Creative Digital Citizenship Activities with Book Creator

Digital Citizenship in Action

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) describes digital citizenship as:

Using technology to improve your community.

Engaging respectfully online with people who have different beliefs than you.

Using technology to make your voice heard by public leaders and to shape public policy.

Determining the validity of online sources of information.

In addition to the resources created by ISTE, the folks at Common Sense Education also have a fantastic curriculum on digital citizenship. Designed for K-12 students, this is the first place to stop if you want to learn more about this topic. We encourage you to check out their free teaching resources.

Media balance &
Well-being

An important aspect of using technology both at home and in the classroom is finding balance. Digital tools and resources can be transformative when used effectively. But we know that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. This activity is all about monitoring and reflecting. Students will complete a log of their media use and create an interactive journal.

Activity ideas

A review of the types of media students might consume over the day

A structure for keeping a log of their media use

Space
for students to reflect on the ways they use technology during the day

What counts as media use (e.g. YouTube, Netflix, TikTok)

Quick tip

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Privacy & security

When students navigate online spaces, they want to make sure they keep their information safe. Understanding data privacy, how to create a secure password, and remembering to log out of a shared device are all part of the process. This activity is all about creating a set of tips for staying safe online as students create a collaborative book where they contribute their idea to a class book of tips.

Activity ideas

An interview with an expert to give students ideas for tips

Research that involves learning about of privacy and security

Swapping books with a partner class to learn new tips

One or two pages including media from each student

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Digital Footprint & Identity

Online spaces provide a brand new area for students to share their learning. It’s exciting for students to showcase what they’ve learned about a topic and what they’ve created to “show what they know.” However, students need to understand that what they post leaves a digital footprint. This activity is all about having students identify how they want to present themselves online.

Activity ideas

List core values and how we want the world to view us

List career goals for the future and how social posts might impact these goals

Write fictional stories to illustrate consequences using the character’s decisions

Identify places where we currently post online

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Relationships & Communication

Throughout the school day, students have lots of face-to-face interactions, and depending on the age of your students, they most likely have plenty of online interactions, too. From using Microsoft Teams or Flipgrid to participate in a discussion, or posting a picture of their work on Seesaw, students communicate digitally. This activity is all about having students reflect on the tone of their communication.

Activity ideas

Share a
story of a time they could have been more thoughtful with their communication

Ask students to role play leaving comments on a sample piece of student work

Provide
time to reflect on the importance of choosing words carefully

Use the
recording tool to have students record themselves reading comments with a different
tone

Listen

Quick tip

Cyberbullying, Digital Drama & Hate Speech

Bullying can happen with or without technology, but we know that many students have suffered from cyberbullying or know someone who has been a victim. When students see hate speech online, or identify moments when a friend or classmate isn’t treated with respect, they can be an upstander instead of a bystander. In this activity, students can identify an upstander and describe how they handle tough situations.

Activity ideas

Connections
to characters
in a book you’ve read in a class

Review of the qualities of an upstander

Student storytelling where they describe the important role of an upstander in tough situations

Conversations
on the difference between a bystander and an upstander

Quick tip

Listen