A guest post by Damian Wanstall (@wanstad73)**                                                        

 

Have you ever used the internet to comment on what you see online, share information about yourself or others, communicate with friends, play games, get material for an assignment or buy stuff online? If you answered YES to any of these then you are a digital citizen.

There is a wealth of information and resources – international, parent focussed and other useful sites – available to us as educators in the area of Digital Citizenship. 

 The Digital Citizenship website, which has been produced by CLI for the DER-NSW program brings together a comprehensive range of lessons, educational games, videos, as well as links to other useful sites, advice and assistance with teacher professional learning. Its focus is educating young people to be positive contributors in an online world, with an intended Year 10 audience. Parents and carers can also learn how they can support the positive use of social media by their children at home.

 

The best way to find out more about this program is to explore the website. A further set of websites have been tagged for those who may be interested in preparing a more focussed program within their school.

What courses, learning and policies are in place at your school to assist students and staff manage their digital footprints? Do they have students ‘practising’ good digital citizenship? What can you share here?

**Damian is a Learning Design Officer with the NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre. Damian has been a Mathematics educator for over 13 years and has a keen interest in improving teacher practice and the role of technology in enhancing teaching and learning.