1

Running Head: ADMINISTRATIVE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

Administrative Digital Citizenship

Adam Jernigan

Coastal Carolina University

EDIT 760, Section D1

July 8, 2019
 2
ADMINISTRATIVE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

Introduction

Given the vast access to technology and information a new task is created, appropriate

use of said information and technology, termed digital citizenship. This requires setting up

policies and procedures in order to make sure that the incorporation of technology and

information is being used appropriately. Increasing the level of digital citizenship also increases

the level of validity of the educational body’s technological infrastructure.

Horry County Education Center has transitioned into an education model that relies

heavily on technology and the processing of digital information. With this has come the

challenge of increasing the level of digital citizenship, which is what this evaluation will be

measuring. The incorporation of Standard 5 of the NETS-A standards will be evaluated based on

the of following indicators:

• Ensure equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources to meet the needs of all

learners

• Promote, model and establish policies for safe, legal, and ethical use of digital

information and technology

• Promote and model responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and

information.

• Model and facilitate the development of a shared cultural understanding and involvement

in global issues using contemporary communication and collaboration tools.

Indicators

The first indicator of Standard 5 describes the equitable use of and access to digital tools

and resources. During the planning stages of the new educational model a lot of planning went
 3
ADMINISTRATIVE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

into establishing processes and procedures that would ensure an equal opportunity for all

students as they arrive to Horry County Education Center. This first task was to determine the

appropriate device that would interact efficiently with the Edgenuity program. Next, the

administrative team outlined an establishment of procedures for releasing devices to students and

assigning information for accessing the devices and Edgenuity. These opportunities helped to

create an equal learning opportunity for all students entering the educational body.

Indicator two requires the incorporation of practices and procedures that promote and

ensure the safe, legal, and ethical use of digital technology and information. One of the biggest

contributors to the safety of students at Horry County Education Center has been the creation of

a white list on the network that will allow students to access appropriate websites but also

prevents access to websites that are not appropriate within the classroom. This is still a wide-

ranging list, in the classroom teachers have been given access to LanSchool to better tailor that

list and control the information that students get access to and better guides the students to proper

use practices.

Incorporation of indicator three is made apparent through the inclusion of responsible

social interactions. This is one area that a lot of the teachers and administrators of Horry County

Education Center expressed desire in expanding. Teachers are encouraged to promote proper

social etiquette when students are interacting online, however, there are very few policies or

procedures in place to facilitate this. Several concepts were mentioned that centered around

providing certain curricula or lessons during their counseling time that reflect positive social

interactions during such online exchanges.

The final indicator for Standard 5 facilitates the development of a shared cultural

understanding and involvement in global issues using contemporary communication and

collaboration tools. Several courses within the Edgenuity curricula incorporate global topics that

aid in communicating ideas, however, the Edgenuity curricula include very few opportunities for

collaboration since it is the main source of instruction. Using the new instructional model Horry

County Education Center does provide global issues learning and opportunities for

understanding, depending on the course the student is taking. It does seem that there is a chance

that a student could go through the program without being exposed to these issues. Students can

also evade the concept of collaboration, which could be explored a little more.

As stated best by Yoram Eshet in an article about digital literacy “In light of the rapid and

continual development of digital technology, individuals are required to use a growing variety of

technical, cognitive, and sociological skills in order to perform tasks and solve problems in

digital environments” (Eshet, 2004). This serves as a basis for Standard 5 of the NETS-A

standards for technology and the need for digital literacy. Horry County Education Center has

made strides towards providing opportunities for all students to experience success in the

classroom. Per this evaluation it seems as though slight deficiencies were found in the areas of

collaboration and social interactions that Horry County Education Center have expressed desires

in conducting more research and finding ways to implement these concepts into their new

instructional model.
 5
ADMINISTRATIVE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

Resources

Eshet, Y. (2004). Digital literacy: A conceptual framework for survival skills in the digital era. Journal of educat

multimedia and hypermedia, 13(1), 93-106.

Chicago