Digital Citizenship in a Digital Age!!!!

Digital Citizenship. Let's explore some ideas and thoughts around this concept. First, lets start with the computer.

What constitutes a computer? To be a computer you need some basic hardware to start with. The minimum requirements would be as follows:

·         Case – Keep in mind a case can be anything that houses the hardware and software (e.g. – laptop, netbook, PDA, SmartPhone…)

·         Monitor

·         Motherboard

·         Hard Drive

·         Pointing Device

·         Keyboard

I won’t get into graphics and chipsets and all the cabling needed to hook everything together. At this point I don’t think I need to get into an itemized list of every resister and wire in the CPU (Central Processing Unit). I didn’t list graphics cards or other peripherals because most modern motherboards have built-in graphics, audio, and Ethernet ports. But that is your basic bare bones hardware, now you need software. At the bare minimum you need an OS (Operating System). Most people are familiar with Microsoft Windows, but there are more out there.

Now that we have established what constitutes a computer, let’s look at how appropriate or inappropriate computer use might affect one’s future. I will use myself as an example.

Digital Etiquette:   electronic standards of conduct or procedure.Technology users often see this area as one of the most pressing problems when dealing with Digital Citizenship. We recognize inappropriate behavior when we see it, but before people use technology they do not learn digital etiquette (i.e., appropriate conduct).   Many people feel uncomfortable talking to others about their digital etiquette.  Often rules and regulations are created or the technology is simply banned to stop inappropriate use. It is not enough to create rules and policy, we must teach everyone to become responsible digital citizens in this new society. (From http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html)

Digital Etiquette to me goes hand-in-hand with common sense. Something a lot of people do not seem to possess. That is why there are laws and rules to govern when we can safely use a cell phone. And one time to NOT use it is while driving or operating anything. That is a safety issue that could get you or anyone else hurt, or worse, killed. I personally know two people that have gotten tickets for talking on their cell phone while driving. I have also had some very close calls by people veering into my lane because they texting on their phone instead of watching where they were going. You can seem them with their hands resting on top of the steering wheel holding on to the phone and their thumbs going a mile a minute typing on the keypad. What is so important that you need to risk my life to send a message on your phone while you are driving straight at me?!

Here is a short video from John Mayer.



Digital Literacy:   process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology.
While schools have made great progress in the area of technology infusion, much remains to be done. A renewed focus must be made on what technologies must be taught as well as how it should be used. New technologies are finding their way into the work place that are not being used in schools (e.g., videoconferencing, online sharing spaces such as wikis). In addition, workers in many different occupations need immediate information (just-in-time information). This process requires sophisticated searching and processing skills (i.e., information literacy). Learners must be taught how to learn in a digital society. In other words, learners must be taught to learn anything, anytime, anywhere.  Business, military, and medicine are excellent examples of how technology is being used differently in the 21st century. As new technologies emerge, learners need to learn how to use that technology quickly and appropriately. Digital Citizenship involves educating people in a new way— these individuals need a high degree of information literacy skills. (From http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html)

Digital Literacy is something I have witnessed over the last 14 years of working in an industry that requires the sharing of information around the world at a moment’s notice. I have watched the technology go from a phone tree to fiber-optic networks that have instant messages and alerts that are sent to everyone that needs to know no matter where they are in the world instantly. The lack of training on some of the technology is disheartening. I have been a mentor for new hires in my old job. Instead of training the people, I sat with them and gave my own crash course on how to use the technology to do their job. Instead of doing a generic push this button and this is what happens, kind of method. I prefer the, to accomplish this task you must do these steps. And then I would explain why it works, if they ask, otherwise they would, for the most part, just do as they were told. Unfortunately, most the places I worked were like this, and most were about 3 versions behind the latest versions available for the software they were using. Take the OS for example; Windows 7 has been out for how long? And the place I worked last was still using Windows XP with emulators that ran mainframe style programs that were 30 years old.

Digital Security (self-protection):   electronic precautions to guarantee safety.
In any society, there are individuals who steal, deface, or disrupt other people. The same is true for the digital community. It is not enough to trust other members in the community for our own safety. In our own homes, we put locks on our doors and fire alarms in our houses to provide some level of protection. The same must be true for the digital security. We need to have virus protection, backups of data, and surge control of our equipment. As responsible citizens, we must protect our information from outside forces that might cause disruption or harm. (From http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html)

Digital Security cannot be stressed enough. People need to be made more aware of threats from viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Hackers are ruthless and extremely cunning. Just look at what happened to thepiratebay.org. Their advertising servers were cracked and hackers were able to post adds laced with viruses and Trojan horses that, without the proper protection on peoples computers, would install in the background without users even knowing it was happening. Although, from my point of view, anyone using thepiratebay.org was probably downloading illegal copies of movies, software or downloading music and deserve the virus or trojan installed on their computer. But that’s just me.

All three of these elements can be applied to everyday life. Your personal, professional, and in some academic life. No matter where you go you are surrounded by technology. Etiquette needs to be followed! No one likes to listen to some one speaking unnecessarily loud into their sell phone in the middle of a restaurant. Or swerving all over the road because they are texting on their phone.

Here is a very informative video made by teenagers with help from teachers.

All this information can help you in the near future. Using technology respectfully and responsibly can make the difference between having a job and not having one or being alive or not being alive. If we the people do not start following some simple common sense guidelines now, we could be subjected to strict laws that severely limit our ability to use technology. It only takes a handful of violators to ruin it for law abiding citizens. For it is us that will be punished and not the violators. The victims are the ones that suffer while the perpetrators get to run free and continue to be cyber bullies and DWT.

So remember to use technology wisely and do not drive while texting.

C U L8R!!