Teaching Digital Citizenship

Every Monday morning at Town Meeting, our Lower Division students recite the motto "We respect ourselves, each other, and the environment." Every time I hear it, I can't help but think about the motto in respect to technology use. As the technologies encountered by young children continues to grow, it is essential we redefine the concept of citizenship to include digital citizenship, using technology appropriately and responsibly. In his book, Raising a Digital Child, Mike Ribble discusses the important role parents play in educating their child in this ever-changing digital world.

While most of you have already read through Shorecrest's Responsible Use Policy for Educational Technology (RUP) in the Lower Division handbook, I encourage you to place the policy below near your home computer and engage your child in conversation about how they use technology in their every day life. Students in third grade started the year reviewing S is for Safety. Fourth graders are learning to respect the digital identities and work of others as they log in to their keyboarding program, Type to Learn 4, share laptops with other students, and access the school's server to save files.

Here are some free Brain Pop videos on Internet Safety and Digital Etiquette you can use to engage your child in conversation.

C•H•A•R•G•E•R•S
Responsible Use Policy for Educational Technology

C is for Courtesy.
I will treat others online as I would have them treat me. I will never send out mean or threatening messages nor will I respond to any such messages that are sent to me.

H is for Honesty.
I understand that it is against the law to copy others’ ideas, words, and pictures and use them as my own. I will document all information obtained from web sources such as sites and photos in class work. I will not plagiarize the work of others. I understand that copying software or illegally obtained files (i.e. MP3 files) is against the law.

A is for Accountability.
I will only use computers, technological devices, and the Internet for schoolwork. I understand I can only go to sites my teachers has approved. I will not enter chat rooms, play unapproved games, send chain letters, and download music (MP3) files. I will follow these same rules in all classrooms, in the computer lab, in aftercare and in the library.

R is for Responsibility.
I will be a good digital citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law. I know the Internet is a useful tool, and I will always use it responsibly. I will report to an adult any email, messages, or pictures that make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I see something bad accidentally. If I do see something inappropriate, I will close the window and tell an adult immediately.

G is for Gift.
Shorecrest has made and will continue to make a significant investment of time and money to bring technology into the classroom. Using computers and other technological devices at school is a privilege, not a right. I understand the importance of these privileges, and will follow all rules outlined in Shorecrest’s Responsible Use Policy for Educational Technology.

E is for Equipment.
I will protect all equipment including computers, printers, cameras, clickers, and other hand-held devices. I will handle all equipment with care, following the rules given by my teachers. I may not install software to any campus computer without permission and proper supervision. I understand that I may not change any settings on the desktop, including control panels, preferences, system components, or configuration files or unplug any parts of the computers unless directly supervised by a teacher. I understand that I will not eat or drink near computers.

R is for Respect of Classmates.
I will respect the computer identities of my peers. I will not log on as anyone else or use anyone else’s account. Except for my own schoolwork documents, I will not delete, change, or move files. I will not tamper with another person's files.

S is for Safety.
I will never give out private information such as my last name, my address, my telephone number, my parents' work addresses or telephone numbers, or the name and location of my school without permission from an adult.