Thinking about ISTE NETS-T and NETS-S and how we have looked at the GAME plan over these past seven weeks there are a lot of things that I would like to use with my students. I think that that biggest thing for me to make sure that my students understand is digital citizenship. This simple phrase can mean so many things but I think that when it is broken down into a few simple meanings. The first and foremost is giving credit to intellectual property with resources that they have found on the web. A block or two in any direction from my school leads to a place that sells bootleg movies and music and the students are used to getting things that they want for much less than what the person who created them is entitled to. The owner of the property does not benefit from the sales of pirated music or movies. My students are also well versed in working around firewalls and streaming shows and movies that they should not be able to do. It is no different than stealing, but because they are used to it and its on the internet they do not see it as stealing. I would like to implement a plan to show my students the importance of giving credit to the owners of intellectual property so that when they use images or quotes that they have found on the internet they give credit to the person who they are citing. The other thing that I think is part of digital citizenship is cyber bullying. I saw that there is a seminar being offered by Walden that centers around bullying and one of the topics is cyber bullying. I think its funny how some people like the idea of having some sort of secretiveness of their posts and comments on the blogs or social networking sites but the fact is they still have consequences. I think it is important for students to understand that even if they do not do things when face to to face with someone, the things that they say int he cyber world have real world consequences.
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4 comments:
Anthony,
Digital citizenship is very important for our students to learn. But it does not just stop there, all educators need to know the importance of this as well. I think it is probably safe to say that the majority of us have broken some digital citizenship laws. I believe we have stepped into a world where we are consumed with getting things we want and getting things faster and faster--this leads us to bootleg copies. It is unfortunate, but it is also the reality of today's society. It is something we have to teach our students, and how it is not fair to the original owners--those who you are discrediting.
Cyberbullying is relatively new and is something that has been a focus in the media over the past year. Students need to know the consequences for their actions--not just in person, but online as well.
Digital citizenship comes with a lot of responsibility and is something that everyone needs to learn about.
Laura
Laura,
I have no idea what you mean about the majority of us breaking digital citizenship laws ;-D. I know it is something that is always going to be important to stay on top of and making sure our students understand that it is important to give credit where credit is due.
Tony,
Digital citizenship is a tough issue. In Maryland, there is a digital citizenship section in our technology standards (Maryland State Board of Education, 2007). It starts as early as pre-kindergarten, although I don’t know how widely it is taught at that level. Much of the difficulty with the issue of intellectual property is that it is so conceptual. Kids can understand why taking a CD is stealing; there’s a tangible object involved. Downloading music, however, doesn’t create the same sense of taking something from someone. The idea of plagiarism or conceptual thievery is one we need to promote early and often (at school and at home). It is unfair to students for us to skirt the issue of such “borrowing” until they are in high school or college; at that point the stakes are high. Students need to see the consequences before they are in danger of failing or expulsion.
For your students, who have easy access to bootleg movies and music, the problem is amplified. There were some high-profile cases of college students’ misuse of Napster a few years ago; using that as an example might help your students recognize how real a problem can be created by the improper use of someone else’s intellectual property
References
Maryland State Board of Education. Maryland technology literacy standards. (2007, February). Retreived from http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/techlit/docs/Standard%202%20Grade%20PreK-3.pdf
Anthony,
Digital citizenship is very important and students should begin receiving messages of its importance during elementary school. We know about plagiarism in general, but I don't think the message and importance of plagiarism is carried over to all that it entails. I have begun to give credit for everything I borrow or use no matter how big or small, just to set an example to my students. As far as bootleg products being extremely accessible and an everyday occurrence to your students, why are the police not raiding or closing down those places? It does sound like an uphill battle that you are against, but you can not not teach digital citizenship or give credit where credit is due or else, you would be just as low as those other low-lifes!
Regarding cyber bullying, I know this is a problem and laws are being drafted to protect those being bullied. We don't see cyber bullying at the elementary level (or nothing that I have heard of), although we are trained.
You have done an amazing job and your students are very lucky to have you on their side.
Kimberly
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