Digital Citizenship: Reaching the Elusive Middle School Student

Digital Citizenship is one of the most important aspects of living a digital life. Many people have no idea what Digital Citizenship is or how to be a good Digital Citizen. One of the hardest groups to reach for teaching this idea is middle school students. They lack real world examples to grasp why it is so important. High school students and adults can be reached by explaining how a lack of good Digital Citizenship can cost you a college education, scholarships, and even a job. Middle school students do not understand those examples because that is not a part of their world.

I am no longer a classroom teacher, but I lead professional development. To help reach the Middle School students I am will be conducting PD sessions with the staff to assist them with implementing aspects of Digital Citizenship into their curriculum. I will assist them in incorporating Digital Citizenship in the bell ringers, their assignments, and other such areas. I think the objective should be to present the information without shoving it down their throats.