Book Summary

In today’s society, all students have never known a world without technology.  Due to this, many teachers assume that their students have skills for using technology and already know everything there is to know about technology.  Many teachers also feel that they are not as competent as their students when it comes to technology.  This makes teachers afraid to make mistakes in front of or learn from their students, but not all students are as tech savvy as their teachers.  Even if students are comfortable using technology, they may not be using it in the right way.  This means that teachers need to instruct their students on how to be members of a digital citizenship (Ribble, 2015). 

Digital citizenship is more than just a skill; it is a way of living.  Everyone needs to know what it means to be a member of a digital society and what their role in it is.  Technology should enhance learning, but not get in the way of it.  Teachers need to instruct students about the good and bad about using technology.  The book Digital Citizenship in Schools: Nine Elements All Students Should Know provides teachers with a framework for asking what should be taught and discussed in relation to technology.  This will help all educators and educational professionals provide a consistent message to students about digital citizenship and the use of technology (Ribble, 2015).

References

Ribble, M.  (2015).  Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know.  International Society for Technology in Education: Eugene, OR.