The furor around children mis-appropriating Myspace--an adult web site--as their own virtual hangout should result in more than political speeches, vitriolic monologues, and fear-mongering press releases. Instead, there needs to be a focus on fostering digital citizenship, of seizing the teachable moment that is oozing its way into our schools and homes. When the toilet gets "plugged," you don't lock the bathroom door and forbid access...you show kids how to unplug it, what to do in case they plug it up. It's easy to say to schools, "Ban MySpace," but what are we teaching our children? In banning MySpace and other social networking sites, we're failing to give students, parents and educators the opportunity to engage in real-life, authentic learning that can serve as a springboard for life-long lessons...in effect, we're burying our heads in the sand. BlogSafety is one approach to bridge the knowledge gap, but we need the equivalent of "Take back our neighborhoods!" in cyberspace. Let's take advantage of digital citizenship resources to teach online users--K-16 and beyond--what APPROPRIATE behavior and use of technology is, rather than just criminalize use of technology in schools. Looking forward to the conversation, Miguel Guhlin A parent, educator, and blogger. http://www.mguhlin.net/blog
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Anne
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507
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6/26/06
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(5 of 5)
Re: Digital Citizenship: Taking Back Our Virtual Neighborhoods!
Jul 15, 2006 10:43 AM
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Miguel, I listened to the interview with Mike Gribble at Kansas State and am really glad he has actually developed some materials the schools can use to teach digital citizenship. I liked what he said about not just teaching students "a bunch of rules," but working with them to process how we're supposed to act online. That should probably be happening with pre-schoolers or elementary students right when they first turn on and use computers and in the process of using them in the classroom. It would be tougher at the high school level, I imagine, but I'm all for it. My question is, how to make digital citizenship cool? I think that has to mean the social networks' involvement and support (because they're so much "cooler" than school) - maybe a joint effort between education/schools and the industry. For the on-the-social-networks piece, it may have something to do with the social networks helping users police their own community, including rating each other's sites/blogs/profiles and calling each other on inappropriate actions, posts, and uploads. Our colleague Stephen Carrick-Davies at Childnet in London had the idea of a monthly best-blog or best-profile contest, with panels of judges including teen users. What do people think of this approach, as part of an overall program promoting digital citizenship?
Anne
BlogSafety co-director |
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mguhlin
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2
From:
San Antonio, Tx
Registered:
7/13/06
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(4 of 5)
Re: Digital Citizenship: Taking Back Our Virtual Neighborhoods!
Jul 15, 2006 8:56 AM
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Anne & Larry: Thanks for your kind comments. Here are some excellent resources for those seeking to foster digital citizenship. Digital citizenship is something EVERYONE should seek to develop, exactly like civic leadership and activism. To begin your journey on digital citizenship, consider these excellent resources: Audio Interview with Dr. Mike Gribble: You can play this audio via the Internet, or take it on the road with your morning jog. Digital Citizenship Resources: This shares Ribble's presentation at a Utah Conference. And, finally, there is an excellent web site on Digital Citizenship. School districts are also trying to keep up, but their responses vary. They are in reactive mode as public pressure builds. And, no funding--the President cut funding--exists to teach or hold community sessions on digital citizenship. That's why your role is critical in taking back our virtual neighborhoods. We can send our kids out, one by one into the dark...or we can light a candle and go out en masse. Got a match? Miguel Guhlin Parent, educator, and blogger Around the Corner - http://www.mguhlin.net/blog |
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Larry
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136
From:
Silicon Valley, California
Registered:
6/19/06
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(3 of 5)
Re: Digital Citizenship: Taking Back Our Virtual Neighborhoods!
Jul 15, 2006 8:15 AM
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Exellent point Miguel. I love your bathroom analogy.
Larry
co-director
BlogSafety.com
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Anne
Posts:
507
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6/26/06
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Re: Digital Citizenship: Taking Back Our Virtual Neighborhoods!
Jul 13, 2006 10:49 PM
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Thanks for your post, Miguel. I think you're right that we (just about everybody) have some work to do in teaching not just digital citizenship but also media literacy and critical thinking, and the teaching probably needs to include a lot of listening and learning on adults' part. We're being presented with a call to action and opportunity. Are you developing some digital citizenship resources? Would you like to recommend some good ones? How do we "take back our neighborhoods" in cyberspace? Tx again,
Anne
BlogSafety co-director
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mguhlin
Posts:
2
From:
San Antonio, Tx
Registered:
7/13/06
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(1 of 5)
Digital Citizenship: Taking Back Our Virtual Neighborhoods!
Jul 13, 2006 8:47 PM
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The furor around children mis-appropriating Myspace--an adult web site--as their own virtual hangout should result in more than political speeches, vitriolic monologues, and fear-mongering press releases. Instead, there needs to be a focus on fostering digital citizenship, of seizing the teachable moment that is oozing its way into our schools and homes. When the toilet gets "plugged," you don't lock the bathroom door and forbid access...you show kids how to unplug it, what to do in case they plug it up. It's easy to say to schools, "Ban MySpace," but what are we teaching our children? In banning MySpace and other social networking sites, we're failing to give students, parents and educators the opportunity to engage in real-life, authentic learning that can serve as a springboard for life-long lessons...in effect, we're burying our heads in the sand. BlogSafety is one approach to bridge the knowledge gap, but we need the equivalent of "Take back our neighborhoods!" in cyberspace. Let's take advantage of digital citizenship resources to teach online users--K-16 and beyond--what APPROPRIATE behavior and use of technology is, rather than just criminalize use of technology in schools. Looking forward to the conversation, Miguel Guhlin A parent, educator, and blogger. http://www.mguhlin.net/blog |
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