When digital etiquette matters
Those who use and embrace technology must be taught to observe rules and learn about proper online conduct.
WHENEVER I go out with my teenage son, be it for a meal or to the bank, he is always busy with his Blackberry; on Facebook, looking at his mail or quickly replying or sending a text message.
This can get really annoying especially when I am trying to have a conversation with him! He is not in secondary school anymore, otherwise his teachers would have a hard time!
Teenagers these days see parents and teachers as people who know very little about using technology in creative ways. On the other hand, parents and teachers see students getting out of control with all the available technology!
Are they doing the right thing when they are online? Are they making good use of the gadgets and the connectivity that they have with the world?
Technological misuse and abuse has become a societal problem. Hence there has to be good technology behaviour but is such behaviour being practised? Experts believe that technology misuse and abuse is a crisis situation that demands an intelligent, “teaching” response.
One cannot legislate appropriate technology behaviour (just setting rules will not work!), instead appropriate behaviour should be taught.
This “teaching solution” is called “Digital Citizenship” where users are taught appropriate technology behaviour. But what is digital citizenship? Let’s first look at what makes one a good citizen. I would define a good citizen as one who obeys the law and respects the rights of others.
So being a good digital citizen is one who does the right thing when he or she is online.
It is a concept that helps teachers and parents understand what teens and other technology users should know about using technology appropriately.
We see students as well as adults misusing and abusing technology. The issue is more than just what the users do not know, it is about what is considered appropriate technology usage.
In today’s world, digital etiquette should be taught. Most people feel uncomfortable talking to others about their digital conduct.
It is not enough to create rules and policy, we must teach everyone to become responsible digital citizens in today’s society.
Digital citizens have the right to privacy and freedom of speech but such rights must be discussed and understood. With these rights come responsibilities as well. Users must know how technology is to be used in an appropriate manner.
In a digital society, these two areas must work together for everyone to be productive.
Communication options have exploded to offer a wide variety of choices (like e-mail, cellular phones and instant messaging).
The expanding digital communication options have changed everything because people are able to keep in constant communication with almost everyone.
Now everyone has the opportunity to communicate and collaborate. At the same time, the number of illegal or immoral goods and services such as pornography and gambling, have also surfaced.
Users need to learn about how to be effective consumers in a new digital economy. Unfortunately, many users have not been taught on how to make appropriate decisions when faced with so many different digital communication options.
Students have to be taught that those in different occupations need immediate information. The fields of business, defence and medicine though varied are examples of how technology is being used differently. As new technologies emerge, learners need to learn how to use that technology quickly and appropriately.
This process requires sophisticated searching and processing skills (i.e. information literacy). Digital citizenship involves educating people in a new way — these individuals need a high degree of information literacy skills.
Technology users need to understand that stealing or causing damage to other people’s work, identity, or property online is a crime. There are certain rules that users need to be aware of in an ethical society. These laws apply to anyone who works or plays online.
Hacking into information that belongs to others, downloading illegal music, plagiarising, creating destructive worms, viruses or creating “Trojan Horses”, sending spam, or stealing anyone’s identity or property, are all unethical.
There are psychological issues that are becoming more ubiquitous such as Internet addiction.
Users need to be taught that there are inherent dangers of technology. Digital citizenship also includes a culture where technology users are taught how to protect themselves through education and training.
In any society, there are individuals who steal or disrupt other people.
The same is true for the digital community. In the same way, we must create digital security. We need to have virus protection and back-ups of data.
As responsible citizens, technology users must protect information from outside forces that might cause disruption or harm.
Students too should have access to the computers or “the untouchable trophies” in the locked rooms of their schools. However, students must be taught how to learn and teachers how to integrate. It is sad when we see the potential of technology being under-exploited.
Digital citizenship is an important skill that students should have and this should be taught to them in their early years of education and should continue through the secondary years.
Parents need to be pro-active with their own children at home. There are geat resources online to help a parent. Most parents do not have sites blocked, and if they do, many children are capable of unblocking them! As teachers, we too need to help model appropriate digital citizenship. We need to use the time and resources we have to help students determine what is right and wrong, in the digital world. We need to guide our students to incorporate the digital world into the real world safely!
The writer is a senior lecturer at the School of Educational Studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Her main interest in research is in the area of ICT in Education and the use of Peer Coaching in technology integration in teaching and learning.