Tool #11

I think before we teach our kids on how to use ANY of the applications we have learned, it is imperative that the kids learn how to be good digital citizens. I feel that before we can teach our student anything about technology, they need to learn how to be good digital citizens and that starts with us. We need to model this to students and even use videos as another resource for students. There are several things that kids need to know, especially in the upper grades where they are very "curious" to say the least and know a whole lot more than what we think they know.

1. Teach the kids about safety. Only go to websites that parents or teachers approve of because of the dangers that are occuring. Remind students to be very careful of the things they are publishing. Once it's published, there's no going back. Many times the kids think if they delete it or put it in the trashbin, it's gone forever. Surprise! It's not. Ask my brother, the police officer.

2. Always give credit where credit is due. Make sure you use the name or source of where you are getting your information, photo, picture, etc.

3. Make sure you get help when you don't know how to do something. Many of our kids (especially our mini adults--the 5th graders) are embarrassed to ask how to do things.

4. Remember, be kind. As with previous experience with our 5th graders, technology is to be used to enhance your education, so use it wisely and not for ill intent.

5. Make sure that you validate your sources. Not everything you see or read on the internet is true. Just like we teach our kids the difference between fiction and non-fiction books, we need to teach our kids about valid and reliable resources. (and what the words valid ad reliable mean)