Digital and Internet Safety

 Digital and Internet Safety

Digital citizenship is your identity, your character, and your integrity in a non-physical space. Students must comprehend the longevity of their actions and reactions on the internet. One must follow guidelines to best help him/her maximize their online presence while remaining respectful, authentic, and engaged. There are a few guidelines one can follow to maintain this upstanding and ideal online citizenship. 

- Post content online that is engaging, purposeful, and safe; with no expression of violence and harm to others. 

- Share private information with safe and secure websites; do not share personal information with public sites. 

- Report harmful or inappropriate content with a teacher, supervisor, authorities, or someone in an authoritative position for safety of self and others. 

- Behave in a respectful manner while interacting online and encouraging others to do the same. 

- Respect self and digital media ownership. 

Schools are distributing Chromebooks and/or other devices to ensure digital availability for lessons, units, and homework. I would approach this lesson in the first week of school before technology is distributed to students. However, in order to engage and allow my students to take ownership of their digital citizenship, I would like to create a digital safety contract between myself and the class.

Are You Committed To Digital Citizenship? 

 After discussing what digital citizenship means to students, each class would make their own rules and decide what they must do to ensure safety online. Those would likely resemble the guidelines above with the rules beginning with, "I will." Then, those students would sign the contract as a reminder to stay safe and encourage safety among their peers. The contract will hang on the wall of my classroom as a constant reminder while interacting on the internet.