Digital Citizenship Awareness Module

[Lori Ann Gibson]

1. Digital Awareness could be defined as the appropriate and responsible behaviors that are used online or when using technology.

Students need to understand that digital citizenship will encompasses the human, cultural, and societal issues that relate to technology.  Therefore, they must keep a positive attitude and open mind towards collaborating and learning with peoples from differing backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures.  They must be cognizant, sensitive, and tolerant of these differences. 

1. The areas of digital awareness includes technology awareness, individual awareness, social awareness, cultural awareness, and global awareness.  As a teacher, one must promote, advocate, and model safe and ethical behaviors and use of information.

 

Technology awareness is the safe and ethical use of information and technology.  It includes copy rights and intellectual properties. Students should be taught to properly document and cite resources that are used in collaboration and projects.  Teachers and students who participate in global collaboration projects should know and understand the capabilities and limits of their technology (and of those they are collaborating with) and when and how to use it.  I found a small article about technology awareness that could have a daily impact on small businesses.  It is a published report that has to do with small merchants and the impact of technological advances on their business. Small businesses are important to the U.S. economy and the impact of mobile technologies affect them in a great way.  I have the link listed below.

 

 https://www.controlscan.com/whitepapers/mobile_study_2012.php

 

Individual awareness and etiquette is a standard of conduct and respect that is expected by others.  Teachers should promote how to use proper online and digital netiquette while interacting with others in a socially responsible way.  One must also take precautions that can help to guarantee privacy and security while interacting online. The article I chose for individual awareness has to do with the MySpace Suicide case.  Cyber bullying is a huge problem that can lead to disastrous results.  In today’s cyber world we have trolls who look for opportunities to engage in flaming. Because trolls believe they are anonymous online, they are very brazen in their interactions and tend to say and do things to others that would be out of their character in the real world. As educators it is of upmost importance that we teach children how to protect themselves and where to go when they encounter problems with others online.

 

http://ashleeelizabeth.edublogs.org/2012/01/18/cyber-bullying-curre...

 

 

Social, cultural, and global awareness as well as understanding and acceptance should be taught to students as they will be interacting with other cultures using collaboration and communication tools.  Students should go by the “Golden Rule” when interacting online by treating others as they would like to be treated. By knowing how to be responsible, tolerant, and sensitive citizens, students can work and collaborate effectively in a global and digital society. What might be okay to say in one culture may be offensive or insulting if said in another.  Furthermore, what might be okay to share and download in one country can lead to ethical and legal issues in another. Students should also know that what would sound alright to say within a normal face to face conversation could come across as very different when interacting in an online environment.  Emails and written communications should be clear and concise and written with the audience in mind.  Pepitones’s article from CNN is one I have choose to include for cultural and social awareness.  The US has very distinct and specific laws that relate to copy rights and intellectual properties.  However, we can run into problems downloading information from other countries when we are not sure of their laws and how the US laws relate to what we are downloading.  The following article lists some of those issues with piracy and copyright infringements.

 

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/17/technology/sopa_explained/index.htm

 

1. Some common problems might include cultural disconnects that include copy right infringements, cultural taboos, language disconnects, IM speak or characters representing profanity, and private jokes.  The cultural disconnects are when those from different backgrounds behave or speak in ways that are misinterpreted by those unfamiliar with the culture.  In some countries piracy and copy right infringement is not of great concern but here in the US it is as it cuts into the profits and rights of those who have produced the material.  Cultural taboos are things within a certain culture that have been restricted or forbidden.  What on cultural accepts as part of a natural every day existence, another may find intolerable.  IMs as well as all messages and emails should contain clear and concise messages that avoid the use of characters and symbols except when used properly and appropriately. This will help to avoid the risk of offending the audience with unintended or profane messages. Jokes that are private should never be inserted or delivered by email, IMS, or other electronic sources into a global collaborative project.  The message might become misconstrued by other readers and considered offensive and vulgar.  The teacher should handle all of these problems in a timely manner when they occur.  As an educator, she should also be proactive in keeping these issues to a minimum and teach her students how to avoid these pitfalls early on.  Again, there are some things that cannot be avoided and misunderstandings should be addressed with dignity and respect for all parties involved.