Teaching Students to Use Technology Responsibly

The generation we are teaching is literally growing up with technology at their finger tips. The average student in high school today received their first phone when they were in elementary school. Most of them have upgraded their phones at least 3 times, so the majority of them own a Smart phone with a data plan that makes them faster and more sophisticated than the archaic desktop computers that their teachers are using to prepare lesson plans.

As Media Specialist in a large high school I've taken on the challenge of teaching students about their Digital Footprint. When I ask them about their use of technology they are very open and honest. They see nothing wrong with being "connected" 24/7. Most of them proudly profess that they are addicted to technology.

Regardless of how "Tech Savvy" students are today, they need to be taught how to use technology responsibly. Because technology is such an intimate part of their lives and a source of  education, communication, socialization, and entertainment, they need to know how to manage their online behavior.

A recent Microsoft survey of teen and parental attitudes revealed the following:

• Teens share considerably more information online than their parents and, as a result, expose themselves to more risk; they also feel more in control of their online reputation.

• Teens believe the benefits of sharing information online outweigh the risks, with the exception of sharing a physical location.

Source:       

Safety & Security Center. Microsoft. What does digital citizenship mean to  you? http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/digital-citizenship.aspx

The challenge of teaching teens to be good digital citizens is one I share with teachers and parents. I have found it to be an excellent opportunity for parental involvement at the high school level. The integration of technology across all curriculum areas has been taking place in classrooms for years, but the results of youth being immersed in social media and over exposed to the world via the internet, with little to no supervision or censorship, presents educators with emerging issues that will take the whole village to address.