As most teachers know, getting students engaged is key to a happy and productive classroom. Depending on the topic, that can sometimes be tricky. Students may naturally be interested in one concept more than another, or may respond to one teaching method more than another.
For some material, it can be more difficult to generate interactive ways to present the lesson. It depends on the nature of the topic, classroom structure, and the overall tone of the material.
Digital citizenship, however, is one topic that lends itself extremely well to interactive activities. Students can often connect with the material since so much of their lives is based in the digital world, and much of that is interactive.
When you teach digital citizenship, it is a great way to not only engage students on a current topic relevant in their own lives, but also a fantastic way to bring more interactive lessons into the classroom.
Why Should Educators Teach Digital Citizenship?
Today’s students spend much of their lives engaged in the digital world, in one way or another. Screens, phones and laptops are common for everything from scheduling to communicating with friends to pursuing hobbies.
It’s also now essential that students use online tools for education, such as doing research for projects and assignments. This is why it’s so crucial that educators teach digital citizenship in the classroom.
While students are using all of these online features that can be so fun and entertaining, it’s also important they understand best practices for safety, privacy and responsible use.
Teachers looking for a good place to start can try this Middle School Digital Citizenship Unit, Email Etiquette Lesson, or Smartphone App Privacy Lesson.
You might also want to check out this blog post: Engaging Middle School Digital Citizenship Lessons.
10 Interactive Ways To Teach Digital Citizenship
1. Mapping Digital Footprints
Help students visualize their impact in the online world by having them create a map of their digital footprint. This can include the platforms they visit, who can see what they post, and the kinds of information they share.
This is a great activity for when you teach digital citizenship because it gets students thinking about how they use the digital space, what they are putting out into it, and who else may be able to access that information.
2. Have Students Create a Digital Citizenship Pledge
This activity is a fantastic one to get students working together and sharing their ideas about best practices online. Have students work in small groups to get started with preliminary ideas, or do this as a whole class activity from the start.
Students can brainstorm ideas for rules around online behaviour and, as a class, develop a Digital Citizenship Pledge that everyone signs. This can help promote a sense of accountability and responsibility around online actions.
3. Have Students Become Fake News Detectives
Fake news and information are everywhere online, and with the development of AI, it can be harder and harder to spot. Have students develop their critical thinking skills by providing them with some real and some fake news articles and then teaching them how to fact-check information to assess reliable sources.
This Fake News Media Literacy Unit and Fake News Digital Escape Room are great places to start when introducing students to the concept of fake news.
If you want to learn more about teaching fake news in the classroom, check out this blog post: Why Teach Fake News in the Middle School ELA Classroom?
4. Get Students Role-Playing
Generate various scenarios that students might face online and present them to the class. For example, that could be privacy issues, cyberbullying, and data harvesting, and then have students role-play their responses to each scenario. This could be done in small groups, with the whole class, or even as a written exercise if that’s what works best in a particular classroom.
This is a great activity for when you teach digital citizenship skills since it gets students thinking and problem-solving about real-life situations they may encounter.
5. Make an Educational Video or Podcast About Digital Citizenship
Have students get creative and make a video or a public service announcement that will teach digital citizenship skills. This is a fantastic activity for small groups.
Videos can look at themes like respectful communication and behaviour, managing screen time, and online safety. Once students have finished their projects, set some time aside for a classroom screening of all the videos.
You can also have students create a podcast about digital citizenship. For more information on creating podcasts in the classroom, check out this post: How To Easily Create Classroom Podcasts.
6. Keep a Digital Diary
Help students develop a better understanding of how they use online tools by keeping a digital diary for a week. They can include their online activities, as well as add any reflections about their feelings and behaviours.
This is a great way to encourage students to become more self-aware about the amount of time they are spending online and how they are using that time.
7. Create a Digital Scavenger Hunt
Teachers can create an online scavenger hunt for students, where they seek out information on digital citizenship topics. These topics could include examples of digital etiquette, internet safety, privacy tips, and sourcing information from reliable sources.
Have individual students compile their results in a poster – or do this in small groups – and then display the posters around the classroom so everyone can share what they have learned.
8. Teach an Online Privacy Workshop
Teach a workshop where students have to go through changing and adjusting privacy settings on various smartphones or devices. Show them how their information can be gathered and how to protect it.
Teachers can use this Smartphone App Privacy Lesson as a great introduction to the topic.
9. Bring in Guest Speakers
Invite experts into the classroom to talk about what they know best. This could include digital marketers, social media influencers, and cybersecurity professionals.
They can provide detailed information on how each of their fields works and give students a chance to ask questions and discuss issues in the digital space.
You could even treat this like a career day. Use this post to help you host a digital speaker day in your classroom: How to Host a Career Day at Your School.
10. Have Students Share Personal Experiences
Have students create blogs or digital stories about their own experiences with digital citizenship. They could include experiences with topics like learning about being safe online, learning about online privacy, having respectful digital interactions, and cyberbullying.
By using interactive lessons when you start to teach digital citizenship, students will have a chance to become engaged on several different levels. They can investigate what it means to be responsible in the digital space and help foster discussion and education with their classmates in the process.
Teach Digital Citizenship With This Comprehensive Unit
This Middle School Digital Citizenship Unit will equip your students with the essential skills they need to navigate the digital world responsibly and confidently. This comprehensive Digital Citizenship Unit is thoughtfully crafted to engage and educate middle school students about online interactions, privacy, smartphone addiction, influencer marketing, common scams, and ethical behaviour.
What’s Included in the Unit:
- 10 Engaging Lessons: Tailored to the unique needs of middle school students, these lessons are designed to capture their attention and foster meaningful discussions about digital citizenship.
- MP3 Audio Files: Students can read the articles independently or use the provided MP3 audio files.
- Answer Keys: Effortlessly guide your students through the lessons with our comprehensive answer keys that provide insights into each topic.
- Video Links: Enhance learning through multimedia experiences with carefully curated video links that reinforce key concepts.
- Influencer Marketing Lesson: Explore the modern landscape of influencer marketing and equip students with the critical thinking skills to navigate advertising messages.
- Group Work Stations: Foster collaboration and dialogue with group work stations that encourage peer-to-peer learning and interactive discussions.
- Graphic Organizers: Help students organize their thoughts and ideas visually, promoting deeper understanding and engagement with the content.
- Pre-Made Google Slideshow: Seamlessly integrate technology into your lessons with our pre-made Google Slideshow that’s ready to use.
- Print & Digital Formats: Cater to your classroom’s needs with both print and digital formats, ensuring accessibility and flexibility.
Curriculum Alignment: Ontario Language Curriculum 2023 – Grades 6, 7, 8: A2.1, A2.2, A2.7
Lessons Overview:
- Lesson 1 – Introduction to Digital Citizenship: This foundational lesson introduces students to the concept of digital citizenship. They learn about the benefits and challenges of the digital world and understand the importance of responsible online behaviour.
- Lesson 2 – Online Safety and Privacy: In this lesson, students delve into the fundamentals of online safety and privacy. They explore strategies to protect their personal information, identify potential risks, and understand the significance of strong passwords.
- Lesson 3 – Responsible Technology Use: Students examine the balance between screen time and offline activities. They learn to manage their technology usage, avoid digital addiction, and develop healthy habits for a well-rounded lifestyle.
- Lesson 4 – Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on the prevalence of smartphone usage, students gain insights into the potential consequences of excessive screen time.
- Lesson 5 – The Impact of Your Digital Footprint: This lesson educates students about the concept of a digital footprint – the traces they leave behind online. They discover that their online actions can have real-world consequences and explore ways to manage their digital presence.
- Lesson 6 – Online Etiquette: Students learn the importance of online etiquette or “netiquette.” They understand how to communicate respectfully in digital spaces, including social media, email, and online forums.
- Lesson 7 – Common Scams: In this lesson, students become savvy about common online scams such as phishing and smishing attempts. They will develop critical thinking skills to identify and avoid falling victim to various online schemes.
- Lesson 8 – Smartphone App Privacy: Focusing on smartphone apps, students explore how these apps collect and use personal data. They learn to review privacy settings and make informed decisions about app permissions.
- Lesson 9 – Influencer Marketing: Students engage with the world of influencer marketing, understanding how social media influencers can impact their choices.
- Lesson 10 – Sub Plans – Twitch.TV: This lesson offers a unique opportunity for students to explore the popular streaming platform Twitch.TV.
You can find the Middle School Digital Citizenship Unit on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teachers may also want to incorporate this Middle School Plagiarism Unit when starting to teach digital citizenship lessons, which is available on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Sub Plans
Looking for a way to keep students engaged when you can’t be in the classroom?
Why not try these ready-to-go sub plans?
Students will love these podcast comprehension lessons on the TikTok Creator Fund and Delivery Drones, or this lesson on E-Waste.
Or try this Middle School ELA Sub Plans Bundle, which features 15 different sub plan activities and topics, available on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Additional Resources
- 10 Ways To Develop Research Skills in Middle School Students
- 10 Fantastic Reasons To Use Digital Escape Rooms
Related Posts
