youthspeakoutint.orgStarting Digital Citizenship Conversations
At Youth Speak Out, we aim to give youth space to share their thoughts and raise their voice. Our programs start conversations about important topics such as cyberbullying, the overuse of technology, and misinformation in the classroom. But we want these conversations to continue in other settings, especially at home.
However, for many parents, conversations around these major topics can be intimidating. Technology and the digital world is constantly changing. Many parents didn’t face the same challenges that their children are facing now, and it can be difficult to know what to say. Having an honest, open conversation can also be daunting when we know that we, as adults, aren’t always the best digital role models.
But parents shouldn’t shy away from these conversations. Even if you don’t have the perfect advice to give your child, it is important to listen and know what’s going on in their lives. What happens in the digital world can have real world consequences. And while you might not model the perfect digital behavior right now, starting a conversation with your child can help you both move in a positive direction.
“When we invite students to talk about aspects of their digital lives they might not otherwise think about, we help them strengthen their ‘digital awareness,’” said Professor LeeAnn Lindsey. “Some research suggests that increased awareness can promote more ethical decision-making. Therefore, one important strategy is to engage students in collaborative dialogue prompting them to connect their digital actions with the way they think and feel (physically and mentally) so that they can become more intentional digital decision-makers.”
In our Today’s Digital Citizens program, we send students home with a family contract that is intended to start conversations and hold parents and students alike accountable. Talking about these issues can prompt us all to develop better habits and become better digital decision-makers.
Thanks for sharing such valuable, informative and knowledgeable information about digital citizenship. We also have a blogging website in which we discussed what digital citizenship is and how to teach it effectively I suggest you go to it and review it. Thanks