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Digital Citizenship

2024 Digital Citizenship Week Family Calendar

Digital Citizenship

Bradley Central High School is a certified Common Sense Education School. This certification signals that a participating school provides ongoing student instruction on digital citizenship topics, provides outreach to parents, and that teachers and staff participate in continuing education on digital citizenship topics, among other requirements.   As our world becomes increasingly connected through technology, it's more important than ever for students to become responsible digital citizens. At Bradley Central High School, we are committed to helping students navigate the digital world safely, ethically, and respectfully. Parents also play a key role in this journey.  

What is Digital Citizenship?

Digital citizenship refers to the responsible and ethical use of technology and online resources to learn, create, and communicate. For high schoolers, this involves learning how to:

  • Use the internet and digital devices safely
  • Interact respectfully with others online
  • Protect personal information
  • Think critically about what's shared or consumed online
  • Balance screen time with other activities
  • Consider the ethical use of digital services and content, including: plagiarism, use of AI, citing one's sources
  • Consider the consequences of digital actions

Key Digital Citizenship Topics for Families

Parents and guardians can help reinforce digital citizenship at home. Here are some important topics to discuss as a family:   Online Safety

  • Discuss password protection and the importance of keeping their accounts secure.
  • Discuss what information is safe to share online and what should be kept private.
  • Review parental controls on devices and privacy settings together.
  • Talk about online scams and how to recognize phishing attempts.

Respectful and Kind Online Behavior

  • Encourage empathy and kindness in online interactions.
  • Discuss the impact of cyberbullying and how to respond if they encounter it.
  • Consider how to handle online disagreements and how to prevent/report bullying.

Information and Media Literacy

  • Encourage critical thinking about online information and the use of credible sources for information searches.
  • Teach them to think critically about the content they see and share.
  • Discuss the concept of digital footprints and how online actions can have long-lasting effects.

Screen Time Balance

  • Set clear guidelines for device usage and screen time limits.
  • Encourage a healthy balance between online and offline activities.
  • Create tech-free zones or times in your home, such as during meals or before bedtime.

Digital Citizenship Resources for Parents/Guardians

There are many excellent resources available to help parents know where to begin in family conversations about digital citizenship. You can also find information from device manufacturers and from some online applications (like video games) on how to set parental controls. 

  • Parent Blocksi. Bradley County Schools offers Blocksi for parents to use in monitoring and restricting school-owned accounts and devices after hours. This works best with school-owned Chromebooks, but there are some monitoring features that would be helpful for parents/guardians. Request access to Parent Blocksi here.
  • Common Sense Media: Find all the digital citizenship curriculum and resources that you could possibly want. Also find reviews for games, movies, books, and more! Click here to visit Common Sense Media!
  • Search your phone/Internet service provider's and device manufacturer's websites for information on parental controls that do things like prevent phone use while driving, limit screen time, detect/prevent explicit content, protect privacy, encourage physical activity, etc. Include your child in conversations and decisions on healthy habits, safety, and balancing screen time with real life friends and activities.

Ongoing Conversations

Remember that digital citizenship education is an ongoing process and frequently talk with your children about their online experiences. Create a judgment-free environment where they feel comfortable coming to you with questions, concerns, and even tough/scary problems. By actively engaging in your child's digital life and involving them good digital citizenship decision-making, you're setting them up for success in our increasingly connected world. Stay informed. Continue to be involved.  

More Resources:

BCHS Common Sense Media Certified School