Digital citizenship

The work of digital citizenship has been done by several groups focusing on several aspects of the issue. Several groups have titled their work digital citizenship. At the University of Pittsburg a group of researchers looked at the concept of the efficacy of service-learning in a digital society . In 2003, the Motion Picture Association of America and Junior Achivement joined together to create a program called digital citizenship that focused on the issues of illegal downloading of movies. This program is now being renamed Respect Copyrights to be unveiled in late 2008. A group of professors from the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Iowa and the University of Illinios at Springfield have written a book titled Digital Citizenship: The Internet, Society, and Participation. This book focuses on the issues of significant segments of the population are still excluded from being able to fully participate in the use of technology in this digital society.

While all these aspects of digital citizenship are important they do not seem to cover all the issues that surround full participation in a technological society. In 2004 and 2005 several articles written by Dr. Mike Ribble and Dr. Gerald Bailey looked into the concept of what it meant to be full members of a digital society, to be truely digital citizens. During this time they defined digital citizenship and divided the concept into it component parts. In their articles and subsequent works they have defined digital citizenship as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use. To help to define this topic nine elements have been identified in the book Digital Citizenship in Schools by Dr. Mike Ribble and Dr. Gerald Bailey, that help users to focus on the issues of appropriate and responsible use. The nine elements that have identified are as follows with their definition and focus questions:

Element 1 - Digital Access - full electronic participation in society.
Can all users participate in a digital society at acceptable levels, if they choose?
Element 2 - Digital Commerce - electronic buying and selling of goods.
Do users have the knowledge and protection to buy and sell in a digital world?
Element 3 - Digital Communication - electronic exchange of information.
Is there an understanding of the digital communication methods and when they are appropriate?
Element 4 - Digital Literacy - the capability to use digital technology and knowing when and how to use it.
Have users taken the time to learn about digital technologies, do they share that knowledge with others?
Element 5 - Digital Etiquette - the standards of conduct expected by other digital technology users.
Do users consider others when using digital technologies?
Element 6 - Digital Law - the legal rights and restrictions governing technology use.
Are users aware of laws (rules, policies) that govern the use of digital technologies?
Element 7 - Digital Rights and Responsibilities - the privileges and freedoms extended to all digital technology users, and the behavioral expectations that come with them.
Are users ready to protect the rights of others to defend their own digital rights?
Element 8 - Digital Health and Wellness - the elements of physical and psychological well-being related to digital technology use.
Do users consider the risks (both physically and psychologically) when using digital technologies?
Element 9 - Digital Security (self-protection) - the precautions that all technology users must take to guarantee their personal safety and the security of their network.
Do users take the time to protect their information while creating precautions to protect others data as well?

The nine elements expand beyond the boundary of just working with technology appropriately. These elements set the stage for how we begin to work with each other in a global, digital society. The nine elements create a foundation for helping to educate children on the issues that face them in an increasingly technological world. Digital Citizenship also helps to create a base for all technology users to begin to discuss the issues that technology has brought us. This concept is necessary to educate all users on the issues that are occurring with technology but provide resources for everyone.

In 2007, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) added the topic of digital citizenship into its National Educational Technology Standards (NETS). This refresh program for the NETS continued for teachers in 2008 where digital citizenship was once again added . The addition of digital citizenship through these advocacy programs shows the importance for all levels of education.

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