Create a Digital Citizen- Resources to Celebrate Digital Citizenship Week

Create a Digital Citizen- Resources to Celebrate Digital Citizenship Week

Digital Citizenship Week is October 19-25th. Digital Citizenship Week is all about teaching kids how to think critically, be safe, and make smart and responsible decisions when using digital media. Find out what Digital Citizenship is from Digizen and how you can help students become more responsible and proactive user of online technologies.

Many other organizations like Digizen have made it easy for teachers, and parents to teach these concepts to students in very practical ways.

Common Sense Media has developed some fantastic resources, including an interactive scope and sequence, eBooks , engaging videos, and a Digital Passport game, that is geared towards students as young as pre-school, all the way up through high school. They have teamed with Flocabulary, the creator of thousands of educational hip-hop videos, to create Oversharing, Think Before You Post, this animated music video, raps about the dangers of sharing too much information online, and emphasizes digital footprints. Tweens, teens, and adults can laugh and learn about the ups and downs of communicating and connecting in the digital world, and print out the lyrics and sing along.

Emodo has partnered with Common Sense Media and has created a new resource for educators, the “Digital Citizenship Starter Kit,” which includes a series of activities and lessons designed to introduce digital citizenship concepts right in Edmodo. All lessons are based on Common Sense Media’s free K-12 Digital Literacy and Citizenship curriculum.

Brainpop has created Digital Spotlight Lesson Plans that highlight topics from blogging, internet surfing, social networking, and cyberbullying. Students can create a game, and watch internet safety videos.

Google (who owns Youtube) has launched 10 interactive Digital Citizenship Lessons for secondary students (ages 13-17), geared at lessons to educate students on Youtube's policies, tips for being a safer online citizen, and more.

Below is a list of lessons, and the recommended flow for delivery. Lessons are designed to fit within 50 minute classes, but can be adapted to fit your schedule. Or you can download the Full Teacher's Guide or the Full Set of Slides in PDF.

Also take a look at iKeepsafe, an organization who has teamed with Google to create lessons designed to educate families, and educators on how to stay safe online, and become responsible citizens. The curriculum is interactive, discussion filled, and allows for students to participate in hands-on, and scenario activities. The resources include three lessons with downloadable PDF booklets, presentations, and animated videos.

Media Smarts was developed to share digital and media literacy basics, educate adults on ways youth become engaged with different media tools, and the issues they encounter. They have created several resources that target Digital and Media issues through lessons, Educational Games, and e-tutorials.

Cable Impacts brings you InCtrl, a series of free standards-based lessons, originally developed by Cable in the Classroom, that teach key digital citizenship concepts. These lessons, for students in grades 4-8, are designed to engage students through inquiry-based activities, and collaborative and creative opportunities. Teachers can browse lessons by topic, and grade-level.

The Teaching Channel has created a Digital Citizens playlist of four videos that teach students about their Digital Trail , being a Super Digital Citizen, and Email Etiquette.

NetSmartz offers free, multimedia Internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences – parents and communities, tweens, teens, and younger children. Download any of these to share with your community, or watch the presentation for parents and communities online now.

cross-posted at msedtechie.blogspot.com

Patricia Brown is the Technology Integration Coach at Old Bonhomme Elementary School in Saint Louis, MO, where she implemented the first annual OB Family Tech week and Digital Learning Day. As a classroom teacher, she was awarded a $25,000 Innovative Technology grant for her school. Read her blog at msedtechie.blogspot.com.