Mike Patterson, a K-12 Learning Environment Advisor with CDW•G, lends educators some much needed advice when it comes to being a model-digital citizen.

“Something that’s missing from this race is a collective effort to educate not only our students but also our staff on the importance of understanding what it means to be a responsible digital citizen,” said Patterson in his Ed Tech Magazine report.

“We have access to more information through various mediums and more exposure to the world around us than ever before. With this access and exposure comes a responsibility that people of all ages are lacking a true understanding of — namely, the lasting digital footprint that we create every day.”

Patterson is encouraging educators to follow nine themes of digital citizenship that can and should be passed on to students. The nine themes include: “access, commerce, communication, literacy, etiquette, law, rights and responsibilities, health and wellness and finally security.”

“Educators are charged with teaching students how to behave in a social setting, rating them on factors such as getting to class on time, being prepared, bringing a positive attitude and being respectful,” according to Patterson.

“All of these are transferable traits that lend themselves well to helping students become effective and productive employees down the road.”

This also includes being aware of what we post on social media. Patterson cites the questionable posts by friends and family members that we all see on a daily basis. Educators are held even more responsible for those posts because it can also affect the students if exposed.

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Article by Navindra Persaud, Education World Contributor