The Seven Strands of Digital Citizenship

1

Life Skills Digital Skills

Ethical Responsibility: “The meaning of good and bad, of better and worse, is simply

helping or hurting.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Knowing right from wrong.

Understanding Fairness.

Taking responsibility for your own actions.

Respecting the law.

Showing kindness and compassion.

Using THINK (Is it Truthful, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary or Kind?)

Knowing the laws concerning the use of digital media.

Knowing your rights.

Understanding plagiarism, piracy, copyright and fair use.

Being an “Up-Stander”- identifying and reporting abuse and inappropriate behaviour.

Managing Risk: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Sensing when something is safe or unsafe.

Recognising truth and falsehood.

“Crap detection”.

Being realistic about risk taking.

Knowing where to go for help.

Recognising unsafe behaviour in a digital environment: scamming, phishing etc.

Understanding online security.

Being able to use security, passwords and privacy settings.

Understanding access.

Self-Image and Identity: “This above all: to thine own self be true.” Shakespeare

Having a strong sense of self.

Creating appropriate boundaries.

Recognising boundaries.

Respecting privacy.

Knowing what to share online and what not to share.

Keeping a clear boundary between reality and virtual reality.

Benefits and risks of online personas.

Digital Literacy:

“Anyone who uses the products of modern technology without any

knowledge of how they work or how they were made is like a prisoner

in a cell without windows.” Rudolf Steiner

Understanding how things work.

Being able to select the right tool for the job.

Being able to read and follow instructions.

Sequencing and processing.

Hand-eye coordination.

Understanding how computers and other devices work.

Understanding networks and the internet.

Being able to understand and use digital devices.

Understanding search engines etc.

The Seven Strands of Digital Citizenship

2

Communicating and Networking:

“Wise men speak because they have something to

say; Fools because they have to say something.”

Plato

Effective communication skills.

Understanding healthy relationships.

Resilience.

Recognising social norms and conventions.

Building a healthy social network.

Collaborative working.

Using email and other media.

Using online interest forums.

Using social networking platforms.

Collaborating online.

Digital Networking and interactions.

Distinguishing between inappropriate contact and positive online connections.

Creative Initiative: “Man only plays when he is in the fullest sense of the word a human

being, and he is only fully a human being when he plays.” Schiller

Realising ideas.

Identifying resources.

The ability to identify, find, evaluate and use information effectively.

Problem solving.

Developing creativity.

Presenting information effectively.

Using search engines effectively.

Knowing how to evaluate the quality, credibility, and validity of websites, and give proper credit.

Blogging.

Web-site design.

Video making & Animation.

Music recording and editing.

Using cool tools and apps creatively.

Public Profile: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” M. Gandhi (attributed)

Making a good impression.

Etiquette.

Presentation skills.

Recognising the need to behave differently in different social situations.

Creating a positive digital footprint.

Having an online presence.

Publishing & sharing creative work online.

Promoting yourself or your work.

NB: This is not a definitive list; it is a few ideas to help you to understand the strands.