Jennifer Sayre

SLM 521

October, 2004

Journal Article Critique #2

“Digital Citizenship” by M. Ribble, G. Bailey and T. Ross acknowledges the universal misuse of various forms of technology.  The authors use the term “digital citizenship” in reference to the norms of conduct with technology.  The article recognizes the ISTE standards as a valuable resource for using technology effectively in the school setting, but also points out the need to establish a precedent in appropriate technology use outside of school.  The article lays out nine features of digital citizenship and covers the inappropriate and appropriate “technological behaviors” of students, teachers, and society.  For each standard, there is also a list of strategies for teachers.  The authors attempt to enhance the ISTE standards by including effective use of the internet for e-commerce.  Appropriate use of cellphones, text-messaging, music downloading, and the need to back up saved work are also unique topics mentioned in the article. It is important for students to be aware of copyright laws, their own rights, identity-theft, and physical safety while using technologies. The premise behind the nine behaviors of Digital Citizenship is that they will help “prepare students to live and work in the 21^st century.”

It’s been helpful to read this article while having ISTE and Maryland state standards as the discussion topic on blackboard.  One of the most interesting points of this article is how students assume that it is okay when adults are using technology inappropriately.  As teachers, we need to MODEL appropriate use of technology to our students, and encourage them to apply the standards we model in AND out of the classroom.  Another point in the article is how we should encourage students to avoid using the abbreviations when instant messaging.  Students become so comfortable with using IM slang and abbreviations that they incorporate it into written assignments in school.  I personally do not see a problem with using “IM slang” between friends, but I have had students turn in work that reflects overuse of abbreviations.  I also found a comment about how teachers “shy away” from computers because of lack of student access interesting.  I’ve been hesitant about assigning a project that uses technology before, but as the article says, students in that situation can access technology during school.  It may be difficult to arrange a time to get that child to a computer, but they should be given the same opportunity to use technology as students who have computer access at home.

Ribble, M., Bailey, G and Ross, T.  (2004, September 27).  Digital Citizenship: Addressing Appropriate Technology Behavior.  Learning and Leading with Technolgoy.  Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/LL/32/1/06r/index.cfm

 
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