Webwise Digital Citizenship Champions Programme
Introduction
The Digital Citizenship Champion Programme, in partnership with Oide Digital Technology, is an initiative designed to empower primary teachers with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively teach digital citizenship. In a rapidly evolving digital world, it is crucial for teachers to guide students in navigating the online environment safely, ethically, and responsibly. This programme aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of digital citizenship, emphasising its importance across the curriculum and supporting key competencies such as wellbeing and digital literacy. By providing targeted professional development, practical resources, and ongoing support, the programme seeks to create a network of informed and confident teachers who can champion digital citizenship within their schools and communities. In order to do this, up to eighty ‘Digital Citizenship Champions’ will be trained as part of this initiative to deliver courses via their local education support centres.
Project Aims
The aim of the Digital Citizen Champions Programme is to provide primary teachers with the
knowledge, resources and confidence to teach digital citizenship. This programme will:
Explore the overall concept of digital citizenship, what it means to be a good digital citizen and the opportunities and risks in the online environment.
Recognise how it can be embedded across the primary curriculum and support the key
competencies of Being Well and Being a Digital Learner in the Primary Curriculum Framework.
Obtain key skills necessary to enable your pupils to participate safely, ethically and responsibly in the online environment.
Identify and use relevant resources and materials to support the teaching and learning of digital citizenship.
Provide guidance on embedding digital technology into teaching, learning and assessment.
Identify strategies to support parents in promoting and engaging with their children’s digital
citizenship education.
Project Overview
There are 21 full-time and 7 part-time education centres in the
ESCI network. These are divided into six regions. To increase the impact of this program of work, it is planned to support the
development of digital citizenship champions in these six
regions. Webwise and the digital technology primary
professional learning leaders have designed a Professional
Learning (PL) programme of support for up to fifteen digital
citizenship champions in each of these regions, with six
communities of learners thus established.
Professional Development
It is aimed that up to 90 Digital Citizenship Champions have been recruited nationwide, with 15 representatives from each of the 6 ESCI regions. These champions will participate in four days of professional development spread across the year, from May 2024 to April 2025. In the initial tranche, 72 champions attended the first professional learning event held at two venues in May. The subsequent professional learning events will run with up to 80 teachers participating at three venues in November, January, and April.
Content Overview
1. Digital Citizenship Education
- Definition and Relevance: Responsible use of the internet for engaging with society. Based on the Council of Europe’s Digital Citizenship Education Handbook.
2. Children’s Engagement with the Online World
- Opportunities and Challenges: Exploring relevant national research on children’s use of the internet. Benefits include enhanced learning and creativity; risks involve cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and privacy issues.
3. Engaging Parents
- Supporting and Engaging Parents using the Webwise Parents Hub. Advise teachers on how they can utilise the resources available on the Webwise Parent’s Hub webwise.ie/parents to educate and support parents in helping their children become responsible digital citizens.
4. School Policy
- Supporting Digital Citizenship: Key policies include Acceptable Use Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, and Privacy/GDPR Policy. Involve students in developing child-friendly versions.
5. Key Topics
- Media and Information Literacy: Teach critical evaluation of media content, recognise dis and misinformation, and use fact-checking tools. Learning, Play, and Creativity: Use digital tools for learning and creative projects.
- Privacy and Security: Understand privacy (data protection) and security (safe online behaviour). Teach best practices for data privacy and managing digital footprints.
- Digital Footprint: Raise awareness about the long-term impact of online activities and how to manage online presence.
- Wellbeing and Time Online: Encourage a healthy balance between online and offline activities. Discuss the impact of screen time.
- Rights and Responsibilities: Educate about digital rights (privacy, freedom of expression) and responsibilities (ethical use of technology).
- Consumer Awareness: Teach about the commercial aspects of the internet, including targeted advertising and data monetisation.
6. Educational Resources Webwise Resources:
- Lesson plans, activities, and multimedia content for different class levels.
- Special Educational Needs: Tailored resources for inclusivity.
- Good Practice Examples: Case studies and videos showcasing successful implementation of digital citizenship education.
Workshop Details and Learning Outcomes
Workshop One
- Theme: Being Online
- Domains: Access and Inclusion, Media and Information Literacy, Learning and Creativity
- Learning Outcomes:
- Reflect and discuss the opportunities and challenges of the online world for children and teachers.
- Develop a greater understanding of the concept of digital citizenship and become familiar with the themes and domains of the Council of Europe’s Digital Citizenship Handbook.
- Explore the topic of media and information literacy, resources to support developing learners critical thinking skills and gain an understanding of the challenges posed by mis/disinformation.
- Become aware of the variety of resources and supports available to practically incorporate digital citizenship in the classroom setting.
Workshop Two
- Theme: Wellbeing Online
- Domains: Ethics and Empathy, Health and Wellbeing, E-Presence
- Learning Outcomes:
- Explore the importance of ethical behaviour in online interactions and the role of empathy in digital communication.
- Learn how to develop skills in pupils to recognise and understand the feelings and perspectives of others online.
- Discuss the impact of spending time in virtual and physical environments on their own wellbeing and their pupils’ wellbeing.
- Become familiar with the critical attitudes, skills, values, and knowledge that support health and wellbeing in a digital context and learn how to integrate these into their teaching practices.
- Learn strategies for teaching pupils about the importance of managing their digital footprint and best practices for data privacy and security.
Workshop Three
- Theme: Rights Online
- Domains: Active Participation, Rights and Responsibilities, Privacy and Security, Consumer Awareness
- Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about the skills needed for active and responsible participation in digital environments, emphasising the importance of making informed decisions.
- Understand the balance between the rights and responsibilities of digital citizenship to ensure a safe and responsible online environment.
- Explore how to teach pupils about digital rights (privacy, security, access, inclusion, freedom of expression) and corresponding responsibilities (ethics, empathy, ensuring safety) required to maintain a respectful and secure online community.
- Understand and apply practices for maintaining privacy and security online to protect personal information and ensure safe online behaviour
Workshop Four
- Theme: Digital Citizenship Reflection and Supporting and Engaging Parents
- Domains: Reflection, Parental Engagement
- Learning Outcomes:
- Explore the Webwise Online Safety Review Tool and identify next steps for enhancing digital citizenship education.
- Learn how to support and engage parents using the Webwise Parents Hub.
- Advise teachers on utilising resources available on the Webwise Parent’s Hub (webwise.ie/parents) to educate and support parents in helping their children become responsible digital citizens.
Expected Outcomes and Impact
Impact on Teachers and Schools
Development of 80 Digital Citizenship Champions:
- Establishment of a dedicated team of teachers across 6 regions who are proficient in teaching and promoting digital citizenship.
- Creation of a support network that will foster collaboration and sharing of best practices among teachers.
Provision of a potential of 100+ Workshops and 200+ Webinars:
- Extensive professional development opportunities for teachers, enhancing their skills and confidence in digital citizenship education.
- Regularly updated content and strategies to keep pace with the rapidly changing digital landscape, ensuring teachers are well-prepared to address new challenges
Impact on Parents
Increased Awareness and Engagement:
- Parents will gain a better understanding of digital citizenship and online safety through the resources and support provided by the Webwise Parents Hub.
- Enhanced ability to support their children in navigating the digital world responsibly and safely.
Use of Webwise Resources:
- Parents will be equipped with practical tools and strategies to help educate their children about digital citizenship.
- Increased parental involvement in digital education, fostering a collaborative approach between schools and families.
Empowered Parenting:Resources:
- Parents will feel more confident in addressing digital issues and guiding their children’s online behaviour.
- Strengthened communication between parents and teachers, creating a unified effort to promote safe and ethical digital practices.
