EAB partners report that as students increase technology use, they increase their vulnerability to problems related to online safety, information literacy, and technology use. Research suggests that technology overuse correlates with health problems such as childhood obesity and social and behavioral problems.
To respond to these concerns, profiled districts implement digital citizenship curriculum, which teaches students to use technology safely and responsibly. Digital citizenship interventions can be used to mitigate technology overuse in elementary school students and teach students how to use technology responsibly.
In this report, learn how districts implement digital citizenship curricula, use specific lessons and interventions, and how to support teachers as they deliver digital citizenship instruction to students.
Implementing digital citizenship curriculaAll profiled districts partner with Common Sense to acquire digital citizenship coursework, parent resources, and teacher guides. Contacts at District E note that Common Sense provides more comprehensive resources than other vendors (e.g., Google). For example, Common Sense provides lessons for grades K-12, whereas Google focuses on upper elementary and middle school grades. Contacts at District B, District C, and District E note that Common Sense revises lessons as the needs of students change. Contacts report that Common Sense released revised lessons for grades three through eight in 2018 and will release revised lessons for grades K-2 in 2019.
At most profiled districts, digital citizenship staff create a scope and sequence map that outlines which lessons students must complete at each grade level. These maps serve as models for school sites as they implement digital citizenship…