NetSafe defines a digital citizen as someone who:
"A digital citizen understands the rights and responsibilities of inhabiting cyberspace."
Digital citizenship is a powerful enabler of inclusion in social, cultural and civil society.
The New Zealand Curriculum is a framework designed to ensure that all young New Zealanders are equipped with the knowledge, competencies, and values they will need to be successful citizens in the twenty-first century.
Sean Lyons, Development Manager from NetSafe, discusses the definition for digital citizenship and how it fits into the national curriculum.
Digital citizenship combines the confident use of:
And then, critically, for students to have the ability to draw on this competency of "digital fluency" to participate in life-enhancing opportunities (social, economic, cultural, civil) and achieve their goals in ways that make an important difference.
Key resources
Netsafe Schools is a free programme designed to help New Zealand schools and kura establish, develop and promote online safety, citizenship and wellbeing in their school community.
Staying safe online: 2018 Quick reference guide
A quick reference guide with advice, tips, and how-to guides for social media, online shopping, safe search and more.
The myLGP website has been developed by NetSafe, in collaboration with New Zealand teachers, to support the Learn Guide Protect Framework . The site promotes a student-centred approach to teaching and learning about cybersafety and digital citizenship across the curriculum.
NetSafe recommend, digital citizenship should be planned for, and addressed, through multiple contexts including structured activities and wherever there is a meaningful opportunity to talk and learn about being online.
Use the discussion starters in conjunction with NetSafe Schools and the e-Learning Planning Framework to:
Wellington High School DP, Dominic Killalea explains their Digital Citizenship programme, which begins at Year 9. Dominic also discusses some of the challenges they have faced opening up the network to students and how they have dealt with these challenges.
Principal, Mary Cuming explains the process the Board, teachers, and students worked through to develop a digital citizenship agreement at Apiti School. Mary also talks about how they ensure that students are safe and responsible online.
Use these practical steps to develop your current school practices and policies around responsible behaviours as successful digital citizens.
Use the self-paced Digital citizenship modules for developing your understanding along with your student's understanding of digital citizenship. The modules are designed to be flexible, so you can select the content that is relevant to you and your students from each of them.
The modules cover:
Netsafe has developed advice to guide you through this situation.
Fake news is an increasing issue. Support your learners to think critically about the information they see, hear, and read.
Begin by exploring what fake news is and why it is increasing. Then develop their media literacy skills to evaluate news critically.
Fake news is false information created to mislead people into believing lies or doubting the truth.
Examples, resources, and ideas supporting teachers and learners with cyber safety, online responsibility, and digital literacy.
Digital Technology – Safe and responsible use in schools
General advice for schools about preventing incidents by promoting safe and responsible use of digital technology. It was produced by the cross-sector Online Safety Advisory Group convened by the Ministry of Education. NetSafe is a member of this group and led the content development of this guide.
Teacher standards: Learning-focused culture
Examples and resources to support using e-learning to actively promote the well-being of all ākonga for students.
Designed to make learning interactive and fun for young people, DQ World helps to prepare them for the demands of digital life. DQ World covers 8 core DQ Citizenship Skills.
A short, online chapter book with an antibullying theme available in te reo Māori and English. Reading options include: read, read to me, and watch. This resource has been developed by the Ministry of Education. It contains information for parents, discussion questions, and links to bullying information and resources.
ICON – In case of online negativity
A web app offering young people comprehensive solutions around dealing with online bullying and other issues. Sticks 'n' Stones have developed this online resource.
Netsafe Schools is a free programme designed to help New Zealand schools and kura establish, develop and promote online safety, citizenship and wellbeing in their school community.
The myLGP website supports the Learn Guide Protect Framework . The site promotes a student-centred approach to teaching and learning about cybersafety and digital citizenship across the curriculum. Developed by NetSafe, in collaboration with New Zealand teachers.
Netsafe promote this international day with a website of resources that include: Online safety conversation starters, tips to spark your thinking, posters and a parent toolkit.
Netsafe's research team regularly publishes their findings to better understand how NZ young people are using the internet and digital technology and how we can reduce online harm.
Free, self-paced learning modules for personal or staff professional development. The modules are designed to be flexible, so you can select the content that is relevant to you and your school from each of them. Each module should take approximately four weeks to complete.
The modules cover: