Helping students understand how to behave appropriately and respect others while interacting on the Internet is everyone’s responsibility. The teaching of digital citizenship should include clear expectations for students of how online and mobile tools should be used responsibly to interact with the world. Adults and students alike need to learn the boundaries and responsibilities of living in a digital world.

When addressing what responsible behavior looks like online, and setting guidelines for the use of technology in your classroom, consider the norms that have been set by your school, district, state, and/or country. When implementing technology in the classroom:

Ensure policies and procedures for the use of technology are clear and unambiguous
Make students aware of the “digital footprint” that is left every time they post on the Internet or use mobile devices to exchange information
Have ongoing conversations with students about how to act appropriately when posting and sharing information online

Use Google’s Good to Know guide as a resource to help students stay safe and secure online. The booklet contains useful hints and tips that are easy to remember and put into action. In addition, Google also has a website called the Safety Center, where all those concerned about online safety and security can learn more about the tools available when using Google products.

Acceptable use, responsible use, and implementation in your classroom

A technology implementation plan should include policies and procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of students, and expectations for their use of technology. A school district will typically institute an acceptable use or a responsible use policy. An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) outlines the rules for the use of technology and a Responsible Use Policy (RUP) outlines how technology can be used.

The key differences between responsible use and acceptable use have to do with the language and tone. In an AUP, the statements outline what a student or staff member cannot do. In a RUP, the statements outline what students and staff can do and typically covers best practices. In either case, a policy should be in place before the implementation of technology in your class, school, and district.

Implementation of policy

Generally, a district committee will write the policy for staff and students, while a teacher will review the policy with the students to make sure they understand what they are agreeing to. To help understand the process of creating and implementing an AUP, check out the Acceptable Use Policy guidelines by Common Sense Media. Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organizationthat provides teachers and schools with free research-based classroom tools to help students harness technology for learning and life.

Digital footprint

The data and information left behind in online databases, on webpages, and on social media services such as YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook makes up a person’s digital footprint. The information may be stored with or without the knowledge of the person using the service - intentionally or unintentionally.

Once a video, photo, or message is uploaded to a website or social network, or sent to a mobile device, it can be nearly impossible to retrieve or delete. With this shared information, other people can duplicate it, share it without permission or take a picture or screenshot of it, so even if the owner deletes it, it may not be gone completely. Learning to manage your digital footprint is a critical skill to have today and includes how to search for information about yourself and how to share information responsibly. To learn more about managing your online reputation, check outSupport Center.

Watch the following video created for A Platform for Good (a fosi.org project) to hear teen perspectives on the importance of their digital reputation.

Digital Reputation

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the use of digital communication tools to make another person feel angry, sad, or scared - usually again and again. Repetition and intent are defining characteristics of this type of bullying, although even a single experience can be life-changing for the victim and the attacker. Students need to understand what cyberbullying looks and sounds like, and what to do when they, or someone they know, are the target of an attack. Educators can walk students through scenarios of how to report inappropriate content they find online.

Preventing cyberbullying is everyone’s responsibility. Provide clear expectations for your students and model how a responsible digital citizen uses digital media to interact with their peers and the world.

Addressing cyberbullying in the classroom

There are several ways that users of Google products can provide feedback on comments from other users when they have a concern about security, privacy, or inappropriate behavior. Check out Reporting inappropriate content in Google’s Good to Know guide to teach students how to report feedback on some of Google’s most popular social tools including YouTube. Students should be able to use YouTube without fear of being subjected to harassment. In cases where harassment crosses the line into a malicious attack, it can be reported and will be removed by YouTube administrators. In other cases, users may be mildly annoying or petty, and should simply be ignored.

Application in the classroom

Coming up with ways to incorporate digital citizenship in the classroom takes time. There are resources available to help teachers prepare their students for their digital life.

In partnership with iKeepSafe, Google created curriculum to help students become responsible digital citizens. Use these lessons to start the conversation about digital citizenship in the classroom. The three lessons are:

Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering kids to thrive in a world of media and technology, contains resources for educators, parents, and schools. The following resources can be found under the educators tab on the home page and include:

A scope and sequence to address digital citizenship by grade level
Family tip sheets on a variety of topics, including cyberbullying
A cyberbullying toolkit