Video games play a vital role in the 21st century. Millions of users are accessing a video game through all kinds of digital technology. According to a survey completed by the entertainment software association, 67% of households in America own a device capable of playing video games (ESA,2017). This is a significant amount people involved with video games. A large portion of video games now require an internet connection to play. In order to play any kind of game online, a user has to create a user profile. Then, a user must accept all of the terms of service in order to access the servers that provide access to the game. By doing this, users are openly throwing themselves into a digital world, whether they understand the potential benefits and repercussions or not. Since this world that has been created is 100% digital, it falls on each user to ensure they are actively participating as a digital citizen.
What does it mean to be a digital citizen or to have a digital citizenship? Code.org (2018) declares that digital citizenship is about being someone who acts responsibly, respectfully, and safely online. People seem to believe that a separate set of rules apply when they are online. They believe that they can live out an alternate version of themselves. Although this may be true in some perspective, we must fully comprehend what it means to be a digital citizen. This doesn’t simply mean understanding what is right and wrong. There is far more to it than that. We must begin by learning the foundational morals and expectations of living in an online society.
Ribble (2015) declares that there are nine elements of digital citizenship, by which we must follow in order to be an effect digital citizen. The nine elements of digital citizenship are as follows: Digital Access, Digital Commerce, Digital Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Etiquette, Digital Law, Digital Rights & Responsibilities, Digital Health & Wellness, and Digital Security. Each of these elements are further divided into three principles known as Respect, Educate, and Protect. Regarding education, these elements are again separated into three additional categories that focus on student life outside the school environment, school environments and student behavior, and student learning and academic performance. All of this categorization is great, but it doesn’t help to fully analyze and explain how to incorporate the ideals of becoming a digital citizen in a world that so many people embrace.
You may be wondering why all of these elements are mentioned at all. Isn’t citizenship enough to cover the ideals brought forth with digital citizenship? Weston (2013) seems to believe that citizenship and digital citizenship are the same. However, I believe that the online world is a whole new community separate from normal society as it depends on our norms and behavior regarding technology use specifically in a 100% digital world. As an educator of technology, I have the opportunity to educate a multitude of students, as well as teachers who also have these students, whom are embracing this digital world of the video gaming and online community. But how do I go about doing this? As I continue to expand my knowledge of what it means to be a digital citizen, I will begin to share with my students and colleagues my understanding of digital citizenship utilizing the following resources:
References
Code.org. (n.d.). Digital Citizenship. Retrieved February 25, 2018, from https://code.org/curriculum/course3/20/Teacher#Vocab
ESA. (2017). Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry. Retrieved February 27, 2018, from http://www.theesa.com/about-esa/essential-facts-computer-video-game-industry/
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. (3rd ed.) [Kindle Version]. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology.
Ribble, M. (2017). Nine Elements. Retrieved February 26, 2018, from http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/nine-elements.html
Weston, M. (2013, October 16). Is It Digital Citizenship or Just Plain Citizenship? Retrieved February 25, 2018, from https://mediatechparenting.net/2013/10/16/is-it-digital-citizenship-or-just-plain-citizenship