Etiquette: Just as we teach and model social skills for all students, we must do the same with digital etiquette. The relative anonymity of the Internet makes it much easier for folks to say things they would not in person. I've seen enough shameful behavior from the parenting board I belong to to realize this. Students must realize that although they are not face-to-face with someone, they must still act honorably and be kind. Jokes and sarcasm come across differently on the web as well. The online audience is yet another that we must model how to write to.
Evaluating Credibility: The power of the Internet is that everyone who chooses to use it has a voice. That can also be its weakness. "I read it on the Internet so it must be true" is not a valid reason for accepting a reliable source. This is really such a powerful opportunity for critical reading and thinking, and could be specifically modeled for kids.
Safety, Safety, Safety: Above all, we must teach our students to be safe. Never divulging location and never using full name or age, among many other things, are absolute necessities in a world where the door is always open to "talk to strangers." This also is probably the most valuable thing we can teach them for their computer use outside of school.
All of these things we can teach, whether in the classroom or in conjunction with the Library. We have many tools that are vehicles for this, like Brain Pop, CyberSmart, and NetSmartz. Above all, we must practice being good digital citizens ourselves and be very honest about the citizenship choices we make. Talk the talk and walk the walk...always.
Great observations! I do cover all these topics through library lessons, but it's reassuring to know that the teachers appreciate the importance of these skills and that they cover them in their classrooms too.
ReplyDeleteMillie