Digital Tools

            Digital Tools are a great way for educators to integrate digital citizenship skills into their lessons and for students to learn about the world of digital citizenship in general.

            One Digital tool, “Digital Passport” is a program developed for students Kindergarten through 6^th grade to learn about digital citizenship.  I would agree to have the cut off at sixth grade. It is created for Kindergarten to 8^th grade, but I think with the animation, would be boring and too young for 6^th grade students and above.

            A Digital Passport provides many different games for students to play to learn about how to become a digital citizenship. It has bright colors that keep students interested. After students’ learn about a concept, teachers have the opportunity to print off extra materials from this program and give them to students. Students can complete these programs with a partner or on their own.

            These activities could also be used at home so that parents can be involved in communicating with their children about digital citizenship.  This program is a great way to introduce the content about how to be a citizen in a digital community.

            Another digital tool is the Digital Driver’s License. This program is created for 8^th grade and above. It provides YouTube videos that students’ can watch to learn about how to be a digital citizenship, through someone else’s example. The only downside is that this program is very bland. There are no animations or bright colors to keep the students engaged and interested. The program has students watch a video and then answer a test afterwards.

            This would be a great way for teacher’s to assess students' knowledge about being a digital citizenship. However, during the test, student’s who answer a problem incorrectly are told which one it is, but are not told what the correct answer is. It is up to the teacher to explain what the correct answer is.

            Students need 80% on their tests to pass. Once students pass every tests and case study, they are given a digital driver’s license. The question that was discussed this week, is what happens to a student who loses their license due to inappropriate behavior? If the students were required to get an education through technology, how would losing their license affect them?

It is still an on going discussion. I think it comes down to the policy in place. If a student loses his or her license, there should be another option for the student to complete the assignment. 

            For future use, I plan on using the Digital Passport. It is the right program for the age level I teach. When I decide to use the Digital Driver’s license, I will have a policy in place for students who use a device or internet site inappropriately. I don’t think a child’s education should suffer due to not having a driver’s license. There needs to be modifications set in place. If students were not allowed to use a device in my classroom, I would have my students use books, articles and paper to complete their assignment. Once I saw an improvement in the student’s responsibility, then I would give him or her access to the device again with many restrictions and monitoring. When the student could show me exactly how to be a digital citizen, then I would let them use their device on their own.