United Nationsdefines global citizenship as the umbrella term for social, political, environmental, and economic actions of globally minded individuals and communities on a worldwide scale.
The term can refer to the belief that individuals are members of multiple, diverse, local and non-local networks rather than single actors affecting isolated societies.
Promoting global citizenship in sustainable development allows individuals to embrace their social responsibilityto act for the benefit of all societies,not just their own.
Digital Citizenship
Digital citizenship refers to "the responsible and appropriate use of digital technology and media".
It encompasses skills such ascommunication, collaboration, critical thinking, and digital literacy.
As a digital citizen, we should make or learners aware of their rights and responsibilities online, such as protecting their own personal information and respecting the privacy of others.
Digital citizenship is an evolving concept as technology continues to advance. It is becoming more important for individuals to stay informed and engaged in order to navigate the digital world responsibly.
Digital citizenship and global citizenship are connectedin the sense that digital technologyhas the power to connect people from around the world and enable them to engage in global issues and conversations.
As digital citizens interact online, they have the opportunity toengage with diverse perspectives and cultures, promoting understanding and empathy on a global scale.
Additionally, digital platforms can be used to advocate for social justice, environmental sustainability, and other global issues, thus linking digital citizenship to the broader concept of global citizenship.
The digital world provides opportunities for individuals to becomemore globally aware, empathetic, and active in creating positive change on a global scale.
"In 2019, 95% percent of 3- to 18-year-olds were reported to have home internet access, according to the American Community Survey (ACS).
In a separate survey, researchers found that 55% of children own a tablet or smartphone, while only 30% of parents reported feeling confident enough to discuss internet safety issues.
Despite the prevalence of technology and internet access in today’s digital world, the burden of educating students on how to engage with this technology safely and effectively has remained somewhat ambiguous"
What is Digital Citizenship?
Digital citizenship includes knowledge, skills and practices to engage safely and responsibly in a digital environment so that they are protected armful content, cyberbullying, privacy risks, scams, viruses and more.
We need to to ensure students, regardless of their level of access or knowledge at home, have the ability to learn how to use technology safely and effectively.
Digital citizenship teaches students what information is safe to share and in what situations and how to protect their information in unsafe situations. It also teaches students how to interact safely with others and with content online and how to identify threats if and when they arise.
It also teaches students to learn about cyberbullying, how to prevent it, why they shouldn’t engage in it, and what to do if they are the victims.
Global citizenship
According to UNESCO, citizenship and global citizenship are not mutually exclusive.
Citizenship is about the rights and responsibilities of a person within a country.
Global citizenship is about the mindset and actions of a person who understands the world and works with others to solve global challenges.
"Digital citizenship is the ability to use technology responsibly, safely, and respectfully.
Global citizenship is the idea that one's identity transcends geography or political borders"
A global digital citizen understands that technology can be governed for the benefit of both themselves and others.
They view the world as an interconnected community.
Global citizenship involves recognising and respecting how 21st-century technology and digital media have eliminated boundaries between citizens of the world.
This enables dialogue, communication, collaboration, and debate across all levels of society.
Digital citizenship includes the self-monitored habits that sustain and improve the digital communities that people enjoy or depend on.
A Global Digital Citizen develops personal responsibility as they develop skills through taking ownership of their learning, thus developing a sense of accountability and high-level critical thinking and problem solving abilities to assist them. Independently they learn to manage:
As a Global Digital Citizen they know that boundaries they can communicate, collaborate, and celebrate across all countries as they are no longer isolated from each other anymore so they learn global interconnectedness which makes them aware of the issues, traditions, values, and cultures of other citizens cultivating understanding, acceptance, compassion, and humility.
Digital citizens working towards making the transparent digital world safe for ourselves and other.
They develop a selfless concern for the well-being of others acknowledging that they share this world with many different people embracing the opportunity to benefit of others if they are in a position to do so.
The sense of community and well-being is for all humanity.
They learn to celebrate beauty in diversity and also encourages every student to take a positive stand on personal, local, regional, national, and international actions.
Preservation of our “environmental community " reinforcing the fact that we have one world that we all live on and as such we must respect it and take steps to ensure its beauty and longevity for all future generations.
What can we do about it as educators?
We can promote global and digital citizenship by incorporating relevant topics into the curriculum.
We can encouraging discussion and debate on global issues, and empower students to engage in international communication and promote digital literacy, and high quality teaching and learning skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and digital communication.
They can also facilitate on-line cultural exchanges encouraging students to promote responsible and the ethical use of technology.
Identifying key global issues and digital citizenship skills can be infused into existing subjects such as social studies, language arts, science, and technology developing lesson plans and activities that incorporate discussions on global challenges, cultural understanding, digital responsibility, and ethical technology use.
Interdisciplinary projects can be promoted inspiring students to use digital communication and collaboration skills to analyse global problems and propose solutions using digital tools.
If we as leaders take the first step - we can develop global leaders that can have the power to make impactful difference on our planet.
Dr Tassos Anastasiades
