TeachersFirst's Digital Citizenship Resources
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Explore this Editor's Choice of the best tools to teach digital citizenship found on TeachersFirst. Modeling and helping students to learn about digital citizenship is the responsibility of every adult in our students' lives, including teachers in all subject areas and parents at home. As adults learn more about digital citizenship, including wise online behavior and awareness of our own digital footprints, we must continue to share and openly discuss these issues with the young people in our classrooms and homes. Stay up to date on current issues, stay aware. Be sure also to visit the TeachersFirst Edge for teacher-friendly tips on using today's web tools safely and within school policies.
Click here to view all of TeachersFirst's resources for Digital Citizenship.
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DigCitCommit - ISTE
Grades
K to 12tag(s): digital citizenship (71), internet safety (115)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a resource as you teach about digital citizenship. Learn about the five competencies, then use them as a basis for instruction. Encourage students to become engaged in the conversation by sharing their understanding of different topics. For example, as you teach about the concept of being aware, use a concept mapping resource like MindMaps, reviewed here for students to visualize and share ideas related to being aware of online actions. As you continue in your lessons of awareness, enhance student learning by incorporating teaching strategies to encourage students to personalize learning experiences through the use of journals or blogs. Edublog, reviewed here is an excellent blogging tool that provides a safe resource for student writing in addition to providing you the ability to moderate content and privacy settings. As students develop an understanding of each competency, encourage them to continue learning and applying the lessons to their everyday use of online resources. Have groups of students become experts in different competencies and share their knowledge with younger students through the creation of explainer videos using My Simpleshow, reviewed here, podcasts using Buzzsprout, reviewed here, or digital books created with Book Creator, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Digital Civics Toolkit - MacArthur Research Network
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): communities (32), cross cultural understanding (138), digital citizenship (71), journalism (66)
In the Classroom
Save yourself some time, and use these excellent free modules on this site to use during online safety lessons. Share this site with your school's counselor for use during digital awareness activities. Instead of using paper and pencil to record ideas during brainstorming sessions, use an online bulletin board like Padlet, reviewed here, to organize and record student responses. Padlet offers tools for participants to share links and add comments to posts. As students develop responses to prompts, replace paper and pencil and ask them to create simple web pages to share their ideas and include support for their position using a simple webpage creation tool like Jimdo, reviewed here. Add a link to each student or group's web pages onto your class website to share the variety of ideas and resources shared by the class. Enhance learning and use Synth, reviewed here, to create podcasts featuring student's sharing tips for being digitally aware and share with your school community. Synth is an extremely easy to use tool for creating short audio and video soundbites and automatically pieces together soundbites into threads to share as podcasts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Adventures of Kara, Winston and the SMART Crew - Childnet International
Grades
2 to 6tag(s): character education (66), digital citizenship (71), internet safety (115)
In the Classroom
Any teacher will benefit from the free materials and activities on this site to teach online safety to students either directly through these materials, or as additional resources to your current online safety materials. As a substitute for links on paper or in a word processing tool, use a bookmarking tool like Symbaloo, reviewed here, to share online resources with students on classroom computers and your class website. Enhance student understanding by challenging students to create digital books teaching online safety using Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator includes tools for adding videos, images, and more into books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ruff Ruffman - Humble Media Genius - PBS Kids
Grades
1 to 6tag(s): digital citizenship (71), internet safety (115)
In the Classroom
Introduce Ruff Ruffman with a projector or interactive whiteboard, showing students all of the different questions Ruff will answer. Then either view the video shorts and quizzes as a class, or allow students to view the video shorts and take the interactive quizzes at a computer center. As a substitute for paper and pencil, have students use a video response tool like FlipGrid, reviewed here, to reflect on their learning and share tips for their peers. To extend student learning, require students to view their peer's reflections and make thoughtful comments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Citizenship in the Digital Age (Infographic) - Diana Fingal
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): cyberbullying (44), digital citizenship (71), infographics (51), internet safety (115)
In the Classroom
Share this infographic on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector with students as part of ongoing discussions on becoming good digital citizens. Ask students to create their own infographics using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to share different components of online safety and responsibility. Consider having groups of students create weekly podcasts sharing tips and information on digital citizenship. Podcast Generator, reviewed here, is a free tool for creating and sharing podcasts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fair Dealing Decision Tool - Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): copyright (43), digital citizenship (71), ethics (21), plagiarism (31)
In the Classroom
Include this site as part of your digital citizenship lessons. Explore together what is the acceptable use, and what is not. Enhance classroom technology use by having students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as PicLits, reviewed here, or transform class tech use with a multimedia poster using Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or Adobe Spark for K-12, reviewed here, to demonstrate the acceptable use of published work. Be sure to include a link to this tool on your class web page for student use at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Seven Digital Deadly Sins - Guardian Weekend Magazine
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): digital citizenship (71), professional development (231), social media (43)
In the Classroom
Be very careful if using this in a classroom as there are discussions of items not appropriate for general consumption, and may be more appropriate as inspiration for discussing the main "sins" in your classroom. At a minimum, be sure to view and screen portions of the site for appropriateness before sharing with students. Have students create an online graph using ChartGizmo, reviewed here, to analyze their digital usage. Share ideas and reflections comparing the positives of digital media versus the negative impacts. Exchange information from the site with your colleagues and school counselors as part of any professional development or discussions about the use of social media and digital tools. Share with parents who have concerns about their student's digital usage.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Toolkit for Digitally-Literate Teachers - University of Southern California Rossier School of Education
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): digital citizenship (71), media literacy (83)
In the Classroom
Although geared toward teacher professional development, use the list of skills and tools to create formative or summative assessments. Have individuals or groups of students research the topic of digital literacy using the site and then create presentations using some of the online tools suggested. Share with your administrators and other staff members.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Resource Guides - Learning Commons - The University of British Columbia - Vancouver Campus
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): citations (33), copyright (43), creative commons (20), digital citizenship (71), plagiarism (31), Research (51)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard as you share individual topics with students, then create a link on your class website for students to access information at any time. Divide topics among groups of students and enhance or transform classroom technology use and student learning by having each group create a simple or multimedia infographic (depending on teacher requirements or student ability) and share their findings using Venngage, reviewed here. Create a class wiki with resources for using and crediting online tools. Not comfortable with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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R4S: Research for Success - INFOhio
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): citations (33), classroom management (145), digital citizenship (71), evaluating sources (15), inquiry (28), media literacy (83), organizational skills (97), Research (51), search strategies (24)
In the Classroom
R4S would be perfect for use as a blended-learning or the flipped classroom experience for upper high school into the first year of college. You can have students work online, or you can download into your course management system. Have students work through all the steps as part of a research assignment, or use only the parts relevant to them. Teachers need to register to receive the text copy of the helpful teacher's guide. Use the site in any subject or curriculum area.Comments
Will be integrating this unit into freshman comp at the community college where I teach researched argument, the first English class students are required to complete.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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21things4students - Regional Educational Media Center Association of Michigan.
Grades
6 to 9tag(s): careers (133), computers (101), consumers (15), cyberbullying (44), digital citizenship (71), digital storytelling (128), game based learning (157), internet safety (115), media literacy (83), organizational skills (97), social media (43), social networking (83), thinking skills (12), webquests (26)
In the Classroom
Use the complete curriculum or selected Quests. Assign students individual Things to complete in school or at home as part of blended learning or flipped classrooms. Have students begin with the Basics and progress through selected skills. Use parts of the site to teach a particular skill to the whole class. Have students complete their work through an electronic portfolio Pathbrite, reviewed here, but not included on the site. There are links to some ideas and samples on the Student Showcase page. Extensive teacher resources and support provided.Comments
Tons of resources for all grades, love it!Ladisha, VA, Grades: 9 - 12
Lots of other links for using technology resources in the classroom.Ruth, AB, Grades: 0 - 12
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Go! Ask, Act, Achieve - INFOhio
Grades
4 to 10tag(s): citations (33), digital citizenship (71), evaluating sources (15), inquiry (28), media literacy (83), organizational skills (97), Research (51), search strategies (24)
In the Classroom
Go! Ask, Act, Achieve is an easy-to-use introduction which demystifies and simplifies teaching the research process. Use this to meet the Common Core standards for research in a content area. Have students work through the site in sequence or pull out areas to teach skills, as needed. Don't forget to refer to the LiveBinder Teachers Guide for more fabulous ideas for the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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USPTO - United States Patent and Trademark Office - United States Patent and Trademark Office
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): crafts (42), digital citizenship (71), inventors and inventions (75), sound (78), sports (81), STEM (215), video (240)
In the Classroom
Whether an elementary, middle, or high school teacher you'll find ideas for building model rockets, a mechanical grasper, and more. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector and start by viewing the video on the home page titled Extraordinary Innovations. Or, in your blended or flipped class have students watch the video at home and enhance their learning by using playposit, reviewed here, to take notes, make comments, or ask questions to document what they learned from the video. Be sure to have a small or whole group discussion about what they learned from the video using their notes & comments the next day! At the end of your lesson or unit on patents and trademarks, transform learning by challenging students to create a timeline for the invention of the snowboard, or motorcycles, or another topic of interest. Why not modify classroom technology and make this an interactive timeline with music, photos, videos, and more using Timeline JS, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Digital Compass - Common Sense Media
Grades
5 to 9tag(s): digital citizenship (71), internet safety (115)
In the Classroom
This site is perfect to incorporate into any digital citizenship lessons. Complete activities together on your interactive whiteboard while making appropriate and inappropriate choices along the way. Create a link on your class website or blog for use at home. Be sure to share Digital Compass with parents to use as part of their online safety discussions at home. Enhance students' learning and create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Easel.ly, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WhoIs HostingThis: Ultimate Student Copyright Guide - Quality Nonsense, Ltd.
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): copyright (43), digital citizenship (71), plagiarism (31)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-share with students for all middle school and secondary teachers. Bookmark and save this site to use for discussion questions and factual information on plagiarism. As you use digital media, be sure to discuss copyright with students. Create a set of rules or reminders as a class to post in the classroom or on a class website or blog. Enhance or transform classroom technology use (depending on teacher requirements) by asking students, or small groups, to create a simple or multimedia infographic sharing their findings using Infogram, reviewed here. Share this site with parents at Back to School night for their use at home. Share a link to the site in a prominent place on your class website or blog for student reference at any time.Comments
Great resources about copyright and plagiarism for grades 6-12!Ladisha, VA, Grades: 9 - 12
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BrainPOP Digital Etiquette - BrainPOP
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): cyberbullying (44), digital citizenship (71), internet safety (115)
In the Classroom
Use resources on this site as part of any digital etiquette and online safety lesson. Create a link to the site on classroom computers for students to explore on their own. Replace pen and paper and have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. You could modify learning and challenge older students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Easel.ly, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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That's Not Cool - Futures Without Violence
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cyberbullying (44), digital citizenship (71), internet safety (115)
In the Classroom
Share a link to That's Not Cool on your class website for students to access from home. Be sure to share this site with parents so they can have a conversation about the topics found here with their students. Discuss topics on this site as part of your Internet safety lessons. Share this site with school counselors as a resource for teens facing online safety issues.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching Digital Citizenship - Cable Impacts
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): copyright (43), cyberbullying (44), digital citizenship (71), media literacy (83), plagiarism (31)
In the Classroom
At the beginning of the year, use the lessons included as a basis for developing a school digital citizenship program or even use with your own class. Use at a parents' informational night to describe the type of lessons that help address responsible digital citizens. Post a link on your class website for parents to view at home. Create a school mission statement regarding technology use or rules for technology. When doing research projects, be sure to review.Comments
This is an articulate and smart program. The videos and materials support the three strands of digital citizenship: safety and security; literacy; and ethical and responsible use.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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P.org - iParadigms, LLC & TurnItIn LLC
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): citations (33), plagiarism (31), Research (51), summarizing (14)
In the Classroom
Meet your Common Core standards for nonfiction reading using the pages at this informative site! In addition, every student who creates a report, presentation, speech, or project, in any subject, needs to know this information. Consider dividing and presenting this site with a teacher in another curriculum, so students get the idea that this is information for EVERY class. Modify learning and consider presenting the information, questions, and quizzes using a tool such as GoClass, reviewed here, or The Answer Pad, reviewed here. With with these tools you can create questions or a scavenger hunt. Then you can quiz students on the information and have it all self-corrected. Moreover, using one of these programs will make this text heavy, but necessary material, much more tolerable for your students. You may want to challenge your gifted and musically inclined students to create a rap highlighting the important information they learned about plagiarism and citing sources. Have them teach the rap to the rest of the class. Or change learning and have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as Wordle, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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