Digital Citizenship, as the name suggested is NOT a material like Citizenship card or, ID Card. Instead, It Is an exposure with norm of using internet ethics and responsibility while online.
Let me elaborate, most of us use internet to browse news, blogs, use social media to upload pictures, create an Email address to communicate. In this regard, we become a part of internet in different form. At this point thinking, i donot use anything online but only use my smart phone to say: watch YouTube video, is not keeping us isolated from Internet or Online network.
To make this point more simple,
1. When we first setup smartphone, it requires email address !
2. When we download basic apps like YouTube, it requires our age restriction to watch videos, Wohoo our Email address has all the information on age and gender !!!
Thats it, we are not isolated from Digital World. We are associated in different aspects, may that be the email address, social media like Twitter, Facebook, G+, snapchat, whats-app Or Instagram. We do have our digital foot print and presence in internet.
That's where we become Digital Citizen.
Different aspect of Digital Citizenship can be learnt from this video: (Source)
Ten trends 2011: Citizenship from EDtalks on Vimeo.
There are few definitions on norms of digital Citizenship categorized as elements(Source).
Element 1 - Digital Access : Many of our surrounding community or people do not have access to digital tools and internet. Digital access by digital citizen is an responsibility and art of giving to community. This is to ensure, everyone has rights to be a digital citizen.
Element 2 - Digital Commerce: Electronically selling or Buying goods is gaining popularity and holds a huge share of trading around the globe. But to make legitimate buying and selling practice, digital citizen must have ethical practice which shall not harm other community in their religion, gender, status to name few.
Element 3 - Digital Communication: We use email, instant messaging and other chat tools to communicate between our peers. With so many options comes huge responsibility on decision making and choosing the right tool. Being digital citizen should be knowledgeable on using right tool for the right reason.
Element 4 - Digital literacy: One of the most used platform to exchange teaching and learning methodology is internet. The educational model in digital literacy is growing exponentially. To keep up with the pace, one must be aware of the skill required to monitor and train peers and students on effective learning management system.
Element 5 - Digital Etiquette: There is a procedure and policy to use content in online arena. We use what others have invented or produced and that has its own policy of use. Digital Etiquette is a ethics of using technology responsibly.
Element 6 - Digital Law: There are laws and there are consequences of wrong doing over internet. It is the most valued thing to remember while in online presence. Like it deals with same theft law as of stealing physical goods, and stealing digital content of others. Being digital citizen we must have basic idea on Digital Laws.
Element 7 - Digital rights & Responsibilities: We are free citizens of free online world. Everyone has rights to put in their view and opinion online. Keeping in mind the responsible use of content, everyone has space in internet! People around us need to be educated regarding the same.
Element 8 - Digital Health & Wellness: Using digital tools, devices for long time, has its own consequences. Health hazard of using such tools, eye hygiene and stress shall be dealt with good practice and awareness. After all "Health is Wealth".
Element 9 - Digital Security(Self Protection): Like a physical lock at our house, we shall have our protection and security ready while engaging in digital world. When it rains, its our own responsibility to put in umbrella or rain-cover coat, we shall have basic ideas on antivirus, firewall, data backup system before we get doomed online.
Digital Citizen :
Becoming Digital Citizen might be easy, but to produce a mass with basic knowledge on 'Digital Citizen' education is a big task. Unless the education is provided from base level, it will be hard to monitor or create a healthy online environment around us.
Digital Citizenship is being taught and train in many schools and universities around the globe. Still we lack within huge portion of students, being kept out of basic information on Digital citizenship. As they grow up, innovate and execute, internet and online collaboration will be the first tool to join rest of the world. To show their presence and standout in the crowd.
It is in our capable hands to train and educate the generation around us on being a responsible Digital citizen.
(Pic Source)
BE RESPONSIBLE, BE EDUCATED, BE GOOD !!!
