The current digital citizenship practices within my school are good, but could be better. Teaching at the middle school level can challenge you when students have been ingrained in technology since they were born. This new generation of students often know more about technology than we do. They are cell phone obsessed and always itching to check their Instagram, Snapchat and messages. It's not just students that are eager to stay in touch, I'm equally guilty of checking my phone during the school day as well. However, my school had s zero tolerance policy for cell phones. This policy only makes students want them even more. The fact that their phones are just inches away in a locker makes it extra tempting for them to beg to grab a pencil from their locker, when in reality, they are taking a peak at that lock screen on their iPhone. Many parents have tried to give us push back on the no cell phone policy. The feel like they should be able to be in contact with their students 24/7. I definitely see both sides, but it can be tough to keep students engaged in your lesson when their eyes are glued to their phone.
Therefore, I think it's important to teach digital etiquette at the middle and high school levels. Unfortunately, in our digital age, students need to know that what they post online, can be forever. A large issue my school struggled with last year was the filming and posting of fights at school. We were constantly having to be vigilant on social media and watch for our students to post something inappropriate. This is where building good relationships with students comes in handy. They are always willing to share if a student is misusing technology. Many students also don't realize the digital rights and responsibilities they possess just by creating an Instagram account. Cyberbullying was always an issue for us last year at my school. It's something we definitely struggled to contain with over 1,000 students. While I do believe my school does a great job of encouraging students to be aware of their digital citizenship, we could definitely improve.
There is at least one study I have read about how phones distract students even when they are pub away. That they are not fully cognitively engaged because they are thinking about what they are missing on their phone. Yikes.
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