Adam A. Phyall III, Ed.D.
Director of Professional Learning and Leadership
In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, digital citizenship is more critical than ever. As educators, we are tasked with preparing students not only to thrive academically but also to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape responsibly and safely. This was the focus of Future Ready Schools’ latest webinar, “Empowering Students with Digital Citizenship Skills: Your Digital Toolbox,” which gathered experts in the field to share practical tools, insights, and resources.
A Crucial Conversation
Dr. Adam Phyall and Shannon McClintock hosted the Future Ready Schools webinar on “Empowering Students with Digital Citizenship Skills: Your Digital Toolbox.” Shannon Miller, one of the key voices in the conversation, set the tone by reminding us that digital citizenship goes beyond online safety. It encompasses everything from understanding digital footprints and privacy to promoting empathy and responsible communication online.
As Shannon highlighted, equipping students with these skills isn’t just about safeguarding them from online risks—it’s about empowering them to become thoughtful, engaged participants in the digital world. This aligns perfectly with the growing emphasis on preparing students for the careers of the future, many of which will require fluency in digital tools and environments.
Dr. Adam Phyall, known for his work as a champion of educational technology, emphasized the importance of empowering families to support digital citizenship at home. Adam pointed out that while digital citizenship lessons are crucial, they become even more impactful when students are given the opportunity to apply them in real-world scenarios. Having the right tools, students are able to learn how to be responsible users of technology. Tools like The Achievery can support digital citizenship at school and at home.
The Achievery: A Game-Changing Resource
One of the standout features of the webinar was the introduction of The Achievery, a digital resource from AT&T designed to support educators in this mission. The Achievery offers a curated collection of lessons and activities aimed at fostering digital citizenship skills. Whether students need to learn about data privacy, cyberbullying prevention, or digital communication, The Achievery provides educators with an engaging, easy-to-use platform that aligns with these crucial lessons.
A key highlight is how The Achievery integrates video-based content from popular movies, TV shows, and other media students love. By using content that students are already familiar with, the platform brings digital citizenship lessons to life in a way that is both relatable and memorable. As one presenter mentioned, “It’s about meeting students where they are—using media they engage with daily to teach the critical skills they need.”
Expert Insights: Empowering Teachers with Essential Resources
Cyber Civics
Diana Graber, the founder of Cyber Civics, brought a wealth of experience to the discussion. She emphasized the importance of teaching digital citizenship early on, stating, “We can’t wait until students are in high school to talk about these issues. By then, they’re already immersed in digital spaces.” Diana’s message underscored that digital citizenship should be an ongoing conversation throughout a student’s educational journey, starting in the early grades. Her Cyber Civics curriculum has become a trusted resource for many schools, providing a foundation for students to build ethical digital habits as they mature.
Diana also highlighted the significance of teaching students not just how to avoid online dangers but how to engage positively online. She said, “We need to empower students to create healthy digital communities, not just protect themselves from harmful content.” This forward-thinking approach encourages students to become active, positive contributors to the digital world.
MediaSmarts
Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts, shared practical strategies for embedding digital citizenship into the broader curriculum. He explained that digital citizenship isn’t a standalone topic but one that can and should be integrated into various subjects. Johnson noted, “We want to give students multiple opportunities to practice each digital skill, building in steps so they’re not trying to run before they walk.” His approach involves spiraling lessons that give students a chance to reflect on their digital experiences and develop critical thinking skills over time.
Johnson also pointed out the resistance some educators may face when introducing digital media literacy into the classroom. He reassured attendees by offering resources and advice for overcoming these challenges, including strategies for addressing student pushback. According to Johnson, “When students feel empowered to think critically rather than being told what to think, they become more engaged in the learning process.”
Common Sense Education
showcasing the extensive range of resources available through Common Sense Education. As she emphasized during the webinar, “Educators don’t need to navigate the challenges of teaching digital citizenship alone—there are resources out there to help guide these essential conversations.”
Common Sense Education has long been a leader in providing high-quality, research-based tools that help teachers integrate digital citizenship into their daily teaching. Thotz highlighted several key offerings:
- Comprehensive Digital Citizenship Curriculum: Common Sense Education’s curriculum covers critical topics such as privacy, digital footprint, media literacy, and online communication. These lessons are designed to be flexible and adaptable, making it easy for educators to embed them into their current lesson plans, whether in elementary, middle, or high school classrooms.
- Engaging Student Activities: Thotz also emphasized the interactive, engaging nature of the resources. From videos and games to real-world scenarios that challenge students to make responsible choices online, these activities help students internalize the lessons in meaningful, relatable ways.
- Family Engagement Resources: One of the standout features of Common Sense Education’s offerings, as noted by Thotz, is the focus on family engagement. She explained, “It’s crucial that we bring parents into the conversation. The digital world extends beyond the classroom, and families play a key role in reinforcing these lessons at home.” Common Sense provides tools for schools to engage families, including bilingual resources that help parents support their children’s safe and responsible technology use.
Thotz’s insights underscored the importance of using available resources to create a consistent, school-wide approach to digital citizenship. She closed her segment by encouraging educators to take advantage of Common Sense Education’s robust library of materials, which are all available for free and easily accessible to teachers across the country.
Why Digital Citizenship Matters
The webinar underscored why digital citizenship must be a cornerstone of today’s education. Our students are more connected than ever before, and with that connectivity comes a responsibility to equip them with the knowledge and skills to use technology responsibly. Digital citizenship is about teaching them how to:
- Navigate the online world safely: Understanding privacy settings, avoiding harmful content, and knowing what to share (or not share) are fundamental skills.
- Engage respectfully: In a time when social media can sometimes fuel divisiveness, teaching students to communicate with empathy and respect online is crucial.
- Develop critical thinking: Being able to discern between credible sources and misinformation is a key component of being a responsible digital citizen.
These are the skills that not only help students protect themselves but also empower them to create positive, inclusive online communities.
Bringing Digital Citizenship into the Classroom
One of the best takeaways from the webinar was the actionable advice for integrating digital citizenship lessons into daily classroom routines. Presenters shared practical tips on incorporating discussions around online safety, ethical use of technology, and creating a positive digital presence into existing curricula. The Achievery’s ready-made resources make this integration even smoother for educators, offering lessons that are classroom-tested and student-approved.
A Call to Action
Digital citizenship isn’t just an add-on to the curriculum—it’s a necessary life skill. With resources like The Achievery and other tools shared during the webinar, educators have a powerful toolkit at their disposal to help students thrive in a digital-first world. The challenge now is to ensure that these lessons are embedded into every aspect of students’ learning, preparing them to be responsible, empowered digital citizens.
Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, or technology specialist, this webinar served as a reminder of the crucial role you play in shaping the digital futures of the students you serve. Let’s rise to the challenge and continue to provide the tools, resources, and guidance students need to navigate this ever-evolving digital landscape safely and successfully.
