Digital Citizenship for 1st Graders

6/2/2019

Because I work with 6 year old students, the lessons on digital citizenship are going to look very different from high school and middle school lessons that are needed.. At this age setting the foundation of care with technology are the skills these students would need to have so when they do get to the upper grades these things will already have been taught. It would be totally inappropriate for a 1st grader to have any social media accounts and any researching that would take place would be under direct supervision of a teacher due to the content/curriculum and their inability to read such information.
I would focus on ways to be a Kind, Respectful, Responsible and Safe digital citizen. A Kind lesson would include: how to plug in/out headphones/chargers, handle equipment gently, and to tidy up when finished. A Respectful lesson would include: staying on task so that you and your neighbor can complete your best work, raise a quiet hand if you need help. A Responsible lesson would include: getting right to work, following the teacher's directions and signing in/out of programs correctly. A Safe lesson would include: keep your hands clean and out o your mouth, not touching any power cords, and not going to any websites your teacher did not approve.
Being Kind, Respectful, Responsible and Safe is a school wide philosophy that my students practice everyday so they internalize its components and have ownership over what it looks like and sounds like. Students recite a pledge and earn certificates and prizes based on their ability to demonstrate these skills so it's very personal most take it seriously. Due to these reasons it's very easy for it to carry over in other areas and be applied to digital citizenship.

3 Comments

Karling Skoglund

6/4/2019 08:03:21 pm

Alexis,

I really like your plan to focus on the basics, it seems like a perfect place to start with such young students. Although I teach 6th graders, I feel like I could use your ideas for the beginning of the school year, and do some lessons that remind students how to be respectful of the equipment and how to work respectfully with other students in mind.
One thing that I am thinking about doing next year is rewarding this behavior somehow. The biggest basic that my students struggle with is bringing a charged laptop each and every day. Instead of focusing my energy on students who are struggling, I am thinking about rewarding students who consistently bring all their materials to school and are ready to learn each day.
You have inspired me to go over basics at the start of the school year next year. Thank you!

Karling

Lisa Marie Smith

6/4/2019 08:03:45 pm

Alexis,

I loved the aspects of respecting, handling and etc. of the equipment. Although, I teacher high school, I can utilize the kind, respectful, responsible and safe lessons; as my students are in need of instruction in this area. I like how you're simply the lessons, and are specific "not touch power cords", etc. I wonder, how I could incorporate these into my classroom with students with specific needs. Additionally, how I can incorporate visuals for the students.

Regards,

Lisa Marie

Golden William

6/5/2019 02:40:36 pm

Alexis,
I’m very interested to see how you teach digital citizenship to the little first graders. It catches my eye because a lot of young kids have accesses to technology and the internet but do not know all the dangers of using them. I really like how you want to incorporate Kind, Respectful, Responsible and Safe. Those are big rules here at my site and would be interested to see you perform this task in your class.

EDUC 702