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Thoughts on Digital Literacy and Citizenship


- "Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse." - Sophocles

My high school juniors just began reading Ray Bradbury's, Fahrenheit 451. A part of the assessment will ask students to evaluate the relevancy of Bradbury's message: What did Bradbury get right, and where did he miss? We will also watch the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma to deepen the connection to the impact of modern technology.

Both of these resources tackle the topic of technology from a heavy, critical perspective. Both of them allude to the destruction of society due to people's reliance on media, as well as their lack of awareness, or even caring, that they are being controlled by major corporations or the government.

No big deal...

In all seriousness, while I think students should be aware of the dangers of modern technology, I don't want them to walk away with a lack of hope in our future generations. Students need to know that bullies, predators, fake news platforms, and greedy corporations are out there, and are always on the lookout for their next target.  Students need to know that how they interact online could make them vulnerable to BEING these targets. And, students need to know the consequences of their behaviors (legal and ethical) and that everyone has a digital footprint.

But, students need to know that because of the internet and platforms like social media, we have access to so much more knowledge and connection to each other than ever before. That is a gift, and one that comes with a lot of responsibility. Incorporating formal education within public schools about Digital Literacy and Citizenship is a must, for both educators and students. Doing so will empower people to use technology as a tool, rather than letting it use us. Doing so will keep stories like Bradbury's a work of fiction, and not reality.

-Hattie

References: 

Goodreads. (n.d.). A quote by Sophocles. Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1020409-nothing-vast-enters-the-life-of-mortals-without-a-curse 

Comments

  1. Mrs. FinchMarch 8, 2024 at 6:51 PM

    Hattie,
    It is imperative that we teach students about the dangers online as well as highlighting all of the knowledge and connection to people we can access through the internet. It just all comes down to education. If we educate kids about the potential dangers of the internet the hope is that they will listen and use the internet as a tool to enhance their life.
    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  2. MaryMarch 10, 2024 at 5:32 PM

    Hattie,

    Your post was so insightful and definitely offered me a new perspective. Comparing Bradbury's classic novel to the modern issue of social media is such an innovative way to teach the topic. You're right, technology and social media is a gift. It's allowed our class to have been taught, for one, and the amount of knowledge now at everyone's fingertips is incredible. I'm glad that you're teaching students to have hope, too, when learning about these 21st century tools.

    ReplyDelete

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