Final reflection digital citizenship

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP: REFLECTION ESSAY 1

Digital Citizenship: Reflection Essay

Laura C. Cole

Lamar University

Author Note

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Keywords: Citizenship

Digital

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Digital Citizenship: Reflection Essay

Digital citizenship and all that pertains to our civic duties involved in the use of digital

technology. How we communicate with each other, needs to be addressed with all users no

matter the age. The understanding and use of the new means of virtual interaction, through

emails, chat groups, instant message (IM), or text messages, and social media. In the following

reflection, I will explore my perception, theoretical and practical, of digital citizenship from

experience and newly learned material from Lamar University. The Webster’s definition of

citizenship is being a good steward of the community. At one time that community may have

been a smaller number of individuals. Now with our digital age of the internet, world-wide-web,

computers, tablets, iPad, and smartphones, the community has become global in a relevant brief

period. Ohler (2010) provides eight basic views on citizenship while Riddle (2015) provides a

comprehensive list of nine elements on digital citizenship. Citizenship should be a civic

responsibility for all whether we are interacting with people in a real or virtual world. As

educators, we need to expand our learning and teaching to meet this great need of expanding the

knowledge of digital communication, netiquette, digital law, health, and safety issues. The need

for this important education starts with our toddlers all the way to our seniors. In the following

reflection, I will be looking at Riddle’s number three digital communication while including

numbers four, digital literacy and five, digital etiquette. All three elements seem to go hand in

hand when communicating. Two other elements that appeal to me and my specific discipline are

digital law and digital health and wellness.


Digital Communication

Today, we have several types of communication available using digital devices. All

digital citizens need to learn and use the proper digital etiquette and digital literacy when

communicating online. A citizen will understand the need to make informed decisions on what

and how they should communicate. Digital literacy, fourth Riddle element (Riddle 2015) is to

keep up with digital changes. Reading articles on new terminology and use of emoji for digital

communication. Being aware of updated terms used in online, examples of terms from online

dating regarding rejection such as ghosting, zombie, and benching. The use of friendly and

seemly innocent emoji can be used to imply inappropriate behavior and language. These terms

and emoji’s meanings change or evolve daily. Number five; digital etiquette or netiquette is

following etiquette procedures when communicating. Following in line with digital literacy,

using all caps in emails, texting or chatting is considered yelling at the receiver. The digital

citizen needs to exact care with the wording of texts, IM and chats areas and in following the

Golden rule. In keeping with proper netiquette, use a respectable screen name or email when

addressing formal communications. Refrain from using slang and words that can be

misinterpreted with formal emails or posts. Don’t send an email when mad or upset. Double

check your communication before hitting the send button. Don’t spread gossip or tell things you

only know half the story online which can be hurtful to others.

Digital Law1

Having the responsibility of behaving ethically and being aware of the laws governing

online activities. The topic of digital law covers copyright infringements, plagiarism,


cyberbullying, libel accusations and pornography. It is easy to cut and paste from the internet,

bootleg copied music, videos, and movies. The music industry has several ads to deter digital

users from copying music. The FBI warning before each movie cautions that it’s against the law

to reproduces and public showing without the consent. Even the NFL has copyrights on their

products and games. Plagiarism is copying someone’s work, words or ideas, and declaring them

as your own. Plagiarism, unlike copyright infringement, is not against the law but it highly

unethical.

Cyberbullying is bullying online in posts, emails, text messages, gaming and social media

such as Facebook, snapchat, including online dating sites. Cyberbullying can be more tormenting

to the victim than the schoolyard bully. When the bully shares hurtfully words, photos, and

images are on the internet for the world to view in a forever environment. Although there are no

federal laws against bullying, all fifty states have laws against bullying including cyberbullying.

Some states have included policies with the law to aid school districts in the handling of

bullying, harassment and cyberbullying incidents.

Fake news and yellow journalism, sensationalism, has been a problem since the 1800’s.

It's just now more accessible with our digital age and thus easier to get caught in the deception

and lies. Depending on the lies against an individual, it could lead to court battles on defamation

of character in writing or slander for the words spoken.

Lastly, on digital law, citizens of all ages need be responsible for what type of images are

sent to anyone. A casual nude or half-nude photo shared through texting, chat or email can be

considered pornography. Depending on the age of the child or young adult, the image is

considered child pornography, against the law and jail time.


Digital health and safety. Digital tools in the medical field have exploded in the last ten

years with the electronic medical records, imaging, patient education, electronic prescriptions,

billing, insurance claims and appointment scheduling. The digital users are not only the medical

staff and providers but patients as well.

Health issues involved in overuse of digital tools, the addiction to devices (Colier, 2016).

Being in the ophthalmology field, I am concerned with digital eyestrain issues such as dry eyes

from staring at screens, blue light concerns with the retina and sleep rhythm. Other medical

issues involving head and neck strain, called text neck, from looking down at devices, cell phone

elbow instead of golf elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis from holding the phone or

texting upon hours during the day. Loss of hearing from overuse of earbuds with loud noises.

Mental and emotional issues associated with living in a virtual world. Having less and less face

to face contact with humans is causing more depression. The online dating sites promise you will

meet the right person in no time. Online dating is an emotional issue for an individual as the

face/face dating.

The cyberbullying, a new threat developed in the digital age. Center for Disease and

Control (CDC) list suicide as the third leading cause of death for youth in America. With several

documenting cases, the cause was from embarrassment and ridicule posted on the internet.

Safety issues for digital users to be aware of are scams and phishing emails requesting

personal information. Sex predators using sites to flush out children who are looking to find

themselves. Driving and texting is a large safety issue and is against the law in some states.

Positive safety issues are the tracking devices on cars and smartphones. These trackers

allow for faster accessibility with a broken-down vehicle or a missing person, Amber and Silver

alerts. Family maps to follow children. Digital devices also give us inclement weather warnings.


Final Reflection: Digital Citizenship

The biggest awareness and learning coming from the digital citizenship is how we take

for granted that everyone using a digital device understands all about the social, ethical, laws and

access related to digital use. The reality is we need to teach our users how to be informed and

good digital citizens.

My biggest accomplishment was learning a new digital tool, PowToon. Using the

PowToon to develop my animated presentation assignment adding more tools to my experience.

The biggest challenge in the course was the cyberbullying reading, videos, and stories.

How sad we are so cruel to our fellow citizens, and more so in a virtual world. Cruel postings

and emails come easier when we have less human contact. My second biggest challenge is the

creativity of my mantra.

My best work in this course was the PowToon video on Digital Addiction. The research

and production in making the video made me realize how addicted I was becoming. I feel the

video makes a strong statement on needing to detox from our devices and taking my own advice

to heart. I shared the video with my college mentor of forty years, her advice, and impression of

my college work is still imperative to me.

The experience learned from this course to use outside the classroom is to be more

cautious and aware of my posting on social media. Double checking post and images to make

sure they will not be misconstrued by others and not tagging family and friends without their

approval of messages or photos.

The most meaningful and useful learned is the nine elements of digital citizenship by

Riddle. As an educational leader, I need to share the knowledge and awareness of what it is to be

a good digital citizen with my learners.


My favorite aspect of his course was broadening my horizons through the reading

materials and watching videos provided in the course. It opened my eyes to have much we don’t

know or take for granted with our devices.

My suggestions to get the most out of the course is to give full participation in the

discussion boards and try to at least attend one weekly conference if not all. Learn from each

other.

Only thing I would change is discussion board postings. I wished I had more time to give

attention to the prompts and sharing information to develop quality discussion on the issues. An

earlier posting by myself and classmates would have helped the quality discussion, especially on

cyberbullying.

Take the course, if you teach or use any type of digital device in your classroom or at

home, you need this course. Then teach the course and information in your own classroom and at

home with family. Our digital technology is a wonderful tool in our everyday life. As digital

citizens, we need to become good stewards, understand and respect how this tool can harm us

and others as well as assist and protect.


References

Chen, J. (2016). "Benching" is the new ghosting. Retrieved

from: http://nymag.com/betamale/2016/06/benching-ghosting.html

Colier, N, (2016). The power of off: The mindful way to stay sane in the virtual world.

Sounds True, Boulder, CO.

Hobbs, R., (2010). Copyright clarity: How fair use supports digital learning. Corwin, A

SAGE Company

Howard, J., (2017). Too much texting could be a pain in the wrist, some experts say.

Retrieved from: http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/21/health/texting-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-

study/index.html

Knorr, C., (2011). 7 Rules to teach kids online etiquette. Courtesy counts online too.

Retrieved from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/7-rules-to-teach-kids-online-etiquette

Madden, M., & Raine, L. (2015). Americans' attitudes about privacy, security

and surveillance. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/05/20/americans-attitudes-

about-privacy-security-and-surveillance/

Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (2017). Springfield, MA. https://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/citizenship

Merriam Webster (2017). Golden Rule Definition Retrieved from

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golden%20rule

Ohler, J. (2010). Digital community: Digital Citizen. Thousand Oaks, CA: Cowin.

Ohler, J. (2011). Character education for the digital age. Educational Leadership, 68(5),

187-205. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-

leadership/feb11/vol68/num05/Character-Education-for-the-Digital-Age.aspx

http://nymag.com/betamale/2016/06/benching-ghosting.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/21/health/texting-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-study/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/21/health/texting-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-study/index.html

http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/05/20/americans-attitudes-about-privacy-security-and-surveillance/

http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/05/20/americans-attitudes-about-privacy-security-and-surveillance/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citizenship

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citizenship

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golden%20rule

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb11/vol68/num05/Character-Education-for-the-Digital-Age.aspx

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb11/vol68/num05/Character-Education-for-the-Digital-Age.aspx


Prevent Blindness (2016). Blue Light and Digital eyestrain issues. Retrieved from

https://www.preventblindness.org/blue-light-and-your-eyes

Riddle, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools. Nine elements all should know (3rd

ed.). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Teaching children on citizenship Retrieved from http://www.digizen.org/

Youth Violence by Center for Disease (CDC) Retrieved from

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/index.html

Footnote:

ePortfolio URL:

http://site-lcolesavingsight.strikingly.com/blog/final-reflection-digital-citizenship

https://www.preventblindness.org/blue-light-and-your-eyes

http://www.digizen.org/

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/index.html

http://site-lcolesavingsight.strikingly.com/blog/final-reflection-digital-citizenship

Healthcare

Final reflection digital citizenship