Easy ways to address cyberbullying, online privacy, and more in your teaching.

teacher and student looking at an ipad

Internet safety, online privacy, cyberbullying, media balance, online relationships, news and media literacy -- digital citizenship topics tackle big questions. It can feel daunting to integrate lessons on these weighty topics into your already-packed classroom agendas. But does it have to be such a heavy lift?

It's true: Educators who can teach digital citizenship as a standalone unit can really dive deep into the dilemmas students face online. But digital citizenship can also simply be part of your classroom culture.

It can be baked into your daily routines, messages home to families, informal conversations in the halls, and more. Set a goal for yourself that feels achievable -- big or small. Here are a few ideas to get started:  

1. Embrace teachable dig cit moments.

We've all encountered a situation in the classroom that required spontaneous, unplanned digital citizenship instruction: viral rumors blowing up students' social media feeds, drama or misunderstandings in an online discussion, or an instance of oversharing online that you happen to witness. No matter what content area you teach, don't shy away from addressing teachable moments related to digital citizenship when they arise. A little bit of guidance can go a long way in helping students think through the digital dilemmas they face.

2. Find the natural connections to already-planned lessons.

Whether it's a quick video refresher on copyright at the start of a research project or setting norms and protocols for online discussions, short digital citizenship skill-builders can enhance learning activities across a range of content areas.

3. Empower families with resources to tackle their biggest pain points.

Parents and caregivers are hungry for guidance on some of the media and technology challenges they face at home, from kids multitasking during homework to setting expectations for kids' first phones. Print a tip sheet to send home in young students' backpacks or add a section to your class website or newsletter for sharing helpful digital citizenship resources.

4. Talk to colleagues and administrators about the value of digital citizenship instruction.

Break the ice by sharing some copies of these quick-start lesson ideas in the teachers' lounge. When your colleagues are ready to go deeper, you can introduce them to the ISTE Standards for Students and Common Sense Education's Recognition Program.

5. Model responsible digital citizenship.

As always, strive to lead by example. Be mindful of your own digital footprint, educate yourself on the risks and benefits of sharing information online, be a critical news and media consumer, and strive for a healthy media balance. The more you can verbalize your thought process for students related to your own technology use, the better.

A version of this article was originally published on the ISTE blog.

Erin Wilkey Oh

Erin’s work focused on supporting students, teachers, and families for over a decade. As content director for family and community engagement at Common Sense, she provided parents and caregivers with practical tips and strategies for managing media and tech at home, and supports teachers in strengthening partnerships with families. Prior to her work with Common Sense, Erin taught public high school students and adult English learners in Kansas City. Her time as a National Writing Project teacher consultant nurtured her passion for student digital creation and media literacy. She has bachelor's degrees in English and secondary education and a master's degree in instructional design and technology. Erin loves to knit, read, hike, and bake. But who has time for hobbies with two young kids? In her free time these days, you'll find her hanging out at playgrounds, the zoo, and the beach with her family.