they use, styles of language, and quality of material they upload. Having a routine check and set procedures for when other students find inappropriate material will help ease the stress that may come from making sure everyone is being followed up on, When something is caught and labeled as inappropriate there needs to be a plan in place determining what steps will be taken.
As a teacher how can you gain the confidence to teach and guide your students through the digital rapids?
Be connected yourself. Research and work with tools that you will be using with your students long before you introduce it. Explore tools such as wikis, Nings, and blogs. Create a learning network that you can fall back on or turn to as you begin to teach your students. Though it you can share experiences and learn from each other's successes and failures.
How can you help your students acquire the skills to navigate through the digital rapids?
Give them structured freedom. Teach them the difference between social networking and professional networking. Teach them about Internet safety. There are an unlimited number of websites on the web that are only a click away from the students. Teaching them about how to navigate through them is important. Teach them how to flush out the good sites from the bad.
Lindsay and Davis (2010) Navigate the Digital Rapids, Learning and Leading with Technology, 37 (6) Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/MarchAprilNo6/Navigate_the_Digital_Rapids.htm
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