The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is gearing up for Digital Citizenship Week, which will take place from October 16-20. This annual event aims to raise awareness about the importance of teaching digital citizenship to students of all ages, encouraging them to be responsible and safe online. ISTE is challenging students, educators, and parents to dedicate time each day during Digital Citizenship Week to explore what it means to be good citizens in the digital world.
In a statement, ISTE CEO Richard Culatta emphasized the critical need to teach digital citizenship skills in today’s increasingly tech-driven society. These skills include knowing how to use technology to support positive causes, engaging in respectful online discourse, and discerning between factual and misleading information. As our interactions with others are increasingly mediated by technology, it is essential to model and teach the behaviors we want to see in the next generation of digital leaders.
To support schools and families in taking on the Digital Citizenship Week challenge, ISTE is offering a range of resources:
Digital Citizenship in Action: Empowering Students to Engage in Online Communities by Kristen Mattson, Ed.D., is a book that goes beyond the basics of online safety to explore the broader concept of digital citizenship. It provides tips for creating digital spaces where students can learn and grow, shares educator stories of successful participatory digital citizenship, and offers classroom-ready activities.
The DigCit Coffee Break email course delivers a digital citizenship tip to educators each day, along with free resources for use in schools. This includes a printable poster illustrating the three key elements of digital citizenship.
Educators can participate in a free webinar titled “Bring Digital Citizenship to Life in Your School” on October 16 at 5 p.m. EDT. The webinar will focus on ways to help students harness the power of technology in engaging ways.
Two digital citizenship Twitter chats will take place on October 19, providing opportunities for engagement and sharing of best practices and resources. The first chat, led by digital citizenship expert Marialice Curran at 8 p.m. EDT, will use the hashtag #ISTEChat. The second chat, hosted by ISTE’s Digital Citizenship professional learning network at 9 p.m. EDT, will discuss the role of edtech coaches in promoting digital citizenship using the hashtag #digcit.
Digital Citizenship Week serves as a national initiative to empower kids to use technology in ways that benefit their communities. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #DigCitWeek.
About ISTE:
The International Society for Technology in Education is a non-profit organization dedicated to working with the global education community to leverage technology for solving challenges and fostering innovation. ISTE believes in the transformative potential of technology in education and sets a bold vision for educational transformation through the ISTE Standards. These standards provide a framework for students, educators, administrators, coaches, and computer science educators to reimagine education and create innovative learning environments.
ISTE hosts the annual ISTE Conference & Expo, a leading event in the field of educational technology. The organization offers a range of professional learning opportunities, including online courses, professional networks, year-round academies, peer-reviewed journals, and publications focused on technology in education. ISTE is also a prominent publisher of books on technology in education.
To learn more about ISTE or become a member, visit iste.org. Stay connected with ISTE on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for updates.
This report was based on information from a press release issued by ISTE.
Subheadings:
1. Importance of Digital Citizenship Education
2. Resources for Digital Citizenship Week
3. ISTE’s Role in Promoting Digital Citizenship.