Digital Dependency
What is your relationship with technology like? Can't put your phone down? Have to watch your favourite shows every week? After recently completing this technology dependency quiz it became obvious to me that I am overly dependent on digital devices - as is the case with many of the students in our classrooms today. Take a look at the poll at the bottom of this blog and see where your daily use of digital devices fits in.
Something to think about...
“For the first time in human history, children are born into homes where mass mediated
storytellers reach them on the average of more than 7 hours a day . . .
These stories do not come from families, schools, churches, neighborhoods,
and often not even from the native countries. They come from a small group
of distant conglomerates with something to sell (Schwarz, 2005).”
As beneficial as unlimited connections to information and people all over the world appears, it does not come without insidious effects. With this in mind, what can we do as teachers to educate our students about the inevitable shift toward a digital world? We can start by ensuring our students are aware of a few fundamental elements that will mold them into responsible users of technology. Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers, technology leaders and parents to understand what students/children/technology users should know to use technology appropriately.
Digital Citizenship Fundamentals
A digital citizen knows the importance of respect for not only others but also for themselves. Your students should know not to post anything they would not want their grandmother to see, because if she learns how to use that "information machine" (computer), chances are, she will learn how to search for her grandchildren on that "google box." This same principle can be applied to what students post about others. Would she be impressed that her precious little princess called another girl a "booger brain"? Probably not. A digital citizen also respects the fact that not all people have equal access to technology. So, helping to expand access should be a goal of those who are well acquainted with technology.
Literacy and communication are very closely related to technology, so as responsible users, your students should be digitally literate and understand how different technologies work. Once they have mastered how to use the internet or even certain "apps" for communication purposes, they must approach this wide world of networking with caution. Connecting with people on chat websites or even through social media sites such as Facebook can lead to the unintentional invitation of predators or cyber-bullies.
Basic digital rights must be addressed, discussed, and understood in the digital world. While digital citizens have the right to privacy, free speech, etc., they also must uphold some basic responsibilities and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner when using technology. This will ensure the health and wellness as well as the security of all users as we transition into the digital world.
Please check out my resource page where you will find more great "Youtube" videos, as well as some information sources and potential teaching tools.
Literacy and communication are very closely related to technology, so as responsible users, your students should be digitally literate and understand how different technologies work. Once they have mastered how to use the internet or even certain "apps" for communication purposes, they must approach this wide world of networking with caution. Connecting with people on chat websites or even through social media sites such as Facebook can lead to the unintentional invitation of predators or cyber-bullies.
Basic digital rights must be addressed, discussed, and understood in the digital world. While digital citizens have the right to privacy, free speech, etc., they also must uphold some basic responsibilities and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner when using technology. This will ensure the health and wellness as well as the security of all users as we transition into the digital world.
Please check out my resource page where you will find more great "Youtube" videos, as well as some information sources and potential teaching tools.
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