5.1 Platform share and Digital Citizenship reflection

Digital Citizenship in your classroom/work environment

1. Share your thoughts on the teaching or training of digital citizenship / etiquette / rules in your classroom/work environment. 
2. Is it embedded in the curriculum, its own unit, or something that you do not formally teach/train/manage? Explain why you follow this path.
3. Should digital citizenship be a part of the school-wide (work environment) curriculum?  Who should teach it or train learners/employees? How? 
4. Any other thoughts you want to share about the importance (or not) of digital citizenship?

I work at K-8 schools. In general, any training that students receive in digital citizenship is done at the discretion of the classroom teacher and based on his/her personal use of tech in the classroom. 

In Kindergarten - Grade 5, I have collaborated with many teachers in lessons about digital safety, etiquette, and communication.This is usually informal, due to an issue that has arisen in the classroom, or to introduce a new type of program or app. As students get a little older and enter middle school, we participate in more formal education in preparation to send laptops home with students. These lessons are usually full units, taught formally to students. There is also a parent-education night every year. Middle school teachers collaborate with myself and the technology teacher to teach lessons regarding most of the 9 aspects of digital citizenship. 

Digital citizenship is an important part of a modern-day education. Depending on the topic, training should be given to classroom teachers so that they can deal with daily issues and frequent questions. Technology integrationists should come alongside teachers to team-teach important lessons on safety, privacy, and to increase digital literacy. 

Something that I have been thinking about is teaching children the balance between being safe online, protecting their privacy, and being anonymous. Sometimes thinking you’re too safe online can lead to posting without responsibility. This can possibly lead to joining anonymous communities that may harbor antisocial or racist views.