Recently a group of pre-service teachers asked me, “Why do we have to learn this?” It was an honest question about digital citizenship and its relationship to our curriculum. At the moment I gave a fairly general response about how much the world has changed due to technology. I feel it merits a deeper response after reflection. The vision of what could happen if we didn’t teach about digital citizenship appeared bleak.
First, can you imagine graduating high school without knowing anything about money? Yet over 50% of purchases made by Millennials use some type of electronic interaction. Participating in e-commerce encompasses today’s young people giving out their the personal data for these online purchases. Knowing where this data goes and ways to monitor activity is key to safe economic participation.
Second, can you imagine graduating high school without being able to speak the language? Using digital communication tools is essential for preparing students to participate in today’s society. Applying for a job at McDonald’s requires knowing how to complete online forms. Heck, even being unemployed requires some digital skills if you want benefits! Working professionally in one of today’s global corporations certainly requires high-level digital communication and cultural awareness.
Third, can you imagine schools without crossing guards for young children or bright yellow buses to protect them outside of the school? Teaching our students to protect themselves against cyberbullying, sexting and catfishing is essential to prevent the digital equivalent of being hit by a car on the way to school.
Fourth, the upcoming election exemplifies why teaching digital citizenship is essential to continuation of our democracy. Many accusations hurled at candidates involve use of various digital tools such as email or Twitter. To figure out what the actual issues at stake for our country our requires extensive ability to research facts and information online beyond what the media portrays. Political advertising isn’t even held to the same standard as product advertising.
Second, can you imagine graduating high school without being able to speak the language? Using digital communication tools is essential for preparing students to participate in today’s society. Applying for a job at McDonald’s requires knowing how to complete online forms. Heck, even being unemployed requires some digital skills if you want benefits! Working professionally in one of today’s global corporations certainly requires high-level digital communication and cultural awareness.
Third, can you imagine schools without crossing guards for young children or bright yellow buses to protect them outside of the school? Teaching our students to protect themselves against cyberbullying, sexting and catfishing is essential to prevent the digital equivalent of being hit by a car on the way to school.
Fourth, the upcoming election exemplifies why teaching digital citizenship is essential to continuation of our democracy. Many accusations hurled at candidates involve use of various digital tools such as email or Twitter. To figure out what the actual issues at stake for our country our requires extensive ability to research facts and information online beyond what the media portrays. Political advertising isn’t even held to the same standard as product advertising.
Simply stated, if we do not teach digital citizenship then we are failing to teach our students what they need to speak the native language of their own country. Without addressing digital citizenship as essential to core knowledge in schools, we are marginalizing our own students.