How does a digital citizen become a digital leader? What does digital leadership mean for someone who is already practicing exemplary digital citizenship? In fact, are they not one in the same?
We've written much in the past about this since we introduced the concept of Global Digital Citizenship back in 2011. Afterward we expanded on it considerably in the book Growing Global Digital Citizens. In all our published writing we've referred to digital citizenship as how a person should behave in order to be ethical, compassionate, and proactive in all online relationships and environments.
From there, it was the addition of global citizenship that described the ideals by which someone could move from digital citizenship to digital leadership. This is done through having a higher awareness of the world and it's cultures, and how we are all connected. A global citizen:
Global digital citizenship maintains that through all online and offline behaviours and actions we can make a positive difference for everyone. However, in this moment we are concerned with using these ideas to foster digital leadership skills. The secret to this can be found in examining the tenets of digital citizenship: respect and responsibility for the self, for others, and for property.
In the following sections we'll discuss some suggestions of how to evolve into digital leadership from the considerations of each digital citizenship tenet. This isn't an exhaustive list of activities of course, but it can at least provide a snapshot for you as to how you can possibly find ways to encourage these ideals in your learners and your kids through applying creativity and critical thinking.
The first tenet is showing respect for yourself. This means considering what personal information and content you post online and how it may reflect on you, your family, and the wider community. It's also about considering the websites you visit and how they may reflect on you as a person and community member.
Digital leadership in respecting self:
The second tenet is having responsibility for yourself. This concerns how you balance technology use in your life. What are the benefits and the risks of the technology we use? From there we also consider how we are protecting ourselves and our information online. Finally, it means finding the courage to speak out against being attacked, harassed, and bullied online.
Digital leadership in being responsible for self:
The third tenet is about showing respect for others. It involves ethical and considerate communication practices and an awareness of how digital interactions can be harmful and even dangerous if handled inappropriately. How we communicate in online environments can be either empowering or devastating. Ultimately the choice is ours, and we should always choose to be respectful no matter what.
Digital leadership in showing respect for others:
The global digital citizen is a special kind of person—compassionate, industrious, and globally minded. Start your learners on the path to being global and being great with the Global Digital Citizen Quickstart Skills Guide.
The fourth tenet concerns how we take responsibility for others. Do you know anyone who has been stalked, harassed, flamed, or bullied online? How about someone who may have been hurt or embarrassed by unauthorized or unethical sharing of content? This is the tenet that teaches us to fight against such behaviours restoratively and ethically. It's also about simply helping others in need.
Digital leadership in showing responsibility for others:
The fifth tenet is showing respect for property. Piracy in any form, digital or otherwise, will never be anything more than theft. A digital leader's responsibility is to set an example for others by practicing and encouraging awareness of matters like copyright basics, fair use, and the significance of honouring the intellectual property of others.
Digital leadership in having respect for property:
The sixth and final tenet concerns having responsibility for property. This means protecting the integrity of not only your own intellectual property, but the property of others as well. It means having an awareness of legal rights in regards to using copyright media, as well as how to preserve other peoples' rights to protect their copyright and intellectual property.
Digital leadership in showing respect for property:
Making the world a better place by fostering a compassionate and mindful citizenry isn’t just the responsibility of a chosen few. We can all work on it together through practicing solid digital leadership mindsets and inspiring others to do the same.