This presentation provides teachers with professional development on digital citizenship.

1. Daniela Carson
American College of Education
DIGITAL
CITIZENSHIP
Original Contribution

2. Purpose
For my masters in Elementary Education, I am required to complete an Original Contribution for
my Capstone course. After completing all of the coursework, I reflected on the various
assignments and learning I have done. One theme that stood out to me during my reflection was
the emphasis on technology in the classroom. I believe this topic stood out to me because of its
prevalence in my own classroom. One subtopic of technology in the classroom that I am
particularly interested in is digital citizenship. As an educator, it is my job not only to teach my
students but also to keep my students safe when they are at school. The purpose of this Original
Contribution is to share my knowledge of digital citizenship with colleagues through a professional
development session at my school.

3. Learning OBJECTIVES
Educators will
understand
digital
citizenship and
its importance.
01
Educators will
reflect on
technology
practices in the
classroom.
03
Educators will
be able to utilize
provided
resources to
teach digital
citizenship to
students.
02

4. agenda 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction to Digital
Citizenship
Digital Citizenship in our
School
Resource
Example Lesson Plan
Implications
6. Teacher Self-Reflection

5. What is
digital
citizenship?
Digital Citizenship is defined as
the norms and rules associated
with use of digital technology
(Issitt, 2025). This concept has
become increasingly important in
education as technology use has
increased in schools.

6. Why address
digital
citizenship?
Studies show that screen time for children
reported a 67% increase in screen time
for children ages 0-17 years old since the
COVID-19 pandemic (Descarpentry et al.,
2024). This time spent on devices increases
the risk of our students being unsafe
online.
It is essential for teachers to be aware of
the concept of Digital Citizenship as well
as be aware of the risks of students using
technology. Professional development is
necessary for teachers to know how to
teach their students about Digital
Citizenship (Carson, 2024).

7. Digital citizenship in
our school
According to a survey given to our
teachers, there are inconsistencies as
to how often Digital Citizenship is
addressed. However, 100% of
teachers surveyed indicated that
technology access is extremely
important (Carson, 2024).

8. Digital citizenship in
our school
Our teachers are not fully on the
same page when it comes to
implementing Digital Citizenship
lessons for our students.

9. On a sticky note, jot down your
thoughts on teaching digital
citizenship.
Pause:

10. Resource
common sense education
Common Sense Education is a curriculum with targeted lessons to address Digital
Citizenship in the classroom.
The curriculum is divided into six main areas of focus:
media balanceand well-being
privacy and security
digital footprint and identity
relationships and
communication
cyberbullying, digital drama, and hate speech
news and media literacy
-(Phillips & Lee, 2019).
https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship

11. https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship/lesson/why-
we-pause-for-people
K-5 Lesson from Common Sense Education: Why We Pause for People
example lesson plan
“Objectives:
Reflect on how active listening is an example of being respectful.
Learn strategies to practice active listening when using devices.”
(Common Sense Media, n.d.)

12. There are many ways that we use technology in our classrooms every
day. With this, it is important that our students are aware of how to use
technology safely and respectfully.
Teachers should implement Digital Citizenship lessons into daily teaching.
More complex content such as digital footprint should be presented to
students in a way that is accessible based on grade level, even in a
single subject (Opria et al., 2023).
Implications

13. Teacher self-reflection
Think about your students this school year.
How often are students using technology devices in your
class?
1.
How often have you discussed digital safety with your
students?
2.
How often have you noticed students using technology
unsafely or inappropriately in your class?
3.
How concerned are you about the digital safety of your
students?
4.
What are you willing to implement in your classroom in
regards to Digital Citizenship?
5.

14. Questions?

15. Carson, D. (2024). Digital citzenship survey. Unpublished manuscript, American College of Education.
Common Sense Media. (n.d.). Digcit Landing Page. Common Sense Education.
https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
Descarpentry, A., Melchior, M., Galera, C., Hazo, J.-B., Falissard, B., Warszawski, J., Davisse-Paturet, C., Rouquette, A.,
Bajos, N., Bagein, G., Beck, F., Counil, E., Jusot, F., Lydie, N., Martin, C., Meyer, L., Raynaud, P., Pailhé, A., Rahib, D., & Sicard,
P. (2024). High screen time and internalizing and externalizing behaviours among children aged 3 to 14 years during the
COVID-19 pandemic in France. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(4), 1151–1161.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02241-5
Issitt, M. L. (2025). Digital Citizenship. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science.
Phillips, A. L., & Lee, V. R. (2019). Whose Responsibility Is It? A Statewide Survey of School Librarians on Responsibilities
and Resources for Teaching Digital Citizenship. School Library Research, 22.
Opria, Stefana, & Momanu, M. (2023). Systematic Literature Review on Digital Citizenship Education for Primary School
Students. Journal of Educational Sciences, 24(1), 93–112.
References