95% of all American teens ages 12-17 are online (Lenhart, et al, 2011).
Each day the world is becoming increasingly digital. Your students begin to use more and more technology devices at home and in the classroom. But, are they prepared to be good digital citizens? Just as you teach your students the rules of society, it is imperative that you teach them the rules of the digital world, and how to be safe and responsible with technology (Ribble, 2011).
80% of those teens are users of social media (Lenhart et al., 2011).
Digital Citizenship encompasses all aspects of what it means to be an Internet user. From access to law to security, the basics of digital citizenship covers it all. To be considered a good digital citizen, the user must know what is right and wrong, exhibit intelligent technology behavior, and make responsible choices while using technology. Digital citizenship is comprised of nine different elements. These nine elements are categorized into three different groups.
The categories are:
The categories are:
- School Environment and Student Behavior
- Student Learning and Academic Performance
- Student Life Outside the School Environment
88% of social media-using teens have witnessed other people be cruel on social network sites (Lenhart et al., 2011).
This site is designed to give students, parents, teachers, and virtually any other Internet user a better understanding of what digital citizenship is all about. By reading the information on this website, it is my hope that you will be able to help yourself and others around you make better technological choices. Together we can make the digital environment a better place for all.
18% of teens say their friends have been their biggest influence on appropriate Internet of cell phone behavior (Lenhart et al., 2011).