The rapid pace of growth and innovation in technology means it is more critical than ever for students to understand how to navigate the online world. The concept of Digital Citizenship—the responsible and ethical use of technology—has become an essential skill for students, enabling them to thrive in a world where much of their personal, academic, and professional lives are spent online. Schools like NIS play a pivotal role in helping students develop these skills, ensuring that they not only become savvy tech users but also responsible digital citizens.
Why Digital Citizenship Matters
With the internet at their fingertips, students today have access to an incredible wealth of information and opportunities. However, this access comes with a range of challenges—cyberbullying, misinformation, privacy issues, and the temptation to overshare personal information. This is why schools need to address these concepts through open and transparent discussions. By teaching digital citizenship, educators ensure students are equipped with the tools they need to make informed, safe, and ethical choices in the digital world.
The NIS Approach to Digital Citizenship
At NIS, digital citizenship isn’t just a one-time conversation; it's an ongoing part of the school culture. Lara Porter, the tech coordinator, who leads the digital citizenship teaching efforts, shared in a recent interview that the school emphasizes integrating digital literacy and responsibility into everyday learning. It’s a part of the broader educational framework, with teachers across subjects contributing to reinforcing these concepts. The coordinator collaborates with classroom teachers and supports them with appropriate resources to ensure skills are interwoven into current UoIs (Units of Inquiry), providing information and resources to enable lively discussions and pertinent takeaways. From understanding online privacy and security to promoting respectful interactions in digital spaces, NIS focuses on building a solid foundation for students across all age groups.
In addition, for the second year in a row, NIS celebrated the global initiative of Digital Citizenship Week, held every October. Building on last year, student-led initiatives, like wearing a different color each day of the week to highlight each aspect of digital citizenship, from learning about time management to keeping secure online, helped students focus on the importance of this initiative and highlight the impact of taking dedicated time in the semester to focus on the various aspects involved in digital citizenship.
Tailoring Lessons for Different Age Groups
At the elementary level, NIS begins with the basics: what it means to have a balanced digital life, the importance of online kindness, and how to identify safe websites. As students progress into middle and high school, the lessons become more nuanced, tackling topics like the ethical use of social media, understanding digital rights and responsibilities, and the dangers of misinformation.
“For older students, learning about how tech can impact their physical health and how to set boundaries online provides students with real-time strategies that can have a personal impact. Other discussions on how deep-fakes might impact elections to how their online activities might affect their college acceptances are helping students understand and apply their knowledge in real-life contexts and consequences.”
Supporting Students’ Digital Well-being
Digital citizenship at NIS also goes beyond simply teaching students the "how-to's" of navigating the web—it’s about fostering digital well-being. The tech coordinator and Well-being Departmental Learning Leader, Maria Chaytor, explained how they work together with the Student Support team to help students develop healthy screen habits and maintain a balanced relationship with technology. Regular check-ins, lessons on digital detoxing, and guidance on managing screen time are all part of the comprehensive approach.
“Students need to understand not just how to be safe online but also how to maintain their mental and emotional health in the digital space,” said the coordinator. “This holistic approach helps them build positive habits that they can carry into their adult lives.”
Photo Credit: N. Gildart
While it is still early to collect concrete data about the impact of the Digital Citizenship initiative at NIS, anecdotal evidence has started to show the positive impacts. Students are opening up in discussions about their online lives and reporting that they feel more confident in spotlighting cyberbullying, realizing that they don’t just have to be subjected to the harmful behavior of others. Likewise, there are reports that there is less of this behavior in the NIS community (compared to other schools they’ve experienced), likely due in part to students being more aware of how their online behavior might impact others.
Looking Ahead: A Future-Focused Vision
As technology continues to evolve, so too must the teaching of digital citizenship. The tech coordinator shared the school’s vision for the future: expanding the program to include lessons on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The tech department is currently working with teachers and administrators across the school to develop guidelines for AI use and how to incorporate it into the curriculum. With some still wary of the power and uncertainties surrounding the technology, one thing is very clear - it is here to stay and students need to know how to navigate a world where this powerful technology exists.
“We want our students to be prepared not only for the digital world as it is today but for what it will become,” the coordinator said. “That means continuously adapting our lessons to give students the tools they need to meet the challenges of their digital lives and to understand how to utilize technology to be competitive in an ever-evolving world where tech is everywhere.”
Another wish list item for future tech learning is incorporating more family involvement. Having a Digital Citizenship 101 workshop for parents and caregivers will help round out the knowledge and support systems that students need and allow parents a more in-depth understanding of what their students are grappling with daily. This is something the department will look into facilitating as their program expands into the future.
Navigating the Inevitable
In a world where the lines between online and offline are increasingly blurred, teaching digital citizenship is more than just a necessity—it’s a responsibility. At Nagoya International School, students are not only learning how to safely and ethically navigate the digital space but are also gaining the skills needed to thrive as responsible citizens in an ever-connected world. By empowering students with knowledge and practical skills, NIS is helping to shape the next generation of thoughtful, informed, and conscientious digital citizens.
