Learning Intention B – in this module, we are learning to consider digital citizenship from a cultural and global perspective

Cultural Digital Citizenship – 

As stated by Thomas & Brown, (2011), in A new culture of learning, “The Internet, in particular, has changed the way we think of both technology and information. Technology is no longer just a fast way of transporting information from one place to another and the information it moves is no longer static. Instead, information technology has become a participatory medium, giving rise to an environment that is constantly being changed and reshaped by the participation itself.

Schools therefore have new opportunities and potential to take their classroom outside of the four walls and teach their students to interact and connect with others world wide in a safe and structured manner. In such an exciting space, a major aspect for consideration is that of cultural awareness and differences that occur across the globe. Aside from cultural differences, …we also need to consider…how are we helping students develop awareness of, and appreciation for, differences among students in terms of gender, religion, and socioeconomic differences? Hilt (2011)

In the links below, take a look at some school settings that have embarked on cultural digital citizenship opportunities for their students, think about planning such an experience for your class and what considerations you might need to put into place prior to conducting these experiences for your class.

Key Learning Questions – 

• What do you do in your educational setting to promote cultural awareness and understanding of individual differences?
• Does your education setting engage in any Cultural Digital Citizenship opportunities?
• What is the most important aspect of cultural awareness that you feel needs to be addressed with students when embarking on worldwide digital connections?

Global Digital Citizenship – 

Evidence shows that technology now has a direct impact on how we interact globally. In 2021, the influence of technology on society, on a global scale, has grown exponentially and therefore has changed world as we once knew it. Currently more than 4.5 billion people use the internet (worldwide) and a staggering 3.8 billion people actively use social media as a communication and collaboration platform. Kemp, S (2020)

With this in mind it is now a very real and relevant factor to consider the implementation of social networking platforms in classrooms. This can be for scenarios as simple as connecting classroom to classroom within a school, to real world-wide connections where people meet for like reasons, online, across the globe. Gone are the days where a teacher can stand in front of a class and be the bearer of all knowledge, now teachers are more a facilitator of learning and our jobs are to provide young learners with the tools to research, enquire, wonder and discover.

As explained by Richardson, the collaborative process is a new way of thinking about teaching and learning. We must find our own teachers, and they must find us. In fact, in my own kids’ lives, I believe their best, most memorable, and most effective teachers will be the ones they discover, not the ones they are given. Richardson, W. (2008, December 3).

Watch What is a Global Digital Citizen and answer the key learning questions

Key Learning Questions – 

• Does your educational setting currently connect Globally with any other platform?
• With global digital connections being so readily accessible, where could you see this connectivity tool being relevant? Note down Curriculum Area, why your students would benefit from global connections and the resources that you would need to make this successful.
• What cultural and social factors would you need to consider or might prevent you from implementing a digital global connection?