District 88 Library Media Center helps students learn the importance of Digital Citizenship

Pictured is District 88 Library Media Center Director Rose Janusz.

The importance of raising a generation of informed digital citizens has never been greater.

Technology is our present and our future. The digital world mirrors the physical world, so the values and safeguards we impart to our children – safety, responsibility, empathy and the importance of service to others – transfer from one world to the next. So much of how we build and maintain relationships of all kinds happens online. It is imperative our students understand the effects their digital footprint will have on their future. Teaching Digital Citizenship will give our students the knowledge, skills and resources they need to navigate the online environment safely and responsibly, succeed as lifelong learners and become a force for good in the world – physical as well as digital.

According to www.digitalcitizenship.net, “Digital Citizenship is a concept (that) helps teachers, technology leaders and parents … understand what students/children/technology users should know to use technology appropriately. Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students/technology users for a society full of technology. Digital Citizenship is the continuously developing norms of appropriate, responsible and empowered technology use.” That website is a great resource to learn more about this topic.

Students at Addison Trail and Willowbrook have embarked on a Digital Citizenship WebQuest to help them understand the concepts of what it means to be a Digital Citizen in District 88. The WebQuest is a series of videos, articles and fact sheets designed to open conversations regarding the nine elements of Digital Citizenship. It is meant to complement the many classroom lessons taught on these various elements on a daily basis. After completing the WebQuest, students earn a Digital Citizen Badge at Addison Trail or a Digital Warrior Badge at Willowbrook, which are stickers they can put on their Chromebooks and show in the school libraries to earn chances for prizes.

The Digital Citizenship WebQuest can be accessed from the Library Media Center webpage on each school’s website (http://dupage88.libguides.com/c.php?g=945001 for Addison Trail and https://dupage88.libguides.com/c.php?g=960592 for Willowbrook).

For questions or more information, feel free to contact me at rjanusz@dupage88.net or 630-628-2611.

Pictured above are Digital Citizenship display cases at Addison Trail (top) and Willowbrook (bottom). District 88 is hosting WebQuests to help students understand the concepts of what it means to be a Digital Citizen.