Web 2.0 Resources to Promote Cross-Cultural Awareness and Connections
Common Sense Media's Digital Passport
Common Sense Media’s Digital Passport program is a complete curriculum for teaching both digital literacy and citizenship for upper elementary students. The program has 5 online modules, as well as hand outs and extension activities, that cover topics such as cyberbullying, sharing information online, giving creative credit, texting and messaging etiquette, and how to search for information online. Each module gives a detailed report on student scores and achievement. It is a fantastic tool for acclimating students to the online world, and teaching them how to communicate properly with others online.
Digital Passport worked wonderfully with my students, and helped give them more confidence when it comes to navigating the online world. They feel more comfortable with what they should and should no share online, and they are better equipped to deal with cyberbullying or other negative experiences that may happen when talking to others online.
Setting this program up for students was very simple, and each student gets their own unique username and password. The teacher can see how each student is progressing through the modules, and see which questions the class may be struggling with. The games are engaging and fun and just challenging enough for my 4th graders (although Share Jumper, a platform jumping game, proved to be a little too difficult for some of my students). There is a handout packet that has activities to be paired with each module. All of these resources are free, and can be interwoven with Common Sense Media’s other digital citizenship and literacy lesson plans.
In order for students to interact safely and respectfully in the online world, they need to be taught at a young age the appropriate way to communicate with others. In a world that is so easily connected, it is important that students learn what is appropriate, and inappropriate to share with others online. I believe that Common Sense Media does a wonderful job of cultivating young students to be respectful digital citizens in our global society.