Digital Natives Still Need Digital Citizenship

I promise I'll stop posting sometime soon, but I was thinking about something today as I was emailing a student--for the fourth time--to remind her how to grant me editing privileges to one of her Google Docs. We often assume that all of our students are digital natives--and technically, they are. They've all grown up in the world computers, the Internet, mp3s, etc. But they are not all digital natives in the sense of knowing how to properly use all those tools. Just like one must learn how to use a hammer without hitting one's thumb (an art I have yet to master), many of our students have never been taught how to use their digital tools without hurting themselves or others in some way.

A couple of months ago, two students in one of my English classes were finished with the assignment and had a couple of minutes at the end of class. They were entertaining themselves by performing Google searches on one another.

"No way!" one girl shouted. "Where'd you get that picture of me?!"
"I just did a Google Image search," he explained. "See? I just typed your name into Google, and-"
"Yeah, but I didn't...how did you..." she seemed at a loss for words.
I couldn't resist and butted into their conversation. "You see, Student X, when you put pictures of yourself on the Internet, other people can find them."
Her mouth gaped for a minute before she was able to exclaim, "But I didn't post that picture on the Internet! I posted it on my myspace!"

Granted, not all students are this naive when it comes to their digital tools. But far too many of them are. And when you combine this naivete with an innate desire to defy any and all authority, we have a situation. Using blocking software to block "inappropriate" websites turns into a nuclear arms race; students simply turn to the kid next to them and ask, "How do we get around this again?"

Instead of telling students what they can and can't do when it comes to technology, we need to be teaching them how to use technology correctly. While discussing this with a wonderful tech support lady I happen to know, she said

I agree. Here, at least there isn’t the war between the tech director and teachers that is in so many places. After watching TV the other night, I think students need to be taught about citizenship in general. I think of citizenship as being more about being responsible in tech use—critical thinking, being sensitive, understanding how technology can inform and destroy.

Why don't we take the time to teach our students good digital citizenship? Yes, it takes time--but doesn't all good, thorough teaching?

More reading on the topic of digital citizenship:

What should be done about digital citizenship?

The Digital Citizenship Imperative

Digiteen: Teaching Digital Citizenship - teens teaching ten year olds

A Little Digital Citizenship Parent Brainstorming: Share Your Thoughts