We Are Digital Citizens

Students will:

• Be able to identify what a digital citizen is.
• Become familiar with the district Acceptable Use Policy.
• Be able to work in groups to build a classroom digital contract for positive citizenship.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Digital: Digital refers to any type of technology that you use.
2. Citizen: This term means you belong to a group of people, like your classroom and your neighborhood.
3. Digital Citizen: This refers to a group of people that use technology to communicate.
4. Rules: There are rules about digital citizenship, and your school has a set called A. U. P. 
5. A.U.P.: This stands for Acceptable Use Policies or the rules for using technology appropriately in your school. Some examples are: taking care of the computer, not having drinks near them so they won't spill, not bullying someone online, and so forth.

To prepare for this lesson:

• Check out the following teaching resources:

  • Digital Citizenship | Things Explained

  • Digital Etiquette: Learn the Do's and Don't's of Online Communication

  • Super Digital Citizen

  • Preview the Common Sense Media Lesson on Digital Citizenship Pledge.
• Watch the video tutorial for the application you and your students will be using:
  • How to Use Popplet
  • How to Flip

See the Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students website in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

1. Decide which videos to show the students from the pre-planning section. 

Talk about what it means to be a good digital citizen.

• Sample answers are taken from Common Sense Media:
  • Follow the rules on computers and electronic devices.
  • Protect your and others’ private information.
  • Communicate responsibly with each other.
  • Respect the ideas and opinions of others.
  • Stand up to cyberbullying.
  • Give credit for other’s work.

2. Explain that part of being a good digital citizen is following your school district’s Acceptable Use Policy. Have students give what they think are good examples of rules for using computers or tablets at school. List them on the board, poster, or onscreen for reference and to add to later.

3. Show this cute video example of a policy from the Baltimore schools to see if there is something to be added to your class list.

4. Go over your school district A.U.P. in kid-friendly terms and add anything missed to your list.

5. As a class, break into small groups and assign them to come up with ways your class can be positive digital citizens.

6. Have the groups share their examples.

OPTIONS:

Use Popplet:

• Have each group develop a Popplet with a digital citizen in the middle of the Popplet and the characteristics surrounding it.
• As a class, use the Popplets to vote on five strong rules to be a good digital citizen in the classroom.
• Post these in your classroom for the year. You could also have students post the ideas to an online class web page such as Weebly or Schoology.

Use Flip:

• Have students create a class Flip on ways they will be good digital citizens in the classroom.

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding through discussion
• As a class, use the Popplets to vote on five strong rules to be a good digital citizen in the classroom.
• Have students present their FlipGrid at a parent night.
• Post these in your classroom for the year. You could also have students post the ideas to an online class web page such as Weebly or Schoology.