It is interesting to consider that students have been provided with devices to demonstrate and engage in learning in classrooms and now synchronously and asynchronously, but digital citizenship is not a part of the Ontario Curriculum. Media Literacy is a part of the Language Arts Curriculum, Critical thinking is a part of the Mathematics Curriculum and Cyber Bullying is a part of the Health Curriculum, however, there is not an explicit one-stop-shop for teachers in Ontario to know what is important to ensure students know and understand in terms of Digital Citizenship. One could argue that educators are preparing students for their future, however, what does that mean practically for educators who didn’t attend Univesity using their own device to engage in learning? What does that look like for teachers who didn’t use Web 2.0 to complete their formal education?

As the Technology Enabled Learning Teacher Contact for a K – 8 School Board in Ontario I have begun to collate a list of skills are required for students to know and understand before leaving the system to attend high school. The scope and sequence is not an all-encompassing list of skills, but rather it will provide a baseline assessment of what students know and understand and what is the next step for educators to begin integrating digital citizenship, digital literacy, transliteracy, and information fluency skills into the classroom. Baseline data will be collected during the month of June to determine where students are at. Educators across the board will be asked to complete a survey that will paint the picture of where our students are at. The findings will inform planning for student programming and workshops as well as educator professional development.

Media Smarts is a Canadian not-for-profit organization that is committed to providing educators with lesson plans and programming ideas. There is no curriculum for digital citizenship skills. Common Sense Media does provide a digital citizenship curriculum that could be utilized in the classroom, however, it is American content.

The school board I work for has released the Strategic Plan for 2020 – 2024. One of the pillars is Focus on the Future. Under this pillar are Information Communication Technology (ICT), Blended Learning, and Digital Fluency. Although current job descriptions outline the importance or need for ICT or Digital Literacy Skills. I wonder if this will be stressed through the interview process. I also understand there is the understanding of coaching educators through workshops and professional development to grow professionally. The Ontario College of Teachers encourages Ontario educators to develop a positive online presence.