Digital Citizenship

A model digital citizen is someone who respects both themselves and others when using technology.  Some think this only applies to teenagers who do cyber-bullying, but also adults can get caught up in doing or saying inappropriate things about themselves or others.  If people do not respect themselves then this is where the not respecting others comes from as well.  Using technology is a great thing but people just abuse their use and try to use it as a tool to hurt others.  Another aspect of digital citizenship is respecting the rules and laws that are put into place including laws of copyrighting and plagiarism.  These have become major issues in our world today and people think they will get away with it but in most cases they eventually get caught.  It is important to show respect and restraint when using digital tools in order to protect yourself and others involved.  Most all of my friends and family that I know of seem to be digital citizens.  I guess you do not always know about what people are doing and sometimes you can be surprised by people you think you know, but I do trust that they are doing what they need to for being digital citizens.
     The issue of sexting is big right now in our society and I am pre-K through 3rd so I do not really think this will be a problem for me as much as it will be for our upper elementary and middle school teachers, but if this was taking place in my classroom it is definitely an issue that needs to be dealt with.  Taking away someones full use of technology may not be the most beneficial because it could inhibit their learning, but it would definitely require full supervision when on any form of digital media while at school.  It is also important to talk to the parent and try to get them on the same page as you are and maybe work out where during school hours the child will have to give their phone over to the teacher.  The problem with all of this is that just because you make the student and parent aware and talk about the problems with it does not mean you as a teacher can make this stop.  The students will leave school and that is probably when they are doing most of their sexting anyway so it will have to be some sort of parent led teaching experience that will really impact the child in what they are doing.  I think teachers should do what they can but you cannot babysit the child all day because eventually they will be on their own and will do what they were going to do anyway.