Citizenship Digital Age

04/11/2023 1

Citizenship in the Digital Age

Jeff Suzik, Chrissy Laycob, Patrick Woessner

Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School

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Teens, Technology & Us(we’ve been here before…)

Millennials “…have grown up mastering rapidly changing technology and constant multitasking. For them, a world without cell phones or Internet access is unimaginable. With family and friends only a few buttons or keystrokes away, telephoning or emailing—if only to discuss something as mundane as the weather—is such an ingrained habit, it’s almost second nature.”

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Howe and Strauss, Millennials Rising:

“For those parents who, as children, spent whole weekends away from home, the thought of not knowing what their nine-year-old is doing for eight hours at a stretch is unfathomable today.”

Neil Howe and William Strauss, quoted by Bridget Booher, “Helicopter Parents.” Duke Magazine online, January-February 2007. http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/cgi-bin/printout.pl?date=010207&article=parents(accessed January 3, 2008).

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Generational Fears/Concerns about Youth

Are not new! Late-19th-century industrialization and

urbanization led to a new pattern for relations between “teens” and their parents

Emergence of the comprehensive public high school in the early 20th century

The long-term effects of the G.I. Bill and Post-World War II affluence on teen/adult relations

Invention of the “Teen-ager” Development of a broad-based “youth

culture”

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Since the turn-of-the-twentieth century, then—and lasting right up until today—generation after generation of young people and adults have increasingly come into conflict, and it probably is not going to change anytime soon!

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Example #1: What was it??

It “encourages isolation and splitting” of families, and “puts children on a narrowly defined developmental path, and contributes little to social skills.”

It is “corrupting our youth” and “is not wholesome”. It “mesmerizes our children…teaches gambling and breeds aggressive behavior.”

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VIDEO GAMES (1980s)

Glenn Collins, “Video Games:A Diversion or a Danger?” NewYork Times, February 17, 1983,p. C1.

Mrs. Ronnie Lamm, quoted by William E. Geist, in “The BattleFor America’s Youth.” New YorkTimes, January 5, 1982, p. B2.

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Example #2: What was it??

It “exerts a harmful influence…upon the public mind and morals, and particularly upon the minds of youth and children.”

and it has “steeped the youth of our country in filth and degradation.”

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MOVIES (1930s)

Central Conference of AmericanRabbis, quoted in “RabbisDenounce ‘Harmful’ Movies.”New York Times, June 19, 1934,p. 24.

Reverend Dr. S. Parkes Cadman,quoted in “Cadman at DrexelDenounces Movies.” New YorkTimes, June 19, 1934, p. 15.

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Example #3: What was it??

It “may well be…an insidious force that causes children to be more aggressive, fearful, materialistic and callous, while at the same time makes them more passive, less robust and damages their educational potential.”

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TELEVISION (1970s)

Richard Flaste, “Screening TVFor Uncritical Young Eyes.” New York Times, March 11, 1977, p. 31.

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Example #4: What was it??

is “a communicable disease” is “cannibalistic and tribalistic” and just “another form of adolescent rebellion.”

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ROCK-N-ROLL (1950s)

“Rock-and-Roll called ‘Communicable Disease’.” New York Times, March 28, 1956, p. 33.

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What do all of these examples have in common? Young people embracing new forms of

technology/activity that adults do not understand or know about (early adopters)

New technologies/activities involving thematic content with which adults are uncomfortable

Through these new technologies/activities, young people form “community” and speak a “language” that is theirs & theirs alone

Adults feel confused and left out of the picture, begin to worry and/or get angry about their loss of influence over “kids today”

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SOUND

FAMILIAR???

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Millennials & Technology Today

Like previous generations of 20th and early-21st century teens, Millennials embrace technological innovations and use technology far more readily than their parents and other adults

However, having been born after 1990, Millennials have never really had to adapt to technologies of various types—technology has been a part of their world & their culture for their entire lives

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Millennials Gen.X/Boomers

55% have a socialnetworking page

28% write blogs

27% have produced web pages

64% of teens 12-17 Have some personal online content

20% have a social networking page

8% write blogs

14% have produced web pages

Pew Internet & American Life Project, cited by Rhonda Bodfield Bloom, “Grown-UpsHave Long Way to Go to Rival Teens’ Technology Grasp.” Arizona Daily Star online,January 3, 2008. http://www.azstarnet.com/business/218901 (accessed January 3, 2008).

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Why does this concern us?

Safety

Propriety

Civility

Uncomfortability with the “unknown” & the “unmonitorable”

Parent Education

It IS a parent’s Responsibility!

• Don’t expect that children and teens will “make good choices”

• Get involved as much as possible• Set the standards immediately and when your

children are young.• Don’t leave the parenting to monitoring

software

How much do parents know?

• 93% of parents felt they knew what their children were doing on the internet.

• 41% of students grades 5-12 said they do NOT share information with their parents about what they are doing online.(I-Safe, 2005-2006)

Moral Development• Adolescence is the time to develop moral identity• Moral Development closely tied to brain

development• Moral Identity

– Personal, internalized values about what is safe and unsafe, right vs. wrong

• Online World = Lack of inhibition– Do things online you would never do in person– You can’t see me, I can’t see you– Need to develop standards and values for safe

and responsible online choices

Developing Moral Compass Online

• Focus on values and standards you have established – do you talk openly about them?

• Shift away from rules and threats to emphasis on values and standards.

• What happens when values and standards are violated – can cause harm to self or others.

• Help child understand how actions can cause harm even if you don’t see person.

Online Moral Development (Cont.)• Discuss pitfalls of making decisions when

emotional• Challenge unhealthy values and standards in the

media • Teach ethical decision-making guidelines

– Is it kind and respectful to others?– How would I feel if someone did this to me?– What would a trusted adult think if they saw this?– Would I do this in the real world, face to face?

Tips for Parents

How can Parents monitor their kids online?

• Start as early as possible• Make it an enjoyable experience• Ask questions• Find out who they are talking to and what are

they posting online• Be positive about the good choices they make• The goal is to have your child regularly invite

you into their online world.

What about privacy?

• There is no such thing as privacy online!• Yes, even with privacy features. • All their activities should be under your open

and direct supervision.• Your children should be able to earn the right

to greater privacy as they get older.

Establishing a Digital Citizenship Program

A Comparison of Frameworks

Framework Comparison Matrix

A Closer Look: Digital Citizenship in Schools

Digital Citizenship: Ribble and Bailey

• Digital citizenship can be described as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use.

• In their book Digital Citizenship in Schools, Gerald Bailey and Mike Ribble identify nine elements of digital citizenship that can be grouped into three broad categories:

Student Learning and Academic Performance

1. Digital Access: full electronic participation in society

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

3. Digital Communication: electronic exchange of information

School Environment and Student Behavior

4. Digital Security and Safety: electronic precautions to guarantee safety/physical well-being in a digital technology world

5. Digital Etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure

6. Digital Rights and Responsibilities: those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world

Student Life Outside the School Environment

7. Digital Commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods

8. Digital Health and Wellness: physical and psychological well-being

9. Digital Law: rights and restrictions

A Closer Look: Protecting Students in the 21st Century

Simple K12’s PS21 Program

• Online, web-based• Comprehensive:

Offers components for students, teachers, and parents

• Addresses all topics required by law

• Covers the latest technologies and 21st century concerns facing our teens

PS21 Overview

The MICDS Framework

• AUP• Ethnics• Cyber Safety• Cyber Security• Cyber-bullying• Copyright and Fair Use• Electronic Communication• Social Networking and ORM

Grades 5-8

MICDS Framework with Activities

Program Resources

Lessons Learned

• Utilize a variety of instructional strategies; a standard format is simple but not always effective

• Need to weigh benefits/drawbacks of large vs. small group setting; consistency or intimacy

• Scope, sequence, and timeframe; how much, how deep, and how often

Questions or Comments?

• Session Wiki with Additional Information

• Jeff Suzik: jsuzik@micds.org• Chrissy Laycob: claycob@micds.org• Patrick Woessner:

pwoessner@micds.org