What is digital citizenship?
According to Common Sense Media, digital citizenship means “to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world” (Common Sense Media, 2018). In short, digital citizenship is how we are being responsible with our technology use and it is commonly referred to as #DigCit on social networking websites like Twitter. It can be classified under what is known as REP (Respect, Educate, Protect). This means that we must respect ourselves and others, educate ourselves and connect with others, and protect ourselves and others (Ribble, Bailey, & Ross, 2004). K-12 educators are starting to learn more or become familiar with the term, however, it is still a term that needs to be in the everyday vocabulary of faculty, staff, and students in higher education.
#DigCit versus Digital Literacy
Digital Citizenship and digital literacy might sound similar, and indeed they are, but they are also two different terms. Digital literacy is often included under digital citizenship as one of the nine elements or themes: digital access, digital commerce, digital communication, digital etiquette, digital law, digital rights and responsibilities, digital health and wellness, and digital security (Ribble, Bailey, & Ross, 2004). It is also referred to as “media literacies”. We already know what #digcit means, but what does digital literacy mean? It encompasses a wide array of skills like social skills, cultural competencies, and technical skills. It is an evolving definition, according to Liana Heitin of Education Week (2016). This is why the two words are often confused because both terms revolve around the usage of technology, communication, and looking at or finding credible sources.
But an easier way or a shorter way to distinguish between the two terms is knowing that digital citizenship hold us accountable for how we use technology while digital literacy teaches how to use technology.
Fostering Digital Citizenship
But in order to know how to use technology and to do it in a responsible way, it is important to incorporate learning about these terms into higher education. Before we get to that, it is critical to begin with young children and then foster it into their mindsets. After all, [a] strong understanding of digital citizenship is essential for students of all ages to be able to make smart choices online and in life. Meanwhile, technology is constantly changing and becomes outdated quickly, so there are always new and important skills that must be taught” (Ottesen, 2018). When they grow, it will stick with them. Adults have to be onboard with teaching it to learners and be willing to learn themselves. If institutions offered required training courses as part of faculty/staff training, it would be one way of enacting good digital citizenship. “[P]erhaps it’s a conversation more of us should have in future conclaves, at conferences, and in casual conversations,” says The Digital Matters Blog Team.
Overall, while these terms are continuing to evolve, so will our mindsets in how we approach learning more about these changes. I like the idea that this course helps foster open dialogue about online learning and it is a step in the right direction to getting others on the same page. Though, it will not work for everyone. In a lot of ways, having the necessary online skills or media literacies makes me a more well-rounded individual as I can easily and quickly go back-and-forth between digital and traditional literacy skills.
