Technology has changed over the last thirty years. According to a survey conducted by an online education resource provider, Edgenuity, ninety-one percent of teachers agree that technology is a benefit. They believe that technology is a resource to encourage learning. The educational impact is tremendous, but it has also led to the misuse of technology. Understanding the appropriate and responsible use of technology is called digital citizenship. In this paper, I will discuss digital citizenship as a means to help prepare middle school students for the present and future use of technology.
Digital citizenship “describes the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use” (Ribble and Bailey 15). Digital citizenship
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Digital access is the full electronic participation in society, in knowing that everyone does not have the same access to technology. digital commerce is the electronic buying and selling of goods. The third element is digital communication. This is the electronic exchange of information. Digital Literacy is the process of teaching and learning about technology as well as the use of technology. Knowing how and when to use technology is also considered to be digital literacy. The electronic standards of conduct and procedure expected by other digital technology users is categorized as element five, digital etiquette. Element six is digital law. This encompasses the legal rights and restrictions governing technology use and the electronic responsibility for actions and deeds. Digital Rights & Responsibilities are those freedoms extended to all digital technology users, such as privacy and free speech. The eighth element is digital health and wellness; users consider the physical and psychological well-being related to digital technology use. The last element is Digital Security. This element relates to protecting personal safety as well as information …show more content…
According to Common Sense Media there is a need for digital literacy and citizenship. “This dynamic new world requires new comprehension and communication skills,as well as new codes of conduct, to ensure that these powerful media and technologies are used responsibly and ethically” (Commonsensemedia, “K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum”). The anonymity of the digital world makes it easier to participate in unethical behaviors. Consequences do not always couple with the actions. This lack of awareness makes students more vulnerable to digital harm.
In addition, 95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and need to understand the impact of being a digital technology user. Within 10 years, 90% of the entire population will be connected to the internet. Students use devices at and away from school. Students spend an average of seven hours a day in front of digital devices. Students must create online identities that will not negatively affect them in the
Many schools now send kids home with a laptop or a tablet for use in class and home. This helps to teach students early on how to use technology to help them do well in school and teaches them responsibility. This teaches children how to learn efficiently and understand how to find the information they need. As Megan Poore suggests in “Digital Literacy: Human Flourishing and Collective Intelligence in a Knowledge Society”, that it is not just about learning how to process what we learn. It is also about “raising people’s critical consciousness to a point where they become aware of their own historicity, so that they can intervene in and change the world - which is arguably the whole purpose of education to begin with” (2011, pg.
1. Digital Access: full electronic participation in society. Technology users should be aware that not everybody has the same chances, When it comes to working toward equal screen rights and supporting the electronic access Users have to remember that there are some that may havea little amout of access, so other resources may need to be provided. 2.
Therefore, digital citizenship needs to be addressed in schools and teachers need to approach the topics in appropriate manners so the entire school community can benefit from digital technology use (Ribble, 2015, pp 55). it is not enough to simply provide students with technology. Students need to be protected and provided with guidance to effectively assist in their learning. Instead of implementing technology use agreements and policies which can lead to banishment from technology, schools need to empower students by including the positive aspects of technology use (Dotterer, 2016, pp 63). Teaching digital citizenship can prevent inappropriate behaviors and set students up for a lifetime of success using technology.
Technology enables students and teachers to have a fast and easy way to acquire unlimited access to tons of information. With all of the useful technologies, the curriculum is bound to change in endless ways, creating more opportunity for learning.
Digital Health and Wellness is one of the nine elements of digital citizenship. Education in digital health and wellness should be given to avoid physical and psychological issues. Digital Citizenship are the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior regarding technology use (Ribble, M., 2017). Being a digital citizen means being a good citizen in the digital world where we learn to apply our manners and rules just like in the real world.
Uniqueness of every child must be understood and encouraged. There should be an active use of technology and children must be taught sustainable way of living. Along with cultural literacy, digital literacy including cybersecurity, privacy and cybersafety must be taught in schools. It is time to re-think the school culture. Real-life problem solving
In the early years of computers and computerized technology, computer engineers had to believe that their contribution to the development of computer technology would produce positive impacts on the people that would use it. During the infancy of computer technology, ethical issues concerning computer technology were almost nonexistent because computers back then were not as multifaceted as they are today. However, ethical issues relating to computer technology and cyber technology is undeniable in today’s society. Computer technology plays a crucial role in all aspects of our daily lives. Different forms of computer technology provide unique functionalities that allow people to perform daily activities effectively and efficiently. In modern society, we use computer and cyber technology to communicate with friends and family via social networking sites, participate in business transactions, and get current news. Different tasks require unique technological feature in computer technology to function properly. Although, unique technological features increase people’s proficiency in accomplishing various tasks, unique technological features in computer and cyber technology increase security vulnerabilities. In many cases, the security vulnerabilities in computer technology are exploited by cybercriminals to invade people’s privacy, and steal people’s identity. We know that computers have no moral compass; they cannot make moral decisions for themselves. Essentially, people make moral decisions that affect others positively or negatively depending on how they use computer technology. Some of the biggest ethical issues facing people in the computing environment include privacy concerns on the web and identity theft. Privacy concerns...
Novakovic, J. (2012). Responsibility in Application of ICT as Legal, Moral and Ethical Issues. Retrieved from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.libaccess.hud.ac.uk/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6419151
Digital technology has changed how people communicate, learn, and work. The term digital technology is used to introduce the ever-evolving ensemble of digital software, hardware, and architecture used in learning and teaching in the school, home and moreover. Digital technologies have changed communication in the modern society, an innovation so speedily integrated into our lives that we can really recall how we used to make phone calls or exchange messages back in the analog days. The internet and cell phones are the two most valid examples of the influence of the information age. Digital technology generates, backlogs, and processes data as string of binary digits and its role in society since the early 1990s
Technology affects every aspect of our lives. From romance to business, it has shown its presence everywhere. But technology has had a huge impact on education that cannot be denied, and has done nothing but improve the quality and quantity of education.
Using computers and hand held devices for relationships, reading, writing, and entertainment, turning them into introverted and socially inept individuals. Current trends resonating from our educational institutions to our workplace can be examples of how technology has altered the way younger people communicate. This tragedy transcends from youth to adulthood, affecting the workplace. Social networking sites have begun to take hours away from employers. How do students understand ethical and moral dilemmas if they are allowed to make mistakes and work through a particular problem?
The ability to represent and process information digitally, including text, values, images, and sound, has allowed us to be more productive and to extend our intellect and understanding of life in this universe. The power of computing can improve the everyday aspect of life, both professionally and personally. Along with a variety of benefits, computers also generate a wide variety of ethical dilemmas, such as the digital divide, property rights, privacy, freedom of speech, and health-related issues associated with living a digital lifestyle.
In conclusion, technology has changed education for the better allowing access to unlimited resources, distance learning and broadening the means of communication. Technology creates a more encouraging environment and stimulates students to engage in something they may be familiar with. Technology has allowed people to know more and to collaborate with each other. Students have a great range of technologies which strengthens the relationship between knowledge and students. The technology used today throughout the world will only strengthen and advance the 21st century education system. With unlimited resources, students can take advantage of their learning and gain the most from it. Integrating technology into education promotes a better learning community.
According to the Washington Ethical Society, “Ethics refers to the specific values, standards, rules, and agreements people adopt for conducting their lives” (What Does, n.d., par. 1) Cyber-ethics is the practice of using appropriate and good behavior while on the Internet (Harris, 2011). A person’s perception of ethical behavior is influenced by many things such as values that we learn from our family when we are children and social influences from our peers (Lauby, 2012). With the emergence of the Internet, came a whole new world filled with ethical challenges as people were given additional opportunities to act in appropriate and inappropriate ways. Some of these ethical challenges involve digital media and its proper use,
Imagine someone born in the early 1900’s entering a modern-day classroom. They would likely be confused as to what televisions, computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices are. It is also likely that they would be overwhelmed by the instant access to information that the internet provides. Digital media has become a large part of people’s everyday lives especially with the rise of digital media in classrooms. Digital media is growing so rapidly that people who are not adapting to this shift in culture are falling behind and becoming victims of the “digital divide”, this is leaving people misinformed. Digital media has a large effect on the way that people communicate, this is especially evident in the way that students interact with