Digital Citizenship And Media Literacy
Course Description
Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy refers to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are necessary for individuals to navigate and participate in digital environments responsibly and ethically. It includes understanding the impact of technology on society, being aware of online safety and security, and being able to critically evaluate and create digital content. In today’s world, digital literacy has become an essential component of education as technology plays an increasingly important role in all aspects of life. The integration of digital citizenship and media literacy education into the curriculum can help students develop the skills they need to be safe, responsible, and active digital citizens. Additionally, it can also help students to think critically about the information they consume and produce online, and to be able to identify and counter disinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying and other online harms.
This training course focuses on educating individuals about responsible and ethical use of technology and media. This includes topics such as online safety, digital etiquette, privacy, security, and the role of media in shaping public opinion and understanding of the world This course emphasizes the significance of ensuring that both students and teachers are aware of the ethics and repercussions of the activities they engage in while using the internet; in other words, what it means to be a responsible “digital citizen.”. The goal of this training is to empower individuals to become informed and active digital citizens, able to navigate and critically evaluate the vast amount of information available online.
Learning Outcomes
Successful graduates of the course will have the knowledge and skills to do the following:
- Understand the concept of digital citizenship and its importance in today’s digital age
- Recognize the rights and responsibilities associated with the use of digital technology
- Learn how to protect personal information and stay safe online
- Understand the concept of media literacy and how to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms
- Develop critical thinking skills to evaluate the credibility of online sources
- Learn how to use digital media in a responsible and ethical manner
- Understand the impact of digital technology on society and the role of citizens in shaping it
- Develop strategies for addressing digital issues and problems in the community
- Learn about current digital citizenship issues and trends
- Develop skills for navigating the digital world and making informed decisions about technology use
Course Details
TARGET GROUP
Professionals in the education sector (e.g., teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and administrators at elementary, middle, higher education, vocational institutions, kindergartens and pre-primary schools) and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff.
METHODOLOGY
The methodology for teaching digital citizenship and media literacy can be multifaceted and may include a combination of direct instruction, interactive activities, and hands-on projects. The course begins with an introduction to the concept of digital citizenship and the importance of being responsible, ethical, and safe online. Students will then be introduced to the different aspects of digital citizenship, such as internet safety, online privacy, and digital reputation management. The course will also include a component on media literacy, which will focus on helping students critically analyze and evaluate the media they consume. This may include learning about different types of media, such as social media, news outlets, and advertising, and developing skills to identify bias, propaganda, and fake news. Additionally, the course will include interactive activities and hands-on projects that allow students to apply their learning in real-world contexts, such as creating a social media campaign or analyzing news articles.
Course Objectives
- Enable participants to understand the concepts of digital citizenship and media literacy.
- Promote ethical and responsible behavior in the digital realm.
- Help participants recognize and develop strategies to protect themselves from risks and threats in the digital world.
- Enhance participants’ analytical and critical thinking skills for media literacy.
- Improve the ability to evaluate and verify media sources.
- Raise awareness about personal privacy and security in the online environment and social media platforms.
- Develop online communication skills and foster positive and effective interactions in the digital world.
- Raise awareness about digital copyright and plagiarism and encourage respect for laws and regulations.
- Foster awareness of digital footprints and digital reputation management.
- Teach strategies to combat cyberbullying and harassment on social media and other digital platforms.
- Promote values of digital citizenship, such as empathy, tolerance, online respect, and cultural awareness.
- Progress towards becoming conscious and ethical users in the realm of digital citizenship and media literacy.
Tentative Schedule
Day 1 – ARRIVAL DAY
- Welcoming activities
- Ice-breaking activities
- Introduction to digital citizenship and media literacy
- Understanding the basics of digital citizenship and media literacy
- Group discussion on current digital trends and their impact on society
Day 2 – ONLINE SAFETY AND PRIVACY
- Identifying and avoiding online risks
- Understanding online privacy and security
- Understanding user data and how it is used and shared
- Hands-on session on creating strong passwords and securing personal information
Day 3 – DIGITAL IDENTITY AND REPUTATION
- Building and managing a positive digital identity
- Managing and protecting one’s online reputation
- Creation of your own plan for designing a Digital Citizenship agreement and curriculum/protocol for your classroom and/or school
- Group project on creating a personal brand and managing online presence
Day 4 – DIGITAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
- Navigating digital relationships and communication
- Understanding and preventing cyberbullying
- Role-playing scenarios on handling difficult digital interactions
Day 5 – DIGITAL LITERACY AND MEDIA ANALYSIS
- Identifying and evaluating online information sources
- Analyzing media and understanding bias
- Analyzing a news article and identifying bias and misinformation
- Media literacy and discernment of online sources
- Collaborative problem-solving of school-based issues
Day 6 – DIGITAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Understanding and respecting copyright laws
- Being an active and responsible digital citizen
- Group debate on current digital rights and responsibility issues
- Proactive knowledge and experiential knowledge
Day 7 – DEPARTURE DAY
- Review and application of digital citizenship and media literacy skills
- Group project on creating a digital safety and responsibility plan for the community
- Course evaluation, feedback, discussion and wrap-up
- Certificate ceremony
- Cultural activities
*The schedule describes likely activities but may differ significantly based on the requests of the participants, and the trainer delivering the specific session. Course modifications are subject to the trainer’s discretion. If you would like to discuss a specific topic, please indicate it at least 4 weeks in advance. Our courses usually include two cultural activities. Further information is available on the webpage of each course.