Digital Citizenship; What does it mean?

Digital citizenship has been a term that I've heard regularly for a few years now and I'm wondering if it will stick around or get left in the dust as terms and trends often do?  Teachers, maybe more generally people, often seek out ways make concepts or ideas tangible. By giving citizenship in a digital context a term with expectations, there is hope that more people will be able to live by these expectations and teach others to do the same.  The definition I'm going to use is: "Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms of behavior with regard to technology use." (Ribble & Bailey, 2004)

Mike Ribble lists resources and research surrounding digital citizenship. Among his research he has described the nine elements commonly associated with digital citizenship. The nine elements are listed as follows.

1. Digital Access: full electronic participation in society

2. Digital Commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods.

3. Digital Communication: electronic exchange of information

4. Digital Literacy: process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology

5. Digital Etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure

6. Digital Law: electronic responsibility for actions and deeds

7. Digital Rights &Wellness: those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world

8. Digital Health & Wellness: physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world

9. Digital Security (self-protection): electronic precautions to guarantee safety

Ribble suggests that the nine elements can be taught within 3 themes; respect yourself/respect others, educate yourself/connect with others, and protect yourself/protect others. 

The general understanding is that the learning with regards to digital citizenship should be on-going throughout the school year, in all grades and subjects. The role of teachers is to ensure that these students are able to transfer their skills as digital citizens to all educational and personal situations.


With all of this in mind, I wonder what my students are thinking about our norms in the classroom with regards to technology use?

Riddle, Mike S. & Bailey, Gerald D. Digital Citizenship Focus Questions for Implementation. (2004) Learning & Leading with Technology Volume 32 Number 2 Copyright ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education.