Welcome to an engaging discussion on how to celebrate Digital Citizenship Week. My name is Sue Thotts, and I am the Senior Program Manager for Common Sense Education. Today, we are joined by special guests from the Los Angeles Unified School District to explore the significance of digital citizenship in education.
Michelle Choi Swenson: Hello! I am an Instructional Technology Facilitator, similar to an EdTech coach, working with the Instructional Technology Initiative Department at LA Unified.
Jose Sanchez: Hi, everyone! I am a fifth-grade teacher at Carson Street School, entering my 21st year of teaching. I am proud to be a former student of this school and part of a community that truly cares about our students.
Our school, Carson Street STEAM Academy, fosters a family-like atmosphere where students feel a sense of belonging. With a majority Hispanic population and as a Title I school, we integrate educational technology and computer science into project-based learning, enriching our students’ educational experience.
We began celebrating Digital Citizenship Week by organizing events where students created films about digital citizenship. These were shared with families, community partners, and district guests. Under the leadership of our director, Sophia Mendoza, we prioritize digital citizenship throughout the year.
This year, we continue to embed digital citizenship skills within our lessons. Each grade level will create an artifact to showcase their passions or current events. For example, students might create a public service announcement or use Scratch Junior to express their community identity. We also plan to use Common Sense Education’s 15-minute activities for daily engagement, with online discussions moderated by educators.
Teaching digital citizenship is crucial. It helps students understand the consequences of their online actions, especially with the growing focus on mental health and social-emotional learning. Educators are encouraged to start small, using resources from Common Sense Education, and to integrate digital citizenship into various lessons.
For those new to digital citizenship, start with one or two lessons and adapt them to your classroom needs. It’s important to show students how to navigate the digital world responsibly. Digital citizenship can be seamlessly integrated into any lesson, making it a natural part of the learning process.
To get started with Digital Citizenship Week, create a vision for what you want digital citizenship to look like. Consider having a theme for the week to engage students and provide opportunities for them to share their projects, whether virtually or in person. Remember to have fun and modify lessons as needed.
Thank you for joining us today. We appreciate your commitment to promoting digital citizenship in schools. For those interested in further resources, this conversation will be available on our Common Sense Education YouTube channel. We look forward to seeing how you celebrate Digital Citizenship Week!
As a professional student, collaborate with your peers to create a short film that highlights the importance of digital citizenship. Use this opportunity to explore creative storytelling techniques and present your film to the class, encouraging discussion on the key themes presented.
Design a public service announcement (PSA) that addresses a specific aspect of digital citizenship, such as online privacy or cyberbullying. Use multimedia tools to create an engaging and informative PSA, and share it with your peers to raise awareness about responsible online behavior.
Engage in a moderated online discussion forum where you can share your thoughts and experiences related to digital citizenship. This activity will help you practice respectful communication and critical thinking while learning from the perspectives of others.
Choose a digital tool, such as Scratch Junior or another creative platform, to create an artifact that represents your understanding of digital citizenship. This could be a digital poster, an infographic, or an interactive project that showcases your insights and ideas.
Write a reflective essay or blog post on how digital citizenship applies to your specific field of study or future profession. Consider the ethical implications and responsibilities of digital interactions in your industry, and propose strategies for promoting positive digital practices.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any informal language, filler words, and ensuring clarity:
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Thank you for joining us, everyone. We will be starting shortly. Welcome to “Learn with Common Sense.” My name is Sue Thotts, and I am the Senior Program Manager for Common Sense Education. Today, we will discuss how to celebrate Digital Citizenship Week.
I have some special guests with me from the Los Angeles Unified School District, with whom I have the pleasure of working each year on Digital Citizenship Week. I would like to invite them to introduce themselves. Michelle, would you like to start?
**Michelle:** Hello, everyone! My name is Michelle Choi Swenson, and I am an Instructional Technology Facilitator, which is similar to an EdTech coach. I work under the Instructional Technology Initiative Department for LA Unified.
**Sue:** Thank you for joining us, Michelle.
**Jose:** Hi, everyone! I’m Jose Sanchez, and I am entering my 21st year of teaching. I teach fifth grade at Carson Street School. I am proud to be a former student of this school, and I am also proud that my son graduated from here last year. I love being part of such a great community that truly cares about our students.
**Sue:** That’s wonderful to hear! Michelle, would you like to share more about your role?
**Michelle:** Sure! I work with amazing teachers like Mr. Sanchez at Carson Street STEAM Academy. My role involves supporting teachers in integrating educational technology and computer science concepts into their daily lessons through modeling, co-teaching, and collaborative lesson planning.
**Sue:** Great! Just a note that this conversation will be posted on our Common Sense YouTube channel, along with links and resources shared today.
Let’s dive into the discussion. Can you tell me about the culture of your school and what it means to be at a STEAM Academy?
**Michelle:** Our school is like a family. From my first day at Carson Street, I felt a sense of belonging, which our students also experience. We have a majority Hispanic population and are a Title I school. Being a STEAM school allows our students to engage with educational technology and integrate computer science concepts into project-based learning.
**Sue:** I had the pleasure of attending a Digital Citizenship Week event at Carson Street a few years ago, and I felt that sense of community. Can you share how you started celebrating Digital Citizenship Week?
**Jose:** Thank you, Sue! We had a fantastic time organizing the event. Our students created films about digital citizenship, which we shared with their families, community partners, and district guests. Under the leadership of our director, Sophia Mendoza, we prioritize digital citizenship in our instructional technology initiatives. Our goal is to foster a culture of embedding digital citizenship throughout the year.
**Michelle:** Yes, we wanted our students to be active contributors to their learning in digital citizenship.
**Sue:** That’s impressive! How are you planning to celebrate this year?
**Michelle:** We are continuing to embed digital citizenship skills within our lessons. Each grade level will create an artifact to showcase their passions or current events. For example, students might create a public service announcement about California Native Americans or use Scratch Junior to express who they are in the community. We also plan to use Common Sense Education’s 15-minute activities for each day of Digital Citizenship Week, with online discussions moderated by educators.
**Jose:** For fifth grade, we are working on a podcast project where students share their interests, such as book series or video games. They are excited about it!
**Sue:** That sounds fantastic! How do you feel about the importance of teaching digital citizenship?
**Jose:** It’s crucial. A few years ago, I realized the need for teaching students how to behave online. With the growing focus on mental health and social-emotional learning, it’s essential for students to understand the consequences of their online actions.
**Sue:** What advice would you give to teachers just starting with digital citizenship?
**Jose:** Start small. Focus on one or two lessons from Common Sense Education. Modify them to fit your classroom needs. It’s important to show students how to navigate the digital world responsibly.
**Michelle:** I agree. I always emphasize that digital citizenship can be integrated into any lesson. It doesn’t have to be a separate topic.
**Sue:** Thank you both for sharing your insights. If anyone has questions or would like to share how they plan to celebrate Digital Citizenship Week, please feel free to do so in the comments.
Before we wrap up, what are your top takeaways for those getting started with Digital Citizenship Week?
**Michelle:** First, create a vision for what you want digital citizenship to look like. Second, consider having a theme for the week to engage students. Lastly, provide opportunities for students to share their projects, whether virtually or in person.
**Jose:** I would add that it’s important to have fun and modify lessons as needed.
**Sue:** Thank you both for joining us today. We appreciate your partnership with Common Sense and the work you do to promote digital citizenship in your schools.
For those interested in receiving proof of attendance, please fill out the survey linked in the chat. This conversation will be available on our Common Sense Education YouTube channel, along with all the resources shared today. Thank you all for joining us!
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This version maintains the essence of the conversation while ensuring clarity and professionalism.
Digital Citizenship – The responsible and ethical use of technology by individuals, especially in an educational setting. – Teaching digital citizenship is crucial to help students navigate the online world safely and respectfully.
Education – The process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. – Education is a lifelong journey that extends beyond the classroom.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry and education. – Integrating technology into the curriculum can enhance the learning experience for students.
Students – Individuals who are engaged in learning, typically in an educational institution. – Students today have access to a wealth of information through digital platforms.
Learning – The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching. – Online courses have revolutionized the way learning is approached in higher education.
Resources – Materials, tools, or services that are used to support learning and education. – Teachers often seek out new resources to make their lessons more engaging and effective.
Community – A group of people with a common interest or shared environment, often within an educational context. – Building a strong community within the classroom can enhance student collaboration and support.
Engagement – The level of interest, enthusiasm, and involvement that students show towards their learning and education. – Interactive activities can significantly increase student engagement in the classroom.
Educators – Individuals who provide instruction or education; teachers. – Educators play a pivotal role in shaping the future by inspiring and guiding their students.
Projects – Assignments or tasks that require students to apply their knowledge and skills to create something or solve a problem. – Group projects encourage collaboration and critical thinking among students.
