Students in grade 7 are asked to investigate the challenges of growing up on-line and how to become a digital citizen. In groups they choose a target audience and create an educational tool (a movie, a poster, a game, a power point presentation, or a website) to raise awareness about one of the nine norms of digital citizenship (digital access, digital commerce, digital communication, digital etiquette, digital literacy, digital law, digital rights and responsibilities, digital health and wellness, and digital law). At the end of this project, students present their teaching tool to the wider school community.
Mike Ribble and Gerald Bailey in their book “‘Digital Citizenship in Schools” define digital citizenship as follows:
“Digital citizenship can be described as knowing how to behave appropriately and responsibly with regard to technology use”
The Nine Elements that together make up digital citizenship are:
1. Digital Access: Full electronic participation in society
2. Digital Commerce: The buying and selling of goods online
3. Digital Communication: The electronic exchange of information
4. Digital Literacy: The capability to use digital technology and knowing when and how to use it
5. Digital Etiquette: The standards of conduct expected by other digital technology users
6. Digital Law: The legal rights and restrictions governing technology use
7. Digital Rights and Responsibilities: The privileges and freedoms extended to all digital technology users, and the behavioral expectations that come with them
8. Health and Wellness: The elements of physical and psychological well-being related to digital technology use
9. Digital Security: The precautions that all technology users must take to guarantee their personal safety and the security of their network
