Helping Students Safely Navigate the Internet

Welcome to teaching in the digital age, where technology, the internet, websites, and social media have become an integral part of our lives—even for young people. As educators, it's increasingly important to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to be responsible digital citizens.

In this article, we will explore the concept of digital citizenship, discuss various programs that promote it, and point you to some tips and resources to incorporate into your teaching. It's a big digital world out there, but with the right approach and awareness, we can all use it safely and effectively.

Digital Citizenship: Promoting Safety & Respect on the Internet

Digital citizenship encompasses a range of skills and attitudes that enable individuals to engage with digital environments safely and responsibly. In today's interconnected world, it's essential to prioritize internet safety, respect for others, and responsible technology use. By teaching digital citizenship, you empower your students to make informed decisions, navigate the online world with confidence, and contribute positively to digital spaces.

To establish a foundation for digital citizenship education, start by giving students a clear definition and understanding of the concept. Internet safety is important to emphasize—students need strategies to protect their personal information, identify and respond to online threats, and practice safe online behaviors. By teaching students about the potential risks and common pitfalls of the digital landscape, you'll enable them to navigate online spaces with confidence and caution.

Respect for others is another vital aspect of digital citizenship. It emphasizes the importance of empathy, tolerance, and inclusivity when interacting with peers in digital spaces. Students must recognize the impact of their online actions and build skills that foster positive online relationships. By fostering an environment that promotes respect and empathy, we can create digital citizens who contribute positively to online communities and promote a culture of inclusivity.

Be Internet Awesome

Be Internet Awesome, developed by Google, takes a gamified approach to digital citizenship education. It offers an online game designed to teach students about internet safety, responsible behavior, critical thinking skills, and digital etiquette. The game presents various scenarios that challenge students to make informed decisions in a simulated online environment. By gamifying the learning process and encouraging active participation, Be Internet Awesome keeps students more engaged.

In addition to the online game, Be Internet Awesome provides educators with a wide range of lesson plans and curriculum materials. These resources help teachers integrate digital citizenship lessons into their existing curricula. Explore these materials to find ready-to-use activities and discussions that foster critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and responsible online behavior.

Common Sense Education

Common Sense Education, part of a U.S. non-profit called Common Sense Media, offers a comprehensive curriculum, lesson plans, and videos designed to instruct students about digital citizenship. Covered topics include internet safety, responsible social media use, cyberbullying, and digital footprints. By integrating these resources into your teaching, you can guide your students toward responsible digital practices and equip them with skills to navigate the digital world successfully.

The program's lesson plans utilize interactive and activities to reinforce key concepts related to digital citizenship, and they can be customized to suit different grade levels and classroom settings. They focus on interactive and engaging activities that reinforce key concepts related to digital citizenship.

Informative videos serve as valuable visual aids, presenting real-life examples and scenarios that resonate with students. Incorporate these tools into your lessons to enhance student engagement and provide concrete illustrations of the concepts being taught.

iKeepSafe

iKeepSafe is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting digital literacy and providing resources for educators. Their website offers loads of digital citizenship resources and lesson plans on topics ranging from online privacy to media literacy. By incorporating iKeepSafe's resources into your teaching, you can foster critical thinking skills and empower students to be responsible digital citizens.

The iKeepSafe materials are designed to be interactive and engaging. They employ a student-centered approach, encouraging active exploration and participation. Through hands-on activities, discussions, and case studies, students can develop a deeper understanding of digital citizenship principles—and start applying them in their own lives.

Edutopia

Another education resource website, Edutopia, has posted a wealth of articles, lesson plans, and videos centered around digital citizenship. The materials cover a range of topics from digital footprints and online communication to ethical internet use and digital media literacy. Explore Edutopia's collection to learn practical ideas and evidence-based strategies that can improve your digital citizenship curriculum.

The articles provided by Edutopia offer in-depth analysis and research-based approaches to digital citizenship education. They provide educators with valuable perspectives, pedagogical strategies, and tips for addressing the specific challenges that arise in the digital realm.

Beyond articles, Edutopia provides a variety of lesson plans with step-by-step instructions, assessment tools, and suggested resources to implement engaging digital citizenship lessons. Such resources can help you ensure your students build skills to navigate the digital world responsibly and ethically.

Teaching Tolerance

In the U.S., the Southern Poverty Law Center has sponsored a Teaching Tolerance program that seeks to promote digital citizenship through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through its professional development opportunities, lessons, and webinars, the program can help educators foster a more inclusive online environment that combats cyberbullying, online hate speech, and digital discrimination.

In particular, the professional development programs offered by Teaching Tolerance aim to equip educators with the skills needed to address digital citizenship topics in diverse classrooms. The goal is to create inclusive digital environments where every student feels safe, respected, and valued. Discussions on these topics can be challenging, but the tips provided by this program can help make them easier.

Other Approaches to Teaching Digital Citizenship

While the programs mentioned above provide valuable resources, there are numerous other avenues to explore when teaching digital citizenship.

For example, Project Connect offers an interactive curriculum that emphasizes digital responsibility, cyber ethics, online safety, and critical thinking. Educators can learn about lesson plans, activities, and assessment tools that support digital citizenship education.

Netsmartz, a program from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the U.S., offers a range of engaging resources that touch on digital citizenship. Their videos, games, and lesson plans cover topics such as online safety, privacy, cyberbullying, and responsible social media use.

There's also the Digital Citizenship Institute, which bills itself as taking a more personalized approach to teaching good online practices. It offers programs that aim to lead school communities in shifting how students engage online so everything becomes more positive and productive.

Conclusion

As educators, you can play a vital role in shaping the digital citizens of tomorrow. By emphasizing the importance of digital citizenship, you'll empower your students to move through the online world responsibly, engage with others respectfully, and think critically about what's offered on digital platforms.

Utilize the resources and programs discussed in this article to enhance your teaching and guide your students toward becoming responsible and empathetic digital citizens. Tailor your digital citizenship curriculum to the unique needs and interests of your class. It will help equip the next generation with the tools they need to thrive in the world's ever-evolving digital landscape.