Muddling through the blogosphere
Mike Ribble, director of Technology from Manhattan-Ogden School District in Kansas, is starting his session on digital citizenship, using the NETS standard. His opening quote in from the movie “Full Disclosure” with the quote “May you live in interesting times.” Technology opens so many possibilities but also so many issues.
NETS*Standard 5 in-a-nutshell definition: “The norms appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use.” Full blown: Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal ethical behavior.
Why is digital citizenship important? (Side trip into Michael Wesch’s video A Vision of Students Today. What are the issues?:
Key Questions for today’s session:
So what do we do now? Where do we begin? Don’t attempt to teach them all at once. Work from the framework and work back out. IT departments and teaching and learning need to work together. State and federal need to coordinate where and how technology should be monitored.
I really like the way the CTAP4 folks have organized resources for learning about and teaching all aspects of digital citizenship. They’ve included links to PowerPoints, workshop wikis, and even this wonderful poster. I think much of the credit for this valuable website goes to at&t’s Linda Uhrenholt.
I also appreciate Doug Johnson’s sharing his Cyberbullying and How to Avoid It student guide and poster - and Nancy Willard’s willingness to allow him to incorporate information from her website. Doug will send the Word version to educators wanting to adapt the guide to meet their school or district’s guidelines.
And for our elementary students, I like McGruff’s Shrink the Cyberbully activity.
OK, in appreciation of all who are contributing resources to promote digital citizenship, I have one to give. Many of the teachers and administrators attending my iSafety workshop ask for additional explanations of some the terminology that comes with Web 2.0. I’ve been working with our district webmaster, who co-teaches the iSafety workshop, on developing a Cyberspace Glossary. I can send the Word version to anyone who wants to tailor it for their own site.