International Digital Citizenship Week Oct. 19th-25th!
As students learn new media research skills and ways to identify quality websites, we continue to make digital citizenship a key part of our technology integration. It's not a giant leap for the PYP; the learner profile, attitudes and skills of IB PYP are perfectly aligned with the tenets of digital citizenship, but the pace of change and impact of new technology do present their challenges for a curriculum that is this "full on". Sometimes teachers are learning alongside students, the options can be overwhelming, and technology can fail when you need it most. Teachers can always use more time, teaching digital citizenship takes time, can they really spare it?
I believe they must. I believe that in such a connected world the ability to understand and evaluate internet sources is crucial. That knowing who to trust with your information and the value of that information cannot be understated. That understanding self image and identity can help students express creativity without changing who they really are. That we can be producers of content and grow a community of learning worldwide while staying safe, keeping private lives private, and developing a public portfolio of our best work.
New to digital citizenship? New to integrating technology in your classroom or with your kids? Afraid of all the nasty stuff you hear about the internet?
Common Sense published this awesome series of teacher backgrounders that really break down what you need to know about the core tenets of good digital citizenship, including why we teach it. I strongly encourage you to have a look at these and talk to your kids about them at every opportunity, they will be permanently linked from the Digital Citizenship page on the blog.
Happy digital citizenship week!
-M
