There is an increasing priority in 21st century education to foster young people’s global digital citizenship in a mobile and connected world. The role of schools is to not only nurture civic identities and practices but also deal with the challenge of developing school curricula that support digital literacy, responsibility, rights claims, and intercultural understanding to cultivate global citizenship.
Screen shot from Global Digital Citizen Foundation – Quick start guide
Global digital citizenship refers to the set of rights, responsibilities, and behaviors that individuals exhibit when engaging in digital spaces and interacting with digital technologies on a global scale. It encompasses the principles of digital literacy, online safety, responsible digital behavior, and participation in digital communities and networks across geographic boundaries.
Key aspects of global digital citizenship include:
1. Digital Literacy: The ability to effectively use digital technologies to access, evaluate, and create information, as well as to navigate online platforms and media.
2. Online Safety and Security: Knowledge and practices aimed at protecting personal information, privacy, and digital assets while using digital platforms and communicating online.
3. Responsible Digital Behavior: Ethical conduct and respectful communication in digital spaces, including adherence to laws and regulations governing online behavior and interactions.
4. Cultural Awareness: Sensitivity to cultural differences and diverse perspectives when engaging with individuals from different cultural backgrounds in digital environments.
5. Global Collaboration: Participation in digital communities, networks, and collaborative projects that transcend national borders, fostering cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.
6. Critical Thinking: The ability to critically evaluate digital content, discern misinformation and disinformation, and make informed decisions while navigating online information sources.
7. Digital Citizenship Rights: Recognition and advocacy for digital rights, such as freedom of expression, access to information, and participation in digital governance and decision-making processes.
Key elements of Global [Digital] Citizenship Education (Martinez Sainz & Barry, 2019)
Looking Closer at Local Contexts:
Harris, Walton, Johns, & Caluya (2022) research demonstrated that in the Australian context, youth demographics show significant internet and digital media usage, however, there are disparities in digital inclusion based on factors like ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. While there are policy gestures toward global citizenship in educational documents, curricular content often lacks a robust focus on global connectedness and transnational citizenship.
Furthermore, explaining that Digital citizenship policies in Australia primarily focus on online safety and risk management, neglecting the potential of digital technologies to enhance global civic and political understanding and engagement. Most school policies and programs prioritize cybersafety, but there’s a lack of integration with broader digital citizenship concepts and civic participation (Harris, et al, 2022).
What is needed:
It is clear that what is needed is an integrated approach to global digital citizenship that acknowledges the interconnectedness of digital and global citizenship domains. This includes a deeper understanding of young people’s everyday digital practices, particularly those of marginalised groups, and develop educational programs and curricula that respond to the opportunities and challenges of transnational digital engagement. Seen through an expansive and responsive global digital citizenship policy that goes beyond safety concerns and individualistic action, considering the broader social, political, and cultural dimensions of young people’s digital engagement.
