Digital Citizenship
2. Students recognize the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model in ways that are safe, legal and ethical.
Digital Citizenship includes student and staff compliance with copyright. Visit the Copyright & Fair Use iHub page for information and support resources.
What is Digital Citizenship?
"Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers, technology leaders and parents to understand what students/children/technology users should know to use technology appropriately. Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students/technology users for a society full of technology. Digital citizenship is the continuously developing norms of appropriate, responsible, and empowered technology use." - Mike Ribble, co-author of Digital Citizenship Handbook for School Leaders, ISTE, 2019.
Common Sense Education has identified six key themes of digital citizenship:
Media Balance and Well-Being
Privacy & Security
Digital Footprint & Identity
Relationships & Communication
Cyberbullying, Digital Drama, & Hate Speech
News & Media Literacy
Since 2016, BCPS has been certified as a Common Sense District due to our commitment to creating a culture of digital learning and citizenship.
Digital Citizenship in BCPS
In BCPS we recognize the importance of teaching our students to be safe, secure, and responsible when using technology for learning or for fun. We believe that with parents, and guardians as our partners, we can help our students to gain skills, understandings, and dispositions that will enable them to be responsible and safe in these digital environments. Our approach to digital citizenship is outlined on the Growing Up Digital website, which included Family Tip Sheets.
Students in K-12 are provided with direct instruction on these topics. The BCPS Digital Citizenship Scope & Sequence details the topics and student mastery expectations.
Students in Grades K-5 receive digital citizenship instruction through weekly Library classes in Unit 1 during first quarter.
Students in Grade 6-12 receive ongoing digital citizenship instruction facilitated by their library media specialist, in collaboration with teachers and integrated across content areas. These lessons include Digital Citizenship Slam Dunk lessons for middle and high school.
Library media specialists have been given implementation suggestions for content integration in middle and high school.
Teachers and staff are encouraged to consult with the library media specialist to coordinate their school's efforts to teach and reinforce digital citizenship concepts and skills in all classrooms.
Digital Content for Digital Citizenship
BrainPOP Videos & activities:
BrainPop Jr - Internet Safety
BrainPop - Digital Citizenship themed collection (topics and pathways)
eBook collections including digital citizenship topics:
Information Explorer Jr. Series (Grades 1-4)
Information Explorer Series (Grades 4-8)
Student eBooks from the GALE eBooks database:
Educator eBooks from the GALE Professional Resources database: